How often after eating does a blue tongue skink poop?

[lupegirl8]

I was reading the care sheet and it mentioned that the author has one of their blue tongue skinks "potty trained". They said they achieved this with an eating schedule, but didn't really go into specifics. I'm wondering how long after a blue tongue skink eats does it usually poop? Or does it usually poop the first time it is active after eating? I'm thinking about getting a blue tongue skink and would like to find a way to prevent it from pooping in the terrarium (by putting it in a separate bin when it's "potty time") because I'll be living in a small, dorm-type space and don't want there to be any chance of smell issues.

Any other advice on eating schedules and potty training (also tips for keeping the terrarium clean) would also be greatly appreciated.

[Susann]

It varies so much! Every skink has a different activity level, and most have varying conditions around it, that makes it very hard to say how long after eating skinks poop.

There have been reports of members here who have "potty trained" their skinks. Personally, I don't believe it is the skink that is potty trained; I believe it is the owner, who has a skink that is very regular in its digestion and activity, that is "trained" --meaning the owner has observed and learned the skinks behavior. Maybe there is a skink out there who can prove that he will actually hold its poop until it gets to wherever or whatever its potty is, but I have yet to see any definitive documentation on this, and have got to think that that would be a one in a million.
There are skinks who tend to poop X number of hours after eating, but that varies with activity levels, temperatures, and habits of each skink. There are skinks who tend to prefer a certain spot to poop in, but I, personally, think that is individual to each skink and not something you can train by, say, always putting all its poop in one certain spot after it goes. I could easily be wrong though.

If you held a gun to my head I might guess that a skink might poop within 12-24 hrs after eating a meal, but I would have to add to that, IF they are warmed and active about 12-24 hrs after eating.

[Clavietika]

I don't think odor issues will be a problem as long as you're on top of it and clean out any poops you find as soon as you see them.

I work full-time and generally my BTS goes the afternoon after he's eaten, so I don't usually find any gifts until later. It's not usually at the exact same time either, it's more like a 3-4 hour window. The other day he actually went immediately after eating which was a little surprising.

[saisaac]

One of mine always poops when I clean his cage.
The other poops and then burries it, so I don't find it until I notice it.

As best I can tell, they do it when they want, where the want. I have had a bearded dragon that if bathed in warm water 2 time a week would only poop in the water (warm underbelly heat stimulated her to poop). However, even she would poop in her enclosure on her basking area if I waited an extra day to give her a soak.

Your best bet is to assume your bluey will poop as it pleases and that you will have to clean it up when you notice it. Their poo is not too terrible in smell especially in a sealed enclosure with aspen or other bedding that absorbs the moisture. Poop is just part of the deal, but they are lovely animals to own. I have never had mine poop in my home or on me, but it is bound to happen eventually.

Are you getting your enclosure set up? If so I highly recommend you save yourself some money and get an adult sized enclosure (4'x2' or larger is ideal especially for larger species). More space will help with the poo issue too because they will be less likely to track through it if they have more space.