Hello Im New Here! And Im allready haveing some troubles...

[MrKent]

Hello everyone call me Kent! I grew up owning 2 bearded dragons and I just adored them. However they passed they away several years ago due to getting sick and we couldn't really afford a vet visit at the time. RIP Scooby and Scrapy. Moving on about a month ago I decided I really want a new reptilian friend, and after some research I decided a Blue Tongue Skink was the companion for me! So I got a cage all set up and ready to go. And I have know been a proud owner of an Eastern BTS named Elanor for over a week, she is about 6-8months old btw. We had a rough first 2-3 days with her not eating and starting up shedding right when she got to her new home. But she is now done shedding, regularly eating and drinking, and basking, as far as I know. See the thing is iv never actually seen her since she first crawled into one of her hides on the day I got her. I expected this to to be normal for the first several days. I know she is out while I'm gone at work cause the food is gone and she has left me a little surprise in her cage. I get home around 5pm and she is all ready in one of her hides or completely burred in substrate somewhere. So I figured I would see her on the weekend and I could try bonding with her. But she just doesn't want to come out of hiding when people are around. I have heard story's of some peoples BTS becoming super independent and not letting their owners handle them from them not getting enough human interaction. I really want to form a bond with my BTS! What should I do? Is it ok to take her out of her hide/ unburry her and handle her. So she will get used to me. Or should I just keep waiting for her to come out of hiding while I am around.

Thank you for any advice you can give me in advance! And it is wonderful to meet you all!

[Susann]

Welcome and congratulations!

First things first, could you post a picture, so we know for sure what kind we're talking about?
Then second, did you read the threads in the FAQ section above here?

[MrKent]

This is not actually the BTS that I have, this was the other BTS that was kept in the same cage at the pet store that I bought the BTS that I currently know have. But they look exactly the same. Except for the dirt in the mouth. And yes I did read the FQA which answered almost every single question I have but. I don't know how I am supposed to bond with my BTS when I haven't seen in her in over a week.

[Susann]

You sir, have a Halmahera Indonesian.

They very much tend to be more timid and shy, and may require some time.

I know you are anxious about seeing your skink, making sure she's OK, and wanting to start interacting with her. I would honestly give it another week or two, just to let her stress levels come down nice and good after all she's been through. After another week or two of just changing her water and food, if you ever see her out, just calmly but assuredly pick her up. Check the thread in FAQ how to securely do it, then sit down on the floor, or a near-by couch, and put her on your lap, see what happens.

[MrKent]

Thank you very much of the help! I didn't even know that was a type of BTS. besides being a bit more shy is there anything else I should know about her specific breed?

[Susann]

Yes. You need to keep humidity very high, in the 80% range, and/or give her a humid hide.
Other than that, you should be good to go.

On the left on this page is a list of sub/species, check the one on Indonesians. I know you won't see pictures of skinks looking like yours because at that time, we hadn't seen any Halmahera types yet, but the info there is still good to read:
http://bluetongueskinks.net/

[MrKent]

Keeping the humidity up should not be a problem as I have been having trouble keeping it down xD but I guess I don't need to worry about that anymore. Thank you again for all the fantastic information you have provided!

[Susann]

[Edward]