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How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:03 am
by Snowflakebluey
Hi!
My (possibly) Indonesian blue tongue skink has finally arrived to me 3 days ago and I just want to know how long does it take normally for blueys to get used to their new environment, so I wont be too too concerned about him hiding all the time.
I got him from a mutual friend who doesn't want him anymore, and he has been through 2 previous owners before he was given to me.
I don't know what his set up was like before he was with me, but I am sure that it was a way smaller enclosure.
Now keep him in my bedroom, in a 120x35x45cm custom terrarium with exoterra's coco husk bedding And provided him with 2 hides (i'll attach a picture)
I keep his hot side at 92° and his cool side 82°, the humidity is usually around 50-70%
Every time I come to check up on him, he would always be in his hide, or if he was out, he would immediately run back to hide whenever I walk into my room, so I'm not sure if he had drank anything for the past 3 days.
But my sister actually caught him getting out of his hide to explore a little bit really really early in the morning, so that's good
I just fed him this morning, and he ate quite a bit, but when he noticed that I was looking at him from a far distance, he slowly goes back into his hide and haven't came out since.
I just want to know how long can I expect for him to finally be comfortable in his new home
I'm open to advices as he is my first bluey ~
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 8:16 am
by Laceflower
Hi! No worries about his behavior; they can take a while to come around, and he seems to be reacting pretty normally. Just keep feeding him and leave him be for a few weeks before handling. When you do start handling him, start slow with 10-min increments and build from there. Treats like blueberries and banana help with that.
Could you try and sneak some full-body shots? The folks on this site can help you identify his locality for sure. In the meantime, raise his basking temp to around 96F and keep rhe humidity at 60-70%. Your cool side temps are good. Could you also give us his current diet? You seem to be doing well for him!
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 10:00 am
by Snowflakebluey
Laceflower wrote:In the meantime, raise his basking temp to around 96F and keep rhe humidity at 60-70%. Your cool side temps are good.
Will do. I'll raise his basking temp and mist the enclosure to keep the humidity up
Laceflower wrote:Could you also give us his current diet? You seem to be doing well for him!
His previous owner seem to only give him eggs for his main diet. They mentioned to me that he was not very fond of vegetables nor fruits(not sure what they have tried giving him though), hence he has always been fed with boiled eggs.
So when I fed him this morning, I gave him boiled eggs just so he is famliar with the food, but I also added some carrots bok choy and bananas since BTS does need veggies and fruits in their diet as well..
But I will be switching things up every feeding to figure out what he likes, also I do want to change his main protein to canned dogfood.
Laceflower wrote:Could you try and sneak some full-body shots? The folks on this site can help you identify his locality for sure.
I really haven't seen him out of his hide since he got here, but I do have full-body shots from his previous owner
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:07 am
by Laceflower
You're doing really well with introducing him to new foods slowly, and his diet seems much better in your hands. Just make sure whatever dog food you eventually use is top-shelf stuff with real meat/veg and no fillers or byproducts.
Unfortunately, I'll have to let someone with a little more experience with Indo species give you a 100% positive ID on him, but I'd call that a classic Indonesian if I've ever seen one (and a really gorgeous one at that)!
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 8:53 am
by Snowflakebluey
Good news! I woke up to an empty water dish this morning~ I didn't see any wet substrates and the dish wasn't knocked over, so it couldn't have been spilled... It was such a relief knowing that he took a drink ^^
Laceflower wrote:You're doing really well with introducing him to new foods slowly, and his diet seems much better in your hands. Just make sure whatever dog food you eventually use is top-shelf stuff with real meat/veg and no fillers or byproducts.
Will do. I'm thinking about giving them grain-free dog foods in the future, it's a tad bit more expensive, but if it's a good source of food then that won't be a problem.
Laceflower wrote:Unfortunately, I'll have to let someone with a little more experience with Indo species give you a 100% positive ID on him, but I'd call that a classic Indonesian if I've ever seen one (and a really gorgeous one at that)!
It's okay, I actually had someone from this forum identified him for me on a different post a few weeks ago. They also said that he was most likely a classic Indonesian. It wouldn't be a surprise if he was, since I do live in Indonesia myself, and most reptile shops that I know of to have sold blueys mostly sells Tiliqua Gigas Gigas. What I'm unsure of is whether or not they were CB or WC. I was worried if mine was actually WC because his previous owner never mentioned to me about where he was from. but since he had been with 2 previous owners before me I know that he had been de-wormed and stuff like that, all I have to worry about if he was actually WC is his attitude and how tame he's willing to be. But we'll see after he comes around and after I get to work with him for a while
Thank you for your replies in this topic, it was very very helpful and I will most certainly give an update on how he's doing in the near future ^^
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 12:49 am
by Hyrulemaster77
From what I've read and heard the WC Blueys will tame down given time and patience, so there isn't need to worry there. I think you're doing a great job with him though! Keep up the good work.
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 1:27 am
by Scotts1au
Captive born blueys - about an hour.
Wild caught possibly the rest of its life. Sort of love of Like trying to tame a feral cat.
Born wild, lived wild, taken from the wild, expected to be tame.
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:43 am
by kingofnobbys
.... seems to me skinks learn very quickly and adapt rapidly.
Give your BT a bit of time .
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:00 am
by kingofnobbys
Snowflakebluey wrote:Hi!
My (possibly) Indonesian blue tongue skink has finally arrived to me 3 days ago and I just want to know how long does it take normally for blueys to get used to their new environment, so I wont be too too concerned about him hiding all the time.
I got him from a mutual friend who doesn't want him anymore, and he has been through 2 previous owners before he was given to me.
I don't know what his set up was like before he was with me, but I am sure that it was a way smaller enclosure.
Now keep him in my bedroom, in a 120x35x45cm custom terrarium with exoterra's coco husk bedding And provided him with 2 hides (i'll attach a picture)
I keep his hot side at 92° and his cool side 82°, the humidity is usually around 50-70%
Every time I come to check up on him, he would always be in his hide, or if he was out, he would immediately run back to hide whenever I walk into my room, so I'm not sure if he had drank anything for the past 3 days.
But my sister actually caught him getting out of his hide to explore a little bit really really early in the morning, so that's good <<<< I suggest that when ever you come into the room, you come baring a food treat/bribe and you let him see deposit near him where he can duck out and snatch it ==== a nice superworm, nice big juicy silkworm or a nice snail should prove irresistible to him , eventually he'll come of his hide to take the treat off you , and soon he'll likely be out of his hide to greet you and looking to get another food treat from you,,.... you will have wom most the battle in taming him and getting him to trust you..... hand feeding treats to a lizard is a great way to build trust and great lizard-human bond. And BTS do become quite affectionate and can be just dogs when it comes to following you about the house when you trust them enough to allow freeranging inside the house.
I just fed him this morning, and he ate quite a bit, but when he noticed that I was looking at him from a far distance, he slowly goes back into his hide and haven't came out since.
I just want to know how long can I expect for him to finally be comfortable in his new home
I'm open to advices as he is my first bluey ~
Re: How long does it take for a bluey to get used to his new enclosure?
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:46 am
by Snowflakebluey
Update:
He finally came around, he's not hiding anymore and comfortable with having me sit in front of his enclosure.
He was apparently in shed a couple days ago so maybe that's why he was hiding? Because his hide was very humid?
I got to handle him for a little while because he had a few stuck sheds on his head and tail, he was very active and wriggles a lot at first, but then he just kinda calms down and chills on my arm.
Nevertheless, I appreciate every replies on here, it helps me a lot