New bts owner

[Mlane1975]

I'm a new bts owner. I wanted to get a baby but near me they are not readily available and I was told to get a juvenile. I have a reptile store near my house that I get all my pets,food,enclosures,everything from so they had 5 about 7 month old northern bts's since they were babies . So going in to the store every week I kept looking at them and playing with them even my kids would play with them . The one in particular. He was great never hissed never struck loved being in my daughters hand on her shoulder . So I bought him the one guy in the reptile store said bring him home and put him in his enclosure and leave him alone for 2 days just feed him and change his water . I brought him home on Sunday left him alone until Monday evening and I went to feed him on Monday evening my hand came close to him and he started kissing at me . He got defensive he came at me but I think that he was just going after the food I had in my hand. Now it is thursday and he won't come near me he strikes at the glass if my son puts his finger there . I read a lot on this forum telling me to give him time a lot of time . I sit near the tank with the doors open and I try to talk to him everyday . I gotta be honest I have a lot of reptiles but he made me nervous and i don't want give him my hand to bite . I'm trying to hand feed him he won't take it . I always wanted a bts and I want it to work . He was so great in the pet store. Am I overacting. I won't let my kids near him yet . I'm just hoping that he calms down and becomes the guy he was in the reptile store . I know he has it in him . Can someone help me . I wanna be able to handle him but he made me think twice . I have snakes ,cresteds,bearded dragons,leapord geckos but he made nervous. What do you guys think. Do I have a shot at getting him back to calm?

[splashy07]

It is more than likely not a Northern BTS, as they are rarely pet shop animals. Can you post a picture so we can identify it? A recent import (which yours most likely is) may take some time to settle down. Imports are also Indonesian and the husbandry is quite different from that of a Northern also, which could be making him unhappy.

[Mlane1975]

I'm sorry new here to . How do I post a pic

[Janella]

I was guessing the same thing... probably not a Northern.

As for picture downloading...you may have to decrease the picture size then attach the photo. For myself personally I have to send the photos to myself through Facebook messenger and then download the pictures from their. Once I do that I can attach the pictures to a post here. Hope that helps. There is also a post on how to upload pictures.

[mb606587]

Unfortunately as was mentioned above, you almost certainly have yourself an imported wild caught skink. Besides the fact that pet shops almost never sell Northerns or any captive bred BTS for that matter, especially babies, a 7 month old skink wouldn't match the time frame of when captive skinks are born here. Many have had success taming even wild caught skinks so yes there is a chance he can eventually become calm and handleable but it will take some time, patience, and effort. For the time being, I'd stop trying to hand feed him so soon, get him eating consistently first, which sometimes takes a week or two, and then attempt to begin handling him after. You may need to wear gloves at first. Usually they lunge but once picked up they begin to calm down. You may find that after you start handling him more frequently, he may ease up a bit.

[Mlane1975]

The place I bought is not a pet store . Not saying that it couldn't be wild caught . The place I got him is a store with only reptiles he actually breeds a lot of stuff and I bought a lot of stuff from him . I remember seeing them there much smaller but I was waiting for a baby and finally my kids convinced me to get him after handling him for weeks in the shop . He was tame and very easy to handle . Even when we took him home he was fine until I put him in his new enclosure . I would of brought him back if I didn't see how good he was in the shop . Again not saying he was or wasn't captive bred or if he is or isn't a northern . The only thing I know is he was great and easily handled at the shop. So the question is . You guys think If he was great at the shop can I get him back to that. Its only a week tomorrow . Does he need time . He already is showing signs of getting better . I go there every week so I don't think the owner would do that to me but you really never know .

[Mlane1975]

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[Mlane1975]

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[Yeshika]

It took many weeks for my skink to settle in with me at home. The first time I ever got to see him, he was a pretty horrible baby, but he was just scared. He didn't know where he was, or why anything was happening, but he's become the absolute best little skink I could hope for.
Honestly, it just takes time. Give your guy a chance, he's already proven to be well-mannered when he was at the store. He just needs time and love

And, although I'm no expert, that looks a lot like a Northern to me

[mb606587]

Oh that's a Northern and captive bred. We're so used to seeing pet shops and expos misrepresenting the species, it's kind of nice to see a shop that breeds its own, rare that's for sure. Probably close to a year old. And yes you can tame him to where he was at the shop. It'll just take a bit of time.

