Too much freedom?

[rachel]

Can you have such a thing as too much freedom? sorry i am probably just an overprotective parent, however too give you all an idea of what i mean as i write this my 6 week old BTS(Garry) is exploring the bed. So basically is it okay to allow my BTS to roam the living room, lawn or where ever i am?

[Jenn]

Yup! Just make sure it's warm enough and keep an eye on him. You'd be surprised at what they will find and where they will get into.

[Bird_Brain]

Agreed with Jen. Just like humans, dogs, ect, we all get tired of being cooped up in the house/cage. We need time to get out as well. Im sure it is good mental stimulation for the skink as well.

[NomadOfTheHills]

It's ok, but when he is that little, you want to be careful outside and on the floor of your house. He can fit into many small places, and will be fast and spook easily.

[KyleWeiss]

"Blueyproofing," is usually a good idea, finding the places they can get in, under, around or behind and blocking the access. Picking up anything that could fit in their mouth and removing would also help.

I do it the lazy way and purchased a couple of 18" high playpens and put them around the perimeter of the room, in front of furniture, electronics, etc.

Like John said though, when they're little they're skittish. Movement, light and floor vibrations may make him bolt in an unexpected direction.

KW

[rachel]

okay thanks. Just checking i wasnt accidentally doing him any harm.

[Fatal_S]

I let my guys explore all the time. Pryce and Wocket are allowed on my bed (Wocket must be supervised at all times so as not to jump), all 3 explore outside with me there all the time, all 3 get to explore my bathrooms unsupervised (when I clean tanks) and explore other areas with supervision.

Pryce, being bigger and slower, and good about not leaping from heights, gets to explore more areas than my other 2, and I can leave him in a safe place for a few minutes if needed.

When I go teach groundschool, I take either Cow, Wocket or Pryce with me. Cow and Wocket have to stay cuddled with someone, or exploring the table under supervision. Pryce, again, get to wander the floor and generally have a great time. Last weekend he was wandering all over the office, in and out of doors, and around the parade square, under supervision. I think he had a wonderful time.

Just keep in mind that they can be tricky, and can get into places you wouldn't expect. If there is any, any possibility of the skink being in danger, block it off. In fact Trikks is so small I block off sink drains and my heat vents when he's bathing/exploring, just in case.

Exploring is great for BTS, all my guys seem to love it. I recommend letting them out to explore and wander either daily or every second day.

[mom22wins]

Lately, I've been letting Sammy hang out in the living room while I clean her enclosure. I block off everything that she could possibly get into, under etc. And I block her into the living room.

The other day, after I finished cleaning her enclosure, I came back to get her and I couldn't find her! One good thing about blocking her in, I KNEW she had to be in THAT room and it kept me calm. Eventually I saw her little head peaking out at me from beside one of the toy boxes. She won't come right to me when she has this much freedom going on so I had to go get her. lol She sometimes hisses but never bites or anything. And she's SOOOO cold by then. I usually cuddle her for a second and then put her right under her basking light.

It really bothers me when she gets cold like that. Poor baby.

[Lisa]

Lately, I've been letting Sammy hang out in the living room while I clean her enclosure. I block off everything that she could possibly get into, under etc. And I block her into the living room.

The other day, after I finished cleaning her enclosure, I came back to get her and I couldn't find her! One good thing about blocking her in, I KNEW she had to be in THAT room and it kept me calm. Eventually I saw her little head peaking out at me from beside one of the toy boxes. She won't come right to me when she has this much freedom going on so I had to go get her. lol She sometimes hisses but never bites or anything. And she's SOOOO cold by then. I usually cuddle her for a second and then put her right under her basking light.

It really bothers me when she gets cold like that. Poor baby.

Set up an a basking spot, that's what I do.
Excuse the mess, that's their room and they never clean it!

And a worm or snail or blueberry can usually tempt them out of a tight spot.

[SailleSkinklover]

Duh! Lisa, thats brilliant, why didn't I think of the basking light!!!!!
Chuff had a blast yesterday exploring the bedroom. He was hilarious! When he gets a taste of freedom, he goes "wild". He saw me coming and slithered along the closet doors and plunged himself into a pile of my clothes on the floor. He hung out in there while I cleaned the bathroom.
He moves pretty fast when he wants to, so until I'm satisfied that he's explored everywhere he wants to go, I keep a close eye on him.

He gets free run of the house pretty much, except the kitchen. We have this ancient fridge that has a hole near the bottom, and he discovered it one evening. I didn't want to take the chance, so I got him out of there before he could wedge his head in. Sure enough, there was a hole there big enough for him to cram himself in if he wanted.

Hard boiled egg will always coaxe him out of any weird spots he gets himslef into!
I don't think there can be too much freedom for any creature except certain human beings.

[Lisa]

I don't think too much freedom can ever be considered a bad thing for them, either. I'd hate to be stuck in a tank my whole life. I just make sure the room is secure, that there's a basking spot as well as places for them to go to for a kip, I usually move things around in there every now and then or put something new in there because they're very curious. I can leave them in there unattended, unlike when they're out in the loungeroom or outside.

It's not as good as outside time, but works well when it's bad weather or I'm working.

When Santos or Jubby are in there, you can hear them scraping at the carpet at the door trying to get out. If you open the door they wander right out like you're a doorman waiting on them hand and foot. They're not dumb. Annoying, but not dumb.

[SailleSkinklover]

Hey Lisa, do yours ever lay steamers on the carpet? Or are they somewhat housetrained?

[Lisa]

Hey Lisa, do yours ever lay steamers on the carpet? Or are they somewhat housetrained?

Housetrained. .....Generally! Sometimes Ralphie likes to play games and will do one prior to getting let loose in there but it turns out he held a bit back just for laughs. Real funny, Ralph.

Jubby is what I consider housetrained. He doesn't even go in his tank, only outside. He'd probably use toilet paper if I gave him some. Santos only craps about once a week so once that's out of the way it's pretty safe.

Except for this one time after I fed him egg, that was catastrophic. There's still slight evidence in there of it, I just moved