Help Me Out? Always out of the cage!

[tylociraptor]

Well, when I decided on what I wanted in terms of a lizard for my new cage last July, and got Misha, oen of the main things that had drawn me to blueys were that they were rumored to be personable.

Well, maybe I'll get lucky and she'll enjoy company, I thought. Oh my, I had no idea what it would be like!

Misha's cage is 4' wide and 2' deep. It's filled with aspen, three different designated hiding holes, a "shelf" for her food, a basking rock, and a water dish, as well as some grapewood. There's plenty for her to hide in, burrow in, and climb over. But every day, when I get home from work, she comes out from hiding or over from basking, and it starts.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Puuuuush. Huff. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. One day, I had picked up one of my leopard geckos to check him for a suspected injury. Suddenly, Misha, who had been watching at the front of her cage started scratching frantically at the door. She can see the other lizards all the time, but never really gives the more than a glance... was she... could she have been... jealous?? I wouldn't assume it but shes constantly begging to come out anytime anyone comes in the room (and gets her way more often than not, how can I say no to sitting with her and enjoying her company).

My questions are... well, is this normal? Average? Abnormal? is her being out for extended periods of time (an hour, two hours, falling asleep on my hand or by her little basking lamp on my desk) harmful to her? She practically leaps out when you open the door, and she spends as much time as she can either out, or begging to BE out. Should I be adding more things to her cage for her to explore or play with?

Thanks guys, in advance!

[Lea]

She might be just wanting to explore, but another reason may be that it's too hot in the tank. Check all the temps and make sure their is a good hot to cool gradient.

If the environment is ok, then she's most likely just exploratory. Increasing the tank size might help, but not too likely. Putting obstacles near the glass for her to climb over or around sometimes gives a distraction and added interest. Otherwise, consider her clued up enough to recognise there is a world outside her window- they are very intelligent little creatures.

[tylociraptor]

Hm. The temps are stable around 100 - 105 on the hot side, around 85 on the cool side, depending on the temperature of my room. I do have one of her tunnel hides up near the window (in front of her sleepy hide, keeps her from getting too much light into her hide when she's sleeping) but maybe I should try something on the other side too.

Maybe she is just clever! She does look directly at you, and stops scratching when you approach the door.

[Laurenk]

That sounds a little bit annoying sometimes, but really really cute! I hope mine loves to be out!

[Coomassie]

Coomassie is kind of like that. He always wants out when we are home. He spends a good bit of the day in his enclosure so when we get home he just waits and waits for us to let him out. If I open the enclosure to change his water or spot clean he comes running out. He expects to watch tv on Saturday and Sunday morning and to keep me company while I'm getting dressed for work. He stays up past when his light goes off the in the evening hoping to romp around the living room. He is just a bit attention hungry (and probably just hungry because he is a pig).

[hurricanejen]

My male Northern is so bad about pacing the glass even in his 4 x 2 x 2 enclosure that I honestly just give him the run of the apartment, with a basking area in the kitchen to keep him from climbing in the fridge (it was effective - I haven't seen a lizard tail hanging out of the fridge since I put up the basking area).

Certainly gives guests a bit of a start when they see him just cruise by, but he really looks a lot better than he did in the cage and is still his sweet, personable self. The girls are all fine in their cages, never had an issue there, but I think when he used to escape as a younger skink, he got a taste for free roaming and can't deal with the confinement now. I don't recommend it if you can help it...he does leave me presents in unpleasant places, but most of the time he's predictable and potties in the bathroom on the tile. Feeding him can be tricky with my dog around - for the dog, not him, as he will chase my dog off his own food. He drinks from the dog bowl and prefers to sleep in my laundry basket.

-Jen

[Lea]

Hurricanejen, dogs around with a bluey loose in the house? What are you thinking? Particularly at food time, common sense please, people!

[BruinsEv]

Dude, I got a bluey from the same clutch as you and my situation is the COMPLETE opposite. I would LOVE to be in your situation. Emma is in one of her hides or burrowed all day, and only comes out to bask for a bit, then back under. I have to dig her out of her hide just to hold her.

[Spindown]

My male Northern is so bad about pacing the glass even in his 4 x 2 x 2 enclosure that I honestly just give him the run of the apartment, with a basking area in the kitchen to keep him from climbing in the fridge (it was effective - I haven't seen a lizard tail hanging out of the fridge since I put up the basking area).

Certainly gives guests a bit of a start when they see him just cruise by, but he really looks a lot better than he did in the cage and is still his sweet, personable self. The girls are all fine in their cages, never had an issue there, but I think when he used to escape as a younger skink, he got a taste for free roaming and can't deal with the confinement now. I don't recommend it if you can help it...he does leave me presents in unpleasant places, but most of the time he's predictable and potties in the bathroom on the tile. Feeding him can be tricky with my dog around - for the dog, not him, as he will chase my dog off his own food. He drinks from the dog bowl and prefers to sleep in my laundry basket.

-Jen

I absolutely would not condone this behavior at all, but everyone must make that decision for themselves. For me, I know that my new dog would kill the skinks if they got out, if not by design, by accident for sure. Dogs can go from no interest to OMG WHAT IS THAT!? From 0 to 60 in no time flat. And if the dog didnt, my cat would try, and one or both/all animals could easily be severly injured.

There are several reasons a scenario like this is dangerous other than other animals being a danger. Lack of a proper temperature gradient would be incredibly hard to do, especially with a non-arboreal species like blueys, even with lamps all over the house.Also, blueys have been known to eat anything...from camera cords (whole, I've seen a picture and OMG wow!) to lucky charms marshmallows (a personal experience oops) to ROCKS! A bluey could eat anything that even the most fastidious person could leave out by accident or not realize that they are a danger. Also the poop on the floor. Very unsanitary, even if you have all tile or wood floors, although I suppose it would be "better". I get grossed out by a lot though, so maybe I'm off here and it wouldnt be so unsanitary? Another, consideration is what would happen if somehow the bluey got outside? Is the outside climate even possible for blueys to sustain life until (if you are insanely lucky) you find them? Or what happens if it gets stuck in the vent systems of the house, or under a hole in a cabinet and then the whole area would have to be ripped apart? (I've heard a LOT of those type of stories with a variety of species of critters from lizards to hedgehogs etc and it costs you $$$$$)
--------------------

HOWEVER: There are some GREAT ways for blueys to get exersize, both in the house and outside. Plastic play pools with substrate and toys etc to dig and play in, custom made enclosures that let them explore grass, etc, or simple supervised exploring time! I let mine explore in my reptile room under VERY CLOSE supervision, as well as outside in an area where its blocked off and they cant escape (because OMG they can be FAST!) I'm sure there are more great ideas in the threads here

Making sure that the area is safe is the #1 priority, but that doesnt mean you cant get creative and find new places!

[Fatal_S]

My solution was to get a dozen more skinks!
...
It didn't help

To start with, sounds like the cool side might be too warm, by about 10*. Any way you can reduce it a bit? Hot side seems great.

Consider stopping by dollarama and grabbing random skink-safe items. Cycle through them in the tank whenever she's getting antsy, providing the skink with something "new" and interesting to check out regularly. Unlike many reptiles, most skinks seem to appreciate tank-updates and new things to explore.

Can you make a skink-safe play-area? It has to be secure in that the skink can't get out or get into anything dangerous, and nothing else can get to the skink, but it's a great option if you can manage it. If it's nicely sealed you can toss in bugs or other snacks for the skink to hunt sometimes.

Inside the tank, you can try to place items to block the view of the front. I usually have a log right at the front of the tank if I can - blocks their access to the scratching spot. Only limited success with this though.