Help! New to BTS

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:36 pm

I got an Indonesian bts yesterday im freaking out like hell i'm guessing she's still freaked from the move which is why she isnt coming out or eating,but she does this thing with her front right food its strange it looks like she's waving and sometimes it looks like she's trying to scratch her ear (she has toes missing as when little she was kept with other juveniles) can anyone ease my mind on the matter

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:50 pm

plus she does this huffy thing as well as sneeze is this normal?

reaperreptiles · Postby **reaperreptiles** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:00 pm

The leg waving I cant really help you on as i have never seen this. Is there any discharge from the eyes or nose? Huffing and sneezing is normal, huffing they do when they are scared or stressed. they are burrowing animals so they sneeze alot to free there noses of any debris. As long as her eyes look healthy and her nose isnt running or looking gross i think she's fine. she's probably just scared and nervous. The leg thing is odd. I have only seen my female do this once and it was bc she had some debris in the corner of her eye she was trying to get out. If she is doing it alot I would assume that something on her face is bothering her. or maybe something on her foot is bothering her as well. wait for a few more experienced people to comment on the leg waiving thing. good luck

and welcome

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:05 pm

thank you so much no obvious discharge from either nose or mouth I handled her yesterday and she seemed fine just the huffing and the sneezing Surely i would have noticed discharge from the eye or nose

reaperreptiles · Postby **reaperreptiles** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:15 pm

What type of substrate are you using?

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:19 pm

Beech chip

Fatal_S · Postby **Fatal_S** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:45 pm

Could be she has some stuck shed inside the ear. I wouldn't bug her now since she's new, but maybe once she settles in you can have a look for shed or mites, which could be causing itching.

PS: Keep in mind skinks always have an ear-bag in the ear, that's normal and not stuck shed, so don't go trying to poke/remove anything.

WanderingChai · Postby **WanderingChai** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:56 pm

Read all of the caresheet thoroughly. Use aspen bedding. If the scratching continues seek a vet. Tell us everything about her.
What size tank do you have, How old is she, etc.

Fatal_S · Postby **Fatal_S** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:20 pm

Beech chips are usually fine. I've never heard of any issues from them, and I know a few keepers who use them.

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:30 pm

I have read the care sheet thoroughly and have written very important stuff down. its a 4ft tank, UVB bulb and basking lamp,a big water bowl,basking slate and a hide.the only aspen i could find in any of the pet shops near where i live is the aspen splinters which i use for my corn but have been told not to use them for BTS. It is round about a year old, previous owners weren't sure of age,but its definitely around a year, not sure of the sex either. I did briefly check for mites the day I got her but obviously she was a bit freaked so i havent done a full intense sweep of her.

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:31 pm

I hope i havent done anything wrong :'(

WanderingChai · Postby **WanderingChai** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:45 pm

It all sounds good. My advice is to just leave her alone for a few days, not even touching the tank except to turn the heat on and off and re-filling and cleaning the water bowl. It is probably very scary for her. In a few day try seeing how she's doing. Don't take her out unless it's an emergency(OMG I have to show you to my friends!=Not an emergency

). Good luck!

Fatal_S · Postby **Fatal_S** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:05 pm

Sounds like you're doing fine. The first bit is always the most nerve-wracking. You did get one of the more skittish species, but just relax and be patient and it'll work out

Postby **Katrina** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:25 pm

Welcome to the site!!

Like others have said, give her time to settle and all will be well. It takes some time and patience, but right now she is very stressed and you are a giant predator. :wink:

So give her a week of stress free time to settle, offer food every 3-4 days if she is over a year (but don't worry if she doesn't eat much for the first little while) and then slowly and patiently start working with her.

Good luck!!

xxmonitorlizardxx · Postby **xxmonitorlizardxx** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:59 pm

You should get a fecal exam to be on the safe side.

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:05 pm

thanks guys she was fed sunday and monday apparently before i got her so maybe she just aint hungry.

reaperreptiles · Postby **reaperreptiles** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:36 pm

did you buy her local? or was she shipped to you?

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:10 am

Local

ssr · Postby **ssr** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 1:41 pm

I have a skink that had lost all his toes before I received him and he will wave one of his front feet. I've thought maybe it was due to possible nerve damage in the foot. I really don't know for sure but just wanted to let you know that I have seen the foot waving thing before.

Nightphoenix · Postby **Nightphoenix** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:15 pm

thanks ssr

from what i heard off a mate off of another forum that they tend to do that when either something on their face or foot is bothering them

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