Pooping only when picked up???

[mybbaneira]

Hi! I’m a new bluey owner and after searching through the other topics and not finding anything I decided to register and ask the question myself

Anyway i got my skink aneira about three weeks ago. (she is about 5 months) I let her acclimate to her new home for a little over a week before I tried to handle her. She is so sweet and active and not at all aggressive. she’s never huffed at me or ran away. the only problem is everytime I pick her up, after a minute or two she always pees on me or/an poops on me. now that i’ve been trying to handle her she’s only pooping when she’s handled (not in her cage)

I contacted the breeder about this and he said that I just need to keep holding her after she poops so she doesn’t learn that that’s a way to get rid of me? idk that’s what i’ve been trying. has this happened to anyone? any tips? thanks!!!

[mb606587]

My oldest Bluey was the same way when I first got her. As gross as it was I dealt with it and the behavior started slowing down over time until it stopped altogether. I agree with your breeder about not giving up and putting your skink away after it happens.

[kayla990]

Do you change what time of day you handle her? If it's when they just become active (such as starting to walk around and perhaps bask) then it seems more likely to happen. You could wait until later afternoon to handle her. But if she's only going when out of the tank - you could try to set up a plastic box for her to go; take her out and place her into the box until she's done. Then as others have suggested, keep her out to handle after Goodluck!

[MaddyKay99]

Mine did the same when I first got him. I just never put him back right after doing it to ensure that he wasn't trying to get rid of me but honestly I believe that he did it out of stress. I just began handling him only on a towel to catch the deposits (and to protect myself from his needle claws) and the behavior slowed and then stopped. I believe that as he got bigger and felt that I was less of a threat he became more comfortable with me so stopped defecating. This may just be me but it worked. He is now about 9-10 months old and he only stopped in early august. Just have to wait it out. Good luck!