baby hardly eating + hiding a lot

[bryan]

Hey guys. I got my baby blue tongue skink May 29th. He was born on April 17th 2019. Anyways he hardly ever comes out, I was actually able to hand feed him once when he was out, he didn’t even hiss at me, he simply walked over and ate from my hand. However other than that, I hardly ever see him since he’s under the substrate. He also eats like once every 3 days. Is this normal for a blue tongue? All of his temps are fine (cool end is 76, warm end is 84, basking rock is 105, at night it’s 75). He has plenty of places to hide as well and his food is in a large hide so he feels safe when eating. I just want to know if I’m doing anything wrong and if I can do anything to help him. Thanks

[splashy07]

Not odd behavior at all for a baby. It's a great big world, and they are apprehensive. A very hungry youngster will eat from your hand, but if there is food available all the time he may choose not to. I actually spoon feed all my babies to socialize them early. You know those tiny plastic spoons that come with the canned snails? I've got a stash of them!

[kingofnobbys]

I'd set up a babycam , I'm betting the little baby skink is eating when no one is around to watch it and likely actively exploring it's new "digs".

If it's pooing regularly , it's eating .

Of cause if your bedding is thick and the poo is easily lost amongst it , you may not see many of the poos left by a very young / little skink.

You can also monitor how it's going by weighing the food that goes in , and comes out , each day .
I used to this with my BTs and first pair of beardie hatchlings, I determined about 20% loss due to dehydration experimentally with a sample of food under a basking globe, the rest of difference was what was eaten.

And regular weighins of the skink ( I'd suggest weekly ) , you''ll soon see if there is an health problem from the weighin graph.

[bryan]

Thank you so much guys! It’s funny that you mentioned installing a camera for the enclosure because I’ve been looking into getting one in the next couple weeks before I go on vancaiton!

Every morning I feed him about 2/3 tablespoons of various grain free cat foods that the breeder (TC Houston) recomeneded. About his bathroom habits...he poops everyday, funny story about that...This is my first reptile and for some reason I wasn’t expecting his poop to smell as strong as human/dog/cat poop lol. You’re absolutely right then, he must be taking small bites of it if he’s pooping regularly.

I’m glad that this is normal baby behavior, I was seriously stressing and was worried I was doing something wrong. He actually came out today and basked for awhile! I noticed he’s actually shedding too, so maybe that’s why he was hiding so much recently.

Question about that, do you think in the next week or so I should try picking him up (for the first time FYI) to see if he was successful with his shed?

[bryan]

Also this is probably a stupid question, as it depends on the skinks personality, but when do the babies become more friendly/out more/less skiddish? Do you guys have any tips or techniques on bonding with them?

[mb606587]

Usually a few months. Sometimes quicker, sometimes longer. Babies and juveniles in general are not especially confident.

[kingofnobbys]

I was fortunate with my two easterns as babies , I was able to go to the breeder's home, and was presented with one of those low profile under bed tubs full of about a dozen baby bluetongues , 5 of them were immediately interested in me and came right up to me bold as brass and proceeded to climb out straight onto my lap …. "pick me ! pick me please ! " , these were the group who the two the two I chose came from , I requested a boy and a girl .

My two loved being handled and were really people orientated from the getgo.

If the skink is a bit shy / skittish, give it time and patience , you have to gain it's trust , it'll soon be eating out of your hand / from your fingers and wanting snuggles from you.