BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hey all, I just adopted a BTS from a family who couldn't keep him anymore. They told me he is used to people and loves being handled. I brought him home yesterday and since then he has been hiding in his hiding hole. He is not interested in food, water or me. Will he get used to the new environment (He has a new tank with new everything) and eventually get social. I try to talk to him and sit by the tank but not bug him. Thanks!

Congrats on the rescue! Your new BTS is stressed out due to not knowing you and being in a new environment. Give him/her a week or so to adjust to the new enclosure and then try socializing. Also, read the detailed care sheet listed on the main site! That will give you all the husbandry info you need for a healthy, happy BTS!

What food are you offering? I got my new, 3-month old BTS eating high quality, grain-free wet dog food since day one. You could try the same. Make certain you add calcium + D3 + multivitamin supplements to the food. Avoid any food which contains any traces of spinach. The diet section of the care sheet has a spreadsheet of all the acceptable and unacceptable foods a BTS can eat. Create your new BTS diet from that!

Go here> http://www.bluetongueskinks.net/ and click on Detailed Care Sheet near the bottom of page.

Good luck!

It is normal for new BTS to not eat. As for water, a healthy skink will not dehydrate itself, and he is probably drinking behind your back. Most skinks will be okay without food for a few weeks, but he shoul start eating before them. To speed up his acclimatization to the new environment, allow him to hide and only bother him to feed/clean/water for the first 2-3 weeks.

Thank you so much for the info. I put some papaya a and worms in the tank but he is not interested. It's only been a little over 24 hours in his new home and I am assuming he will acclimate just fine. I will check out the food list and offer him varied food maybe that will peak his interest . Thank you for the info.