[Mlane1975]

Thank you guys I'm letting him do his thing for another week and then I'll start trying to handle him . He stays out of his hide a lot longer now and I have faith . That he'll be on my daughters shoulder again . I got a little nervous when you guys said he might of not be what thw shop owner said he was because I love the shop and then I wouldn't be able to go there again . Thanks again guys . Any tips or tricks will be appreciated.

[mb606587]

Yeah probably shouldn't have jumped the gun so soon but as I said it's pretty rare you walk into even a reptile shop and find a young Northern so count yourself lucky to have one so close. I've only seen it once personally. What is the name of the shop if you don't mind me asking? I'm curious as to what else he has.

[Janella]

Congratulations on your new Northern. Very rare find indeed at a reptile/pet store. With time and patience it will come around. Sit next to the enclosure and talk or read to it. Offer tasty treats from your end. Move slowly. Gently your skink will learn to trust you

[Mlane1975]

Its called reptile rage. In long island . It's a mile away from my house. He sold me 4 of my reptiles . He's got some nice stuff . Recently a lot more some baby Nile monitors some rough necks . Argentine black and whites . Red tegus . Endless ball pythons. Couple of red eyes. I cant look around anymore. I might get thrown out if I bring anything else home lol..

[Mlane1975]

Thank you. I try to sit with him as much as I can. I don't wanna just grab him like a lot of people are telling me to do . I'm willing to take the time and hope eventually he will stop the hissing and being so nervous.

[mb606587]

Thank you. I know where I'll be stopping at the next time I head up to Jones Beach! Yes give him time to acclimate to the change of scenery and environment. I generally try not to handle any of my new reptiles unless necessary, especially if they seem skittish. When you do start handling, keep it brief. Some recommend placing a worn T-shirt into the hide. The theory is that it will become familiar with your scent and less likely to be fearful when you do start handling. I'm not sure if there's any actual truth to that but it's worth a shot.

[Mlane1975]

It's been a little over a week now . Am I being impatient? Still scared of me . He does stay out a little longer but he does run into his hide . I just feel like he is never gonna calm down . I sit and talk to him but when my hand gets close he hisses . Is that a bark bigger then bite thing or is definately gonna go at me . I haven't tryed to just grab him yet but I am tempted. Everyone says 2 weeks . Does it sometimes take longer for him to get used to his surroundings ? Am I being impatient that's the big question . He just seems so diffrent from when he was at the shop . So confusing to me . Help lol!!!

[mb606587]

Usually the huffing noise they make is as you say more bark than bite, and on its own doesn't necessarily mean your skink intends to bite. Now if the mouth is open as your hand approaches then you might want to be mindful of the possibility of a quick strike, but most will huff at some point, even after they've become accustomed to handling. It's a possibility the shop kept your skink at inadequate temperatures. A cooled skink will not be as flighty and seem more tame than it really is. It's a trick that's employed by many vendors at expos. Not saying that's definitely the reason but it's one that comes to mind to explain a drastic change in behavior in reptiles.

I'd advise giving him a little more time before you just reach in and grab him. He's still relatively new and forcing him to be handled might incur even more undue stress on him. As much as we want to rush things, the taming process is just that, a process and a little patience, especially in the beginning will go a long way. For all of the ones that lucked out and bought skinks that were able to be handled from day 1, you will find just as many that spent months working with their skinks to achieve excellent results. It can be a bit nerve racking, but your situation is typical of ALOT of peoples' initial experiences where there seems to be immediate setbacks such as a refusal to eat, refusal to come out of a hide, or skittishness. Much more often than not though, these guys come around.

[Mlane1975]

I realize now that I really don't think he was handled much at the shop . I say that because he has a major food reaction . When I put his dish with food that's the fastest i see him move and when that dish goes in it doesn't matter whos hand is in there . He has no fear lol . He let me help him with his food yesterday with a spoon without fleeing . I take that as a win . I thank you for your advice. I will be more patient. I think another week and I will start trying to pick him up . My kids are patiently waiting to handle him lol . Thanks again ..

[splashy07]

A food reaction such as that I have only seen in animals that were underfed. As soon as he is comfortable and getting enough to eat I'm sure he will come around.