BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Did search, but can't decide on a plan of action..
TL;DR - brought home an adult male non-CB BTS that was incredibly sweet and interactive at the store, but now skittish and huffy since bringing him home.

Recently "rescued" an Indonesian from a local petstore. Guessing the age between 1 and 2yrs old, they've had him for about 8mo, and he was wild caught.

ME: First lizard, but I've owned many snakes, small and large..
Pet Store: Tiny corner store type place, but I've never seen a single animal there that wasn't well taken care of and healthy.

From the first day I visited him at the store, he was interactive and playful. He would come out of his little hide and watch me watch him. I held him a few times and he'd fall asleep on my shoulder, let me pet him, and would even pass out within seconds of rubbing his head. Crawled into my hoodie pocket with his head poking out and fell asleep the first time I held him.

Now that we've purchased him and taken him home, to a much nicer/larger enclosure, he's extremely skittish and "huffy." He doesn't try to bite or anything, and will sit quietly on my shoulder/neck unless I touch him, and then he'll get huffy. He has a nice size cave with slightly damp moss in it that he'll run to and burrow into the moss with any movement outside his enclosure, which seems odd since he's used to commotion at the pet store.

I know it can take a while to adjust to a new environment, but the change in behavior strikes me as a touch extreme.

I've done a bit of reading, and I can't decide if i should just leave him be for a week? Take away his hide for a little while? or bring him out daily and interact with him.

I would definitely leave him alone for a week and just talk to him softly while feeding and cleaning him. You can even offer treats from your hand. Even though he was in a pet store, he is in a whole new world now. It takes time to adjust. Don't take away his hides, they need them to feel secure. After a week you can begin to build your relationship. Good luck

Janella wrote:I would definitely leave him alone for a week and just talk to him softly while feeding and cleaning him. You can even offer treats from your hand. Even though he was in a pet store, he is in a whole new world now. It takes time to adjust. Don't take away his hides, they need them to feel secure. After a week you can begin to build your relationship. Good luck

Thanks for the input.

I agree leaving him alone for a week or two. Taking away his hides will only make it worse. Food is your friend. Keep interactions to a minimum durning that time. Let him adjust. They do like to stay buried and hidden for days at a time which is perfectly normal behavior.

He has calmed down quite a bit already, and doesn't go running when I walk into the room.
He started burrowing into the cypress mulch, which I'm happy about, since he had just a piece of astro turf at the pet store.

He's starting to seem a bit more engaging, and will follow and lick at my finger if i put my hand near him outside the glass.

I'll continue to leave him alone, seems to be working.

Great news!!!

I second all the above advice! I've rescued countless numbers of reptiles in my life, and patience and food always seem to work. Reptiles hate change for the most part, even if it is for the better. They thrive on routine. When that is disrupted they get very confused. Thankfully, BTs are more tolerant than most, and will always come around! Good luck with your new pet!