New BTS very hostile and refusing to eat. Help?

[FalcoDirus]

Hello everyone! I am a new BTS owner and though this is frowned upon, I bought my skink from a pet store. I had it (not yet sure of gender) taken to a vet for a health check and all is well. Since then (5 days ago) my skink has refused to eat. I am currently offering it fresh veggies and several options in fresh fruit, which he hasnt touched. I also offer crickets and mealworms because the store said that they were his preferred option. I am concerned with his lack of interest in food as well as his hostility. As soon as I enter the room he scurries to his hide and displays his tongue while hissing. Any advice would be most welcome.

[Dakota]

Try dog food. I use Pedigree, but any brand really is fine. A lot of people use Wellness, Blue Buffalo, Merrick, etc. Very rarely will you see a gigas eat greens willingly, so if you choose to offer it, you will need to cut it up very fine and mix it with the dog food.

You just got it, it is probably a bit stressed. Give it some time. It'll come around eventually.

[FalcoDirus]

Thank you. I heard egg is a good choice too. Is that true?

[Dakota]

Thank you. I heard egg is a good choice too. Is that true?

Depends on the lizard. Some really like it, others don't.

[FalcoDirus]

Thanks!

[starscream3232]

As Dakota said dog food is a great choice. Blue tongues usually eat fruit and veggies in the wild as a survival mechanism when their other food is scarce. The dog food is good because it contains veggies mixed into it. Also give him awhile to calm down. It can take time for them to adjust to new surroundings. It's tempting to hold a new pet a lot when you first get one. I just got a new baby over week ago and haven't handled it yet. I usually wait at least two weeks plus when I get a new skink. Post some pics when you can. Interested to see what species if is. Good luck!!

[FalcoDirus]

Ok, so dog food sounds like the choice, thank you. And I will post pics as soon as I figure out this chat thing. Are we talking dog cibble or soft food? As for the handling, I have tried yet, though I am trying to get him used to my presence while I work in the cage and clean up after him. I've named him/her Niebieski. Thoroughly unoriginal as it just translates to "Blue" but I like how it sounds.

[FalcoDirus]

Soft food. Sorry just woke up didnt even think that auestion through.

[Dakota]

Wet. I personally do not offer dry kibble, but if you choose to, I'd wait until it is older. When they eat kibble, you need to make sure they drink a lot of water as it can dehydrate the skink. You could hydrate the kibble before feeding making it like wet dog food, but that may defeat the purpose of buying kibble, right? :-)

I buy the loaf kind, not the chunky kind in the syrup/liquid stuff. In my experience, the chunky kind only enticed them to lick the food, and when they did take a bite, it went everywhere. You don't have to worry about that with the loaf kind.

[FalcoDirus]

Thank you! Advice for someone on a budget? I ultimately will do whats best for Niebieski but any brand in particular? I believe you mentioned Blue Buffalo?

[Dakota]

Pedigree is a very cheap brand. I think I get it at 80¢ a can when I buy in bulk (I think around 9 cans per pack).

[FalcoDirus]

thank you all! I finally got him to eat, the dog food worked like a charm. And since he's been eating he's been less jumpy while im near his cage, I've even seen him exploring the rest of his terrarium! Should I be putting calcium supplements in the dog food?

[Dakota]

Calcium is already supplemented in the dog food, but it does not hurt to add a sprinkle or so.

[NickBrahz]

I use dog food as a large staple of it's food but every Monday i add some Calcium + D3 powder to food.

[FalcoDirus]

Ok. Thank you both. Anything you may suggest otherwise?