hey there! about a year ago i decided my next reptilian companion would be a skink, and with a reptile expo coming up next month and petco's dollar a gallon sale going on right now, i figured i should start getting ready
so i have a couple of questions
1) im looking to get a northern, and preferably male (due to naming plans, although if its female i really wouldnt mind too much) but the problem is i'd like either a baby or juvie, so would there be any point in asking the breeder it's sex or does it have to be a certain age until they can be assessed (for lack of a better word)
2) ive read in multiple places that dog food can be fed as a staple and because i own a dog, i'd like to know if i can feed the BTS the same stuff I do for my pooch.
i feed him health extension brand dog food (dry) and a variaty of cesar brand dog food (wet) does anyone know if these are safe for BTS or if there are other types that you can vouch for, that would be appreciated too!
3) whats the best substrate to use? ive heard that aspen is good but it's hard to come by cheap and i mainly see carefresh in the local petstores, ive read that its fine to use, but i'd just like to make sure!
cheers, and thanks for any help!
future BTS owner here with a few questions!
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In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts.
If you are wondering if your BTS is acting normally or might be sick, this is where you can get help with that.
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In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts.
If you are wondering if your BTS is acting normally or might be sick, this is where you can get help with that.
This is also where you can have some FUN while sharing the enjoyment you get from your blueys!
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gavinners
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alichamp
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Re: future BTS owner here with a few questions!
Hi and welcome.
1) it is actually quite difficult to sex a bluey and even experienced keepers have been fooled. A reputable breeder is probably unlikely to tell you the sex of younger ones (thought they may share their hunch).
My advice is not to worry too much about the sex but to be more certain about the actual species and that the person you are buying from is actually a breeder. Expos are very difficult and many newbies are fooled by what they buy very often coming back with a completely different species and likely import when they wanted a captive born and bred. The person you buy from should be able to show you pictures of the parents, tell you the date it was born and tell you its history (eg feeding, shedding etc).
2) Yes, wet dog food mixed with veggies that have been in the food processor is a good staple. Check out the Diet chart and Feeding threads. The main thing to look for in dog food is there is not too much filler. Also don't choose any with onion/garlic stuff or seafood. Here are a bunch of links I've previously put together - you can also use the search box to look up posts.
3) Substrate depends on which species you get. Aspen can be a little too dry so if it's also hard to you to get (or too expensive) other options like a coconut husk fibre are better. Check out this thread on Substrates along with other recent threads in the General Discussion Forum and great information in the Frequently Asked Questions.
1) it is actually quite difficult to sex a bluey and even experienced keepers have been fooled. A reputable breeder is probably unlikely to tell you the sex of younger ones (thought they may share their hunch).
My advice is not to worry too much about the sex but to be more certain about the actual species and that the person you are buying from is actually a breeder. Expos are very difficult and many newbies are fooled by what they buy very often coming back with a completely different species and likely import when they wanted a captive born and bred. The person you buy from should be able to show you pictures of the parents, tell you the date it was born and tell you its history (eg feeding, shedding etc).
2) Yes, wet dog food mixed with veggies that have been in the food processor is a good staple. Check out the Diet chart and Feeding threads. The main thing to look for in dog food is there is not too much filler. Also don't choose any with onion/garlic stuff or seafood. Here are a bunch of links I've previously put together - you can also use the search box to look up posts.
3) Substrate depends on which species you get. Aspen can be a little too dry so if it's also hard to you to get (or too expensive) other options like a coconut husk fibre are better. Check out this thread on Substrates along with other recent threads in the General Discussion Forum and great information in the Frequently Asked Questions.
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