New Skink Mom, New Skink, Noob Mistakes

[r.l.lloyd]

Hi there. I'm Rebecca and I got taken in by an animal dealer during my first reptile show last autumn. Razz was sold to me as a young Merauke, and looked like one, but I did not verify. It was a classic noob mistake: Razz was incredibly friendly and pretty much picked us, but with a new assistant manning the booth I couldn't ask the in-depth questions I wanted to on the spot.

It turned out we got him out of a pretty bad situation (they co-housed him at the expo and he ended up with a snoot nip, and apparently he had flukes from being fed raw chicken regularly). Once we got him home, to the vet and treated for parasites, he sprouted up on us, becoming both lengthy and even more calm. But the vet visit and some research had revealed some discrepancies in what we were told, and I've been watching him to see what he looks like as he develops.

Now, Razz here is an awesome, personable lizard and part of the family, but he was sold to me as a Merauke and yet as he has grown he has come to look very unlike one in a lot of ways.

Similarities: Calm, friendly demeanor, tough as nails, long boy (he's 22 inches and seems to still be growing), clean peach throat, white and gold speckled legs with "snowflake" blotches and black backgrounds, mostly clean head

Differences: Trident on back of the head instead of single stripe, has become much more speckled over time instead of paler, hide pattern apparently associated with the Sorong region (but Sorong Halmaheras are smaller apparently and have all-black legs) mottled peach-and-gray belly (?)

He's healthy and energetic now that he's parasite-free, in a proper enclosure (they had him on aspen) and on a proper diet. But what the heck is he? I want to make sure my care of him is optimal.

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Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

[mb606587]

Oddball skink. I saw you post this one on FB and I'm sticking to my gut that it's an Indonesian over Merauke. Glad you have done the required research enough to question the seller and notice any discrepancies. Husbandry wise, either subspecies will do well in the same conditions however I understand wanting to know.

[splashy07]

If I had to guess I'd say there is some Halmahera in there, possibly even a hybrid of haly/merauke, who knows what goes on where they are "farmed". Anyway, a stunning and unique animal nonetheless. Agree totally with mb, previous post.

[r.l.lloyd]

Thanks for replying! I'm not used to my research skills failing on me this badly. Razz really does seem to be an oddball. Opinions from more experienced people are mixed...and some opinions are that he's mixed. If so, well, lesson learned about buying from an expo, and he makes a wonderful pet. I do wish that I knew more about the skinks in the Sorong region, which apparently has Halms, Meraukes, Classics and I think IJs overlapping ranges.

Also, here's a bonus photo of my long boy circle sleeping.

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