Questions For Breeders

[rico]

This is a question, not a judgement. Some people might read into this when it's meant exactly as asked. On to the questions. With all the animals in your care, how can they be properly taken care of? What I mean is, isn't it hard to take enough time with each one to be able to tell if one isn't acting right and may be sick or have another problem? How do you socialise the new babies to ensure they'll be good pets? Most of your day is probably taken up cleaning enclosures and making sure everyone has quality food. Isn't it hard to have time to help a female who may have birthing problems?

I know these kinds of questions do tend to sound judgemental and I can re-word them if needed. I just want to assure you again, it's not meant that way. I always wonder these things with any breeder, especially reptiles and rodents, where there are usually more than just a couple breeding females and they normally have fairly large litters. I've never bred any animals, so I genuinely don't know. Thanks.

[Richard.C]

i guess the easiest way to answer that is,picure one skinks care and times it by how ever many you have in time,lol

for me alot of mine arent housed alone,only 3 are resticted to living alone

you dont have to socialise them,i actually find the best way to tame them(let them learn to trust you) is actually leaving them alone,babies instintivly are very nervous,so ripping out hides and chasing them around the cage isnt going to earn there trust

if theres birthing issues having one or 20 doesnt matter,end of the day you do the best you can to help them no matter how many you have


as for there husbandry ,same thing,they get the same care as if i only had 1 skink,they would have same set up,same heating ,same diet,only difference being my misses wouldnt hate on me as much for spending so much time with them,lol

[Richard.C]

i should point out also,i dont see my self as a breeder,breeders usually sell there off spring,i tend to hang on to alot of mine unless i have excess

more a hobbiest with a problem,lol

[rico]

Thank you. That actually helped a little bit. I know they suggest only one skink per enclosure. It's probably different when they've grown up together. Lol, I was imagining 100+ tanks to take care of on a regular basis and wondering how you can keep track of everything. I guess that makes sense with the babies, but if they aren't handled at that time, aren't they going to stay hand-shy as they get bigger?

Understand, I don't even have a BTS yet. I will be getting one in probably another year and am looking up everything to do with them, (habitats, general care, diets, different subspecies). I'm getting supplies little by little, so I'll be fully ready. When the time comes, I fully intend to go through a breeder as opposed to a pet store or anything along those lines. I have just always wondered some things. Thanks

[Richard.C]

well housing in groups or alone,maintenence kind of equals out a bit either way,many animals in one cage messes cage many tines faster so you are cleaning it out alot more

housing alone you have more chance of spot cleaning between complete break down of enclosures


personally i dont really care if skinks want to eat me behaviour wise,but you would ve suprised how tame they become when u leave them alone,even ones kept out doors

its not so much abouf hand raming them,its about them trusting you,if they dont fear you theu wont generally threat display at you or run and hide,some still may be shy but the majority come running to you as they see you as the bringer of food

[splashy07]

Many breeders keep in racks, as I do my snakes. Easy to house many in minimal space and easy clean up. I prefer to see them and for them to see me, but I am simply a hobbyist not a breeder. Future retirement plans include breeding lizards, so may resort to that at the time.