BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hello

I'm now a BTS keeper. My friends daughter started university and couldn't take care of him any more.



It's a learning experience for sure. I've owned pets but nothing like him. Great listeners for sure.

This community is my only source of information other than the reptile store. A goldmine so to speak.
Near the end of December Toronto experienced an ice storm and my power was our for 6 days.



I recently observed his left eye was a little crusted. The reptile shop said they have treated that condition
with Polysporin antibiotic eye and ear drops to a measured level of success. This condition wasn't present
before the big chill and I'm wondering if it could have contributed it?

Oh, he's rather large as Skinks go; almost 30".

I'm curious to know what type of Skink he is. Looks like a northern??

Have you taken him to the vet? And no, he is a beautiful Merauke.

Oh man you are in Toronto, i'm over in the west but I remember that storm. Glad to hear you guys made it through alright, everyone over here was worried about all of you guys! He's a very handsome merauke. Other than his eyes he looks like a really healthy skink.

Dirt Walker wrote:Oh, he's rather large as Skinks go; almost 30".

I'll say it before one of the others does, pictures or it didn't happen lol

Anyways he's very, very cute. I don't know enough yet to advise you on his eye, but i'm sure someone else will be able to help you. Welcome to the bluey world, they are wonderful animals.

Thanks Dakota, and Sebastian.
I feel like such a noob. Merauke eh? Wow.

I just googled the weather in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Seems it's very humid
there. Leading me to wonder about his comfort and how I would introduce more humidity into his environment. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Yes, it is highly recommended to keep them warm and humid, like in Papua.

I have had lots of eye and toe issues with my Meraukes (and an IJ years ago) that have all resolved after installing a MistKing humidifier inside their tanks. There is also a shot combination that your vet can administer if nothing else is making it better, you can PM me if you need more details.
But yes, he needs higher humidity.

He sure is handsome!

Don't feel bad...I've heard (and corrected SEVERAL mislead buyers) several cases lately of sellers selling Meraukes and swearing up and down they are either Northerns, or "Northeasterns". Is very bizarre!

It looks like it could be a respiratory infection. RIs cause the nose and eyes to ooze, and that collects dirt and dries up and gets crusty. Being too cold can cause RIs, and meraukes are particularly prone to catching them.

You should look for a decent reptile vet and get the skink looked at. RIs are treated with antibiotics (often baytril). Increasing the heat in the enclosure (not too hot, but warm) can also help fight the infection.

Good news is that with antibiotics (and making sure your setup is correct) RIs are usually very easily treated.

IF you end up having to do injections, there are a lot of us who've done them and can give advice

Thanks everyone.
He's got an appointment for the vet for Saturday I hope he's okay.
I'm okay with the injections but not on a skink. He struggles and wiggles
when I put drops in his eye.

Hope he makes a full recovery.

Hey everyone. I have a vet that has BTS and other reptiles. How cool is that!!
Apparently my guy has conjunctivitis, not an RI as previously thought. Exact same symptoms but after closer examination it was ruled out. The treatment is oral antibiotics and an antibiotic eye drop for the afflicted eye. The technician said he thought my skink was on the pudgy side, lmao, but admitted never having seen one quite as big. For being such a good boy at the doctors today I bought him some fuzzies. Okay, so I spoil him, you would too looking into those big brown eyes..........
Good night all. have a great weekend.

That's great to hear He's a lucky skink to have found you.

Oh, vitals; he weighs 1.3kg or almost 3 pounds, 2.87lbs exactly .
All in an almost 29" body. He was fatter when I first got him.

That's huge!

Yup. I gave him/her a couple of fuzzies to try. He/she loved them.