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When to check on juvenile skink?

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 12:58 pm
by WeirdTriassic
Hello everyone!

Im concerned about my skink, ‘she’ is a 4 (nearly 5) month old northern that I bought from a breeder and I’ve had just over a week. When we brought her home she explored her viv, basked and then burrowed into the substrate. All this seemed normal but as far as I’m aware she’s not moved and definitely not eaten since we got her, and is buried somewhere under the cork bark on the right/cool side of the viv. I know they tend to go off their food when they move home, I’m just concerned that she doesn’t seem to have moved either and I’m not sure if lifting the cork bark to check on her is going to stress her out more. Then again, I’m also concerned that as long as she’s under there I have no idea if she’s actually alive.

Temps are 38 degrees C under the basking spot, and around 25/26 at the cool spot where she’s buried. Substrate is a mix of cypress mulch, spahgnum moss and coco fibre, currently kept dry on the breeders recommendation.

She’s only my second reptile and I’m so worried I’m doing something wrong, any help would be appreciated, I just want to know at what point I should logically worry and whether to check on her? Thank you!

Re: When to check on juvenile skink?

Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 3:17 am
by kingofnobbys
I'd check on her, it could be she's a bit too cold buried in the substrate and insulated from the basking globe's radiant heat.

She needs to be fed daily at her age.

Re: When to check on juvenile skink?

Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:29 pm
by Janella
Agreed, I would check on her, and verify your temps. Youngsters do need to eat daily.

Re: When to check on juvenile skink?

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 5:18 am
by WeirdTriassic
Thank you for advice guys! We got her out yesterday and she ate pretty much immediately, and then again this morning! I’ve put another hide in her cool spot so hopefully she feels more secure without digging down and getting too cold! The help is much appreciated!