huffing when in a new environment?

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PlinkoPachinko
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huffing when in a new environment?

Postby PlinkoPachinko » Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:49 pm

Sometimes when Plinko is being especially dumb about catching roaches, I try to put him in the bathtub with a few dubia for him to chase.. but the sensory overload of being in the bathtub just drives him crazy! He huffs and squeaks and licks all around and he just cannot figure out what the bathtub is.

Does anyone else's skink do this? It's kinda cute, but he's long forgotten about his food when I put him in the tub...
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Re: huffing when in a new environment?

Postby hurricanejen » Tue Jul 16, 2013 2:06 pm

It's the stress of being in a new, unfamiliar place. You can acclimate him to eating in there, but it'd definitely need to become more of a routine than every so often. It took my adult male a month or so to start eating when I'd bring him in to the store on weekends, and now that it's been a while since he's been out regularly, he won't eat when he's not at home anymore.
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PlinkoPachinko
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Re: huffing when in a new environment?

Postby PlinkoPachinko » Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:03 pm

That's kinda odd, because I used to take Plinko to work and he was totally fine.. He'd eat treats and explore, and he didn't huff at all.. But as soon as I plop him into the tub he freaks out. I'm wondering if it's because all he sees is stark white? I can imagine that'd be scary. Hmm..
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Re: huffing when in a new environment?

Postby Coomassie » Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:21 pm

There is probably some particular smell in your bathtub that is bothering him. I have no idea what it would be and you probably don't smell it but if he is huffing, sniffing, and licking, he is picking up on something.
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Re: huffing when in a new environment?

Postby Richard.C » Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:00 pm

cold surface temp of slippery bath tub that doesnt offer much grip for bolting around may freak him out a bit to on top of freaky bath tub smells and a new area its not familiar with stuck out in the open with out safety of hides and a good foot hold of the substrate to high tail it if it feels the need to do so
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Re: huffing when in a new environment?

Postby Reptilecollector » Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:57 pm

Skinks do weird thinks on new environments. A funny thing about mine is that when I put her into her new tank when I brought her home she buried herself under a hide and didn't come out for a few days!
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Re: huffing when in a new environment?

Postby bluetonguerocks » Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:57 am

just let them alone for some time to adjust to the new environment. i think after some time he'll be okay.

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