BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hey everyone!

We are all obviously part of this community because we all share a deep love for this incredible species. I'm really curious to hear about some of your favorite memories or experiences with your blueys. Maybe it was the first birth you witnessed, maybe it was opening the shipping package containing your very first baby, or maybe it's that amazingly painful bite you bluey gave you out of nowhere. Or maybe it was the first time when you were a kid that you saw one in a book or on tv that sparked your lifelong fascination with them.

So lets hear it!

My favourite memory has to be when I held a proven female IJ at Repticon last Novemeber. I'd just lost my bearded dragon (my first ever lizard/reptile) and was still missing her like crazy. I almost didn't go to the show because I was worried I'd get upset but my husband persuaded me. I kept telling myself that I was NOT ready for another pet and I would just enjoy seeing all the critters.

We were just coming around the last tables and there was a HUGE, beautiful blue tongue. I believe I actually gasped before rushing over. The seller was very nice and let me hold her while he told me all about her, her previous 'litters', and her care requirements. As soon as she was in my hands, I remembered how, almost 11 years ago when I chose my beardie, I'd considered blue tongues first and had only gone with my girl when I saw her as a hatchling and fell in love. All the reasons for why I wanted a skink came flooding back and I just knew I had to have one of my own!

So we started looking for a baby and found one at the same show within 10 mins. After 20 mins, s/he was mine. And that's how I got my Peaches!

My favourite memory is when my skink escaped from the bath tub, I still have no idea how but I couldn't find her anywhere and started to wonder if one of my dogs had swallowed her whole

Then I remembered the clicker training I had done when I first got her and rummaged one out of my junk drawer. I tried a couple clicks in each room and looked around for movement, there was nothing at first but then i saw her nose sneaking out from under the fridge and I heaved a HUGE sigh of relief that she was okay

Originally I had trained her using snails but didnt have any on hand so I grabbed a few mealworms instead. I continued to click and once she was complely out I let her have a feeding frenzy.

I am definitly going to keep up with the clicker training and keep snails on hand as those are Scatha's absolute favourite.

I love telling this story since my "dumb lizard" is better trained than most people dogs

I did not know you could train a BTS like that. Is there a thread on how to do that?

My memory is a simple one. When my BTS Toad *ticked on me twice! Urinated on me? NO! He *ticked on me! lol Then he gave me the famous BTS stink eye. =0)

Dood wrote:My favourite memory is when my skink escaped from the bath tub, I still have no idea how but I couldn't find her anywhere and started to wonder if one of my dogs had swallowed her whole

Then I remembered the clicker training I had done when I first got her and rummaged one out of my junk drawer. I tried a couple clicks in each room and looked around for movement, there was nothing at first but then i saw her nose sneaking out from under the fridge and I heaved a HUGE sigh of relief that she was okay

Originally I had trained her using snails but didnt have any on hand so I grabbed a few mealworms instead. I continued to click and once she was complely out I let her have a feeding frenzy.

I am definitly going to keep up with the clicker training and keep snails on hand as those are Scatha's absolute favourite.

I love telling this story since my "dumb lizard" is better trained than most people dogs

That's awesome to hear! Do you mean you were training her to come to the sound of the click or is she actually associating the click with a reward (and therefore start making her way over to get a treat from you)?

Also, love the name. that's what I wanted to name my skink (but didn't).

My favorite is the first time I took Shamus out. I was so nervous and really wanted him to be comfortable. I set him in my lap and laid down with him, he proceded to climb all the way up to my face, look at me, and start licking my chin lol. It was so sweet and made me feel so good. I know I am going to make many memories with my baby but this one will always hold a special place in my heart. ❤️

Scatha associates the click with snails - her favourite food.

When I discovered how much she liked the molluscs I decided to associate it with a clicker to get her to come to me. When I ran out of snails I tried substituting mealworms and/or waxworks and/or silk worms but she quickly stopped responding so I stopped training in mid December.

The tub inscedent incident happend in April so she remembered her clicker training after a 4 month hiatus I was really impressed and started collecting snails as soon as it warmed up and only use the clicker when feeding snails to keep her response strong.

I dont plan for her to escape again but it is comforting to know she will come when I click