BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hi everyone,

I've been trying to think up ways to bring my skink outside to enjoy some sunshine, and perhaps roam around. She's pretty nervous sitting on my lap in the sun on my balcony (AWAY from the edge, of course!) but all the noises and breezes seem to scare her. I'd like to bring her to a secluded grassed area, but I don't want to just let her roam and try to watch/catch her... all this talk about skinks being slow, and I have yet to see that! She's a speedy little thing!

I thought about some sort of play pen, but I don't want to invest the money, then try to lug it around to places, and end up not using it and putting it in storage...
I have been seeing these little harnesses for iguanas and "other lizards" (there was a photo with a bearded dragon in one), and I thought that might be a fun idea.
However, I want to know what you all think. Is this a good/bad idea? Would it hurt the skink in any way? Do you think it would work?

I appreciate all your opinions and suggestions.

Thanks for reading!

Years ago when I had my first skink I bought one of those harness's. She would always slip out of it minutes after it was put on. There legs are so short that they would slip out very easily. Spent more time putting it back on than she actually being in it. I gave up after that.

I seem to remember reading that harnesses don't always work for skinks because their bodies are so different from, say, an iguana. Apparently they can slip free of them if you're not careful.

That being said, I don't see why you couldn't try it out indoors. Try and find a harness that seems like it would do well, and see if it works out just inside first, and if the harness is a good fit and your skink can't seem to slip out of it, then give it a try outdoors.

Will be interested to see if it works out for you.

Harnesses have been tried.
1) They are never, ever secure. A skink can fold up their legs and come right out of it. Like putting a harness on a snake.
2) It can really terrify a reptile to be caught by something wrapped around them. It can lead to some major freakouts.

Some people do use them, but usually on calmer lizards who aren't trying to run off anyways, and they know not to trust the harness to keep the skink secure. A pen of some type is far more secure (as long as the skink can't climb out or dig under).

I have a harness that I use with my skink. It took awhile at first to get it on since I didn't want to force her, now I can get it on in under 5 min.
That said I do NOT use it as a way to leash her to me. I often don't even hold the chord. I use it to stop her from going somewhere she shouldn't. I'm sure if she put her mind to it she could get it off but she chooses the easier way and goes where the chord isn't pulled tight. I only do this in my backyard I wouldn't use it in public, a good spook and I can see her out of it and running for cover. My yard is on the smaller side with a bad fence, it wouldn't take much for her to get ahead of me and into the neighbors yard. I've been looking into a pen of some sort but I use what I have for now.

Thank you everyone for the very thoughtful responses! Very much appreciated.

I am glad to know the harnesses won't cause any harm (physically), even if they don't work too well.
It's not that my little skink tries to constantly run away from me she's not like that. I just have seen her move very fast and I'd be worried that out in the grass for the first little bit might make her extra nervous.

I might try a harness that is specifically for lizards, if I can find one. However, does anyone have any other suggestions for outdoor play? I live in an apartment complex (will be moving to a different complex in a month) and I know this current place sprays the lawns... I am not sure about the next place. Not only the spraying, but I don't want to upset anyone OR have any dogs unexpectedly come running over with the skink out.

Which is why I am hesitant to buy + lug around a play pen of sorts. What I have pictured in my mind are those small animals pens.

If your apartment complex is like mine, and people use the surrounding grassy areas to let their dogs go to the bathroom, it might not be a good place to take your skink. Even if the policy there is like here, and owners have to pick up after their pets, a bit of mess can still be left behind. Add that to chemical sprays, and I don't think it would be a good idea to let your skink loose in the grass where it might ingest something toxic or that could be carrying parasites. Plus, if dogs are around, even on leash, there's always the risk that they might chase your pet and she could slip free of a harness and scurry off, and become very difficult to find again.

Probably keeping your Bluey indoors would be best, though you could always just carry her in your arms and go for walks if you want her to get some fresh air and sunshine.

Thanks! That's a good point. I hadn't planned on taking her out in the apartment areas, which is why I wanted a harness or something, so I could take her to another area. But bringing her for walks doesn't sound like a bad idea! She likes to sit up on my shoulder... always have at least one hand on her there

Does anyone know how many minutes of sunlight would be beneficial for them?

[quote="Does anyone know how many minutes of sunlight would be beneficial for them?[/quote]

I usually wait until they arnt flattened out and basking any more and try to run away into shelter. Too much hot sun can be bad. If you just watch her she will tell you when she's had enough

Thank you. That's helpful.

However, if I am carrying her around outside she's not really flattened out and basking in the same way she would be if she were sitting out in the grass. As described, it's seeming to be a difficult task (finding any kind of small animal run, or harness, etc.) and my area isn't really equipped for reptile play outdoors.

I guess less is more in this scenario?