BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hi, my name is Jake. My co-worker gave me his bts "Sammy" because he couldn't take care of him anymore. Sammy has an infected toe and a mouth issue and a respiratory issue. Here are some pics of the toe and his mouth. Any ideas for taking care of these problems would help. I am using total comfort bedding and would like to know if that's a good bedding. The pictures show the bedding on the mouth.

Awww poor guy. Normally I stay away from these "health questions" as I'm a beginner too, but you need to get him to a vet ASAP!

Until then, remove the substrate and just use paper towels. Make sure he has clean water and no mushy food, only solids. Check the caresheet on here for other tips UNTIL you can get him to a vet, there's a section on mouthrot.

Let us know how he makes out. Good luck!

Put on paper towels.. obviously if there is bedding sticking to its mouth, it's probably eating some of it.. =not good.. toe doesn't look infected at least from the picture.. it looks like there is a few built up scales from shedding stuck on it.. the toe is probably too far gone to save.. CLIP the nails, they need it..
I'm not sure what's going on with the plugged over nose hole.. but I'm gonna go with yeah a vet visit with a good reptile vet wouldn't hurt..

Sure there toes need attention and clipping.

.poor guy has feet like my old mans ..more like claws Id dump that egg cartoon paper mash ..stuff ...He needs oprah,s Mate to pimp his viv .Needs to be plush soft on his tootsies

Call a farrier thats been left looks like a hoof


When they are sheding lay a warm bath on gets the booties and shed of there feet

Ugh. Whoever the previous owner was completely neglecting this animal. No offense to your friend; but it needs to be said and realized.

Definitely clip the nails--there's a section on the caresheet with tips and techniques...also switch out the substrate to maybe paper towels for now (good call autumn). It looks like there's some gunk in his eyes too. What are the current temperatures on the hot and cool end, and what is/was his diet?

Good luck. You've come to the right place! Welcome.

Your friend's choice to give you the animal was the best choice he made, since you came here and started asking questions. Funny, if he had done that in the first place, this animal wouldn't have been suffering.

So you're swell for being here. Get to a vet that specialized in reptiles right away. I personally wouldn't go for the toenail clipping, since the blood-filled quick may get infected with whatever is on the other toe, if that's in case the problem (It could be built-up shed scales, also not good). The reptile-specialist vet may be able to clip the nails cleanly and safely, and can treat the problems at hand.

So yeah, vet time.

KW

Anyone think a bath is in order as well...to help remove old shed. Thoroughly dry the skink afterwards of course...

Hi, Jake. Your new friend has had a pretty rough time of it. Those toes definitely need seeing to, and the mouth should be checked out as well. Find a good reptile vet in your area.

Read the caresheet on this site to find out what else you can do to help Sammy. Making sure his tank setup is good, and feeding him a healthy balanced diet are the first things I'd focus on.
http://www.bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

thanks for all the help. i will have to go and see a reptile vet as soon as posible and i am going to take him off the bedding. i will also give him a quick bath. i did give him a bath the first night i got him. thanks so much i keep adding pics of the progress.

Be sure you do the paper-towel substrate before the bath. I can't imagine unnecessary moisture will help the poor little thing.

KW

so i took out the total comfort bedding and just have paper towels in the bottom. i aslo added a box for hidding with a pillow sheet. sammy seems to really like to explore

Tank looks good!

What are you feeding him?

well i just started with some endive, escrole and some acorn squash. i didnt have much and this is what i feed my iguana when i run low. i was just at the store this afternoon and piced up some strawbarries, bluebarries, rassbarries, blackbarries, mustard greens, collard greens, endive, and some parsnips. i have to pick up some protien soon. i was wondering if the type of protien that body builders use in a powder form would be ok for a few and far between feeding if i dont have any chicken or turcky cooked and handy. any help is great. if you could point me in the direction of a good diet that would be great.

The greens and fruit you've got sound good. If you find he eats the fruit and leaves the greens, just get yourself a cheap food processor (if you don't already have one) and wizz it until it's a tabouli consistency. Then he can't avoid them!

I have no idea about the powders but I can't imagine it'd be good for reptiles. Safer to just have protein from a natural source.

What I do is buy a 1kg bag of roo mince, cook it up in one big batch, then portion it in snaplock bags in the freezer. I defrost the individual bags as needed. 1kg lasts a long time! Chicken and turkey mince are also good, and I give snails on occasion as well.

Shellyjean wrote:Awww poor guy. Normally I stay away from these "health questions" as I'm a beginner too, but you need to get him to a vet ASAP!

Until then, remove the substrate and just use paper towels. Make sure he has clean water and no mushy food, only solids. Check the caresheet on here for other tips UNTIL you can get him to a vet, there's a section on mouthrot.

Let us know how he makes out. Good luck!

Just wondering why you say only solids and no mushy food.

Tyler wrote:Just wondering why you say only solids and no mushy food.

If you read the whole thread, you'll see that the skink has mouthrot. mushy foods stick to affected areas and can worsen or prolong the infection.

Tyler wrote:

Shellyjean wrote:Awww poor guy. Normally I stay away from these "health questions" as I'm a beginner too, but you need to get him to a vet ASAP!

Until then, remove the substrate and just use paper towels. Make sure he has clean water and no mushy food, only solids. Check the caresheet on here for other tips UNTIL you can get him to a vet, there's a section on mouthrot.

Let us know how he makes out. Good luck!

Just wondering why you say only solids and no mushy food.

Mushy stuff makes mouth rot worse. I would assume this is because soft food would enter the ulcers get stuck and start rotting and causing more bacteria to build up but thats just my own assumption.

mouseinamilkbottle wrote:

Tyler wrote:Just wondering why you say only solids and no mushy food.

If you read the whole thread, you'll see that the skink has mouthrot. mushy foods stick to affected areas and can worsen or prolong the infection.

Yep, that's why.

Good Luck with your little guy. I would take him to a vet as well. You are doing a great thing. Sammy is lucky to have you now to take care of him. Good Luck

Built up scales are tricky. Some sheddingaid may do the trick.

http://www.reptilesupply.com/images/MD-31.jpg

Try to avoid using tweezers though.