Stubbs and Elouise Update: Move'n on up!

[Emz3]

So after months and months of housing my skinks in the garage, I finally moved them indoors! Living in Colorado, USA it is SO dry here right now and even after trying many different things, I couldn't get their humidity above 16% and their health was suffering for it I think. They have now been in the house for a week and I think things are on the up! Their basking temps are in the mid 90s and their cool side is in the low 70s. The humidity is now up to 30% and I think I may start misting their tank a couple times a day to help it along even more.

I think they must still be brumating because they are still eating very little and have just slept on the cool side of the tank for days without moving! They are always so cold to the touch! :-/ Correct me if I'm wrong but this is still normal, right? Even though they are indoors now, should I expect them to brumate until Spring?

Also, I've been fighting Stubb's mouth rot issue for about a month now. We saw a vet and I've been cleaning his mouth daily with betadine. The sad thing is he hates me now! He was skitish before and now he panics wildly when I hold him. (My vet said he is the craziest most active skink he's ever met) I'm now re-working with him to make him feel comfortable with me again. However, it's hard because I'm still taking him out daily and cleaning his mouth! Any advise would be appreciated!

I also noticed that his belly scales are so rough and almost bent in the wrong direction. Do you think with the higher humidity this will subside or should I be worried? I also noticed some dried blood on his hands the other day too... He may be a special needs skink... or maybe I'm still a dumb ass skink owner...I'm working on that part. Elouise on the other hand is healthy as a horse, er, skink!

I just wanted to give you all an update and see if you could offer any advise or recommend something I haven't thought of!

Cheers and happy holidays!

[Richard.C]

Sounds like how my northerns brumate,they just seek out cool area,even with hot basking spot available during the day,low night temps and background temp is enough for them to brumate

Mine get active again well before spring though,usually in early july,which is the middle of winter here,but its more consistant by spring

Mine started mating july 18th

[Dan]

With such low humidity, you'll want to watch out for incomplete sheds. Looks like some toes have already been lost, possibly for that reason. A humid hide when you notice it's time to shed might help.

[Emz3]

Thanks Richard!

..and Dan you are correct, all of Stubb's "fingers and toes" have damage due to his first owner neglect. I believe he has had trouble with shedding for a while and I watch him closely each time he does so. I adopted them from a client of mine who had way to many reptiles. I had planned on re-homing them both but fell in love with them. ...That's why I named him Stubbs, cause of his stub-feet! Wlouise on the other hand has perfect delicate little toes and nails!

Here is a question for you guys: Do Meruakes need higher humidity or different temperature settings?

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Do you keep tem together?
Do you know their sexes?

[Cenetri]

Both are such nice skinks! And as for meraukes, I believe they do prefer a slightly higher humidity. Around 40-60% would probably be the best bet, if you can get it that high. Maybe you could do a bit of misting like you said unless he seems to be getting by perfectly fine and shedding well. Maybe a bit of a moist hide would help too?

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Most people keep Meraukes with higher humidity.
But some people kept them in low humidity environments with no ill effects.

[Emz3]

Thanks Cenetri, that is helpful!

xxmonitorlizardxx, I do keep them together for now. Working on a better set up. They were housed together previously. I had bought a custom made enclosure for them to be separated but it didn't fit in the room that I wanted them in so now we are back to square one.

I don't know their sex. I've been told by several people including a zoo vet that they are male and female. However I have not done a test to confirm so I honestly don't know. I have multiple hides in their tank so they don't fight over one or two for what it's worth. I know I'm taking a chance with them being housed together (even though my vet says its fine! O_o).

If I can't clear up his mouth rot soon, I'll be heading back to the vet. Hopefully the higher humidity helps!

[Lea]

I'd be wanting them apart, particularly with the mouth issues, just in case there is a chance of cross infection. It's a shame you couldn't get the new enclosures to fit. Hopefully you will soon, it would be awful to see them fight and hurt one another.

Both of them are lovely skinks though. Great colours.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Thanks Cenetri, that is helpful!

xxmonitorlizardxx, I do keep them together for now. Working on a better set up. They were housed together previously. I had bought a custom made enclosure for them to be separated but it didn't fit in the room that I wanted them in so now we are back to square one.

I don't know their sex. I've been told by several people including a zoo vet that they are male and female. However I have not done a test to confirm so I honestly don't know. I have multiple hides in their tank so they don't fight over one or two for what it's worth. I know I'm taking a chance with them being housed together (even though my vet says its fine! O_o).

If I can't clear up his mouth rot soon, I'll be heading back to the vet. Hopefully the higher humidity helps!

I'm not worried about them fighting. Rather I'm concerned about the infection, and/or them breeding and producing intergrade offspring.

[Emz3]

Thank you all! I was a vet tech for 8 years and can't believe I never considered the possibility of Stubbs passing on the bacteria/infection to Ellouise! I feel dumb! The good news is the higher humidity and the betadine are FINALLY working! His mouth looks better! He just started shedding so I gave him an extra soak in the tub today in hopes of helping him shed better!

Thanks again!

[kenn]

Mouth rot is only contagious when hygiene is't respected.

Due to overgrowth of flagelates, stress, poor environment, etc..

But anyway, sick animals should always be kept separately.
Goodluck!

[dsteamn]

Ha ha. I have one named Stubbs too, only his back feet were chewed down to the bone by super worms so he has no toes or pads of his feet. He basically has a stump on one foot.

I commented on your other post, but emu oil will help his skin if he is having scale issues. I also fold a wet bath towel and let him crawl around in it. He loves this, especially if I warm it up before I put him in it. It does the same thing as a humid hide but gives him the rough of the towel to be able to rub on to get the old skin off.

[Spindown]

yep, like others have said, sick animals should be QT'd IMO. I would also never keep 2 skinks together ever. The worry is just not worth it. You can get a large sterilite tub and clip a lamp on top if you need an emergency "tank" area. Not pretty but its definitely worth it to make sure your skinks are always safe until you can upgrade!

[Emz3]

Thank you everyone! The advise is much appreciated! Mouth rot is gone! He also just shed and looks great! His mouth looks better and his raised dry scales are no more!