BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hey guys, just wanted to give a big thank you to the community here. I've spent hours reading information across the web on BTS care, but many are vague or non-specific.

I have a Halmahera that I got from an owner that didn't want it anymore. He was almost exactly a year old at the time that he changed hands, he's been with me for a little over half a month.

Part of the reason I wanted to thank you all is that some of your contributions may have saved Sobek's life. I had no idea that Halms had such high heat/humidity requirements, but I'm going to keep the humidity much higher day to day and I'm going to order a higher wattage heat source.

On that note, do any of you have anything to say about ceramic heat emitters? It seems like it could be an excellent investment if it lasts as long as people say, and I need to move up a wattage level anyway. I know I might have to make a new thread, but I figure I'd ask here.

Anyway, thanks to all of you. I've recently moved and Sobek is still getting settled in, but I have a video I've uploaded of him eating his first meal. The camera work is absolutely awful, as I was using the front facing camera, but I inadvertently gave you all a view of his muscly back.

Despite my own inept care, and the seemingly questionable care he was getting from his prior owner, he's toughed it out and managed to be a healthy, strong lizard. I'm excited to see how he thrives when his conditions better match the recommended ones.

He's a halm, so he isn't the most loving or docile skink in the world, but the progress we've made has been pretty special. He will crawl towards me of his own will when we're out in my room, and he will explore my pockets/limbs with an absolutely endearing curiosity. There were a couple times that he came up to my face and licked it, one of which is documented on my youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYoXc3LhiHo). Too freakin' adorable.

A favorite activity of mine was leaving the bottom of my shirt open while lying down - the curious guy can't resist anything that looks like a cave. He would crawl up towards my chest and nestle himself there, and oftentimes fall asleep. There was one instance where we napped together for a few hours. Skinky heaven.

He hasn't been very vocal since the move two days ago, but generally he is VERY vocal - he has a series of snorts/exhalations that all seem to signify different things/different levels of arousal. There is curious, intrigued, frustrated, scared, unsure, and *ticked, at least so far.

He has a somewhat nervous disposition, but he's calming down with time, and he has NEVER been aggressive. He may be prone to fear, but he is a gentle boy who doesn't want to hurt anyone.

Anyway, I love my little boy even if he can only ever tolerate me and my affectionate gestures, so while I'm currently queasy with guilt I'm glad that I have a better idea of how to care for him. You all are doing a really good thing for BTS owners out there.

Here's the video, by the way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=717Mz4SSzs0

Hi and welcome!!!
What a wonderful introduction. I know it will make a lots of contributors very happy to read what you have written. That is absolutely why a group of great people set up the forum to begin with and work to keep it active. Looking forward to seeing lots and lots of pics of Sobek (hint hint )

CHEs are great - they are a bit more pricey up front but do last very well and are very effective in providing heat. CHEs give heat only without light, which means they are fantastic for night time heat also if you ever need that but that you would need a second fitting for a light if you want to light up the enclosure during the day and so you can see inside. Are you using UV?

It is difficult to see if they are on though so it's a good idea to set up your CHE to a thermostat with an on/off probe so that you can keep the temperature where you want it. During the day, this would be setting the maximum temp to basking heat; for night time this would be about setting the lowest temp.

Be careful about going to a higher wattage for a CHE - you want to go as low wattage as you can to give you the desired temperature.

Having said all that, I have a CHE that I got for night heat for bub's first year but honestly now that he's older and I don't need night time heat I tend to use basking globes (or flood lights) during the day so that it gives light.

So I guess it depends on the other aspects of your setup.

Hope this helps and let's see those pics!

Thanks! I have a UV lamp, but I only turn it on every other day or so. He gets quite a lot of sun these days.

Posted some pictures in the pictures thread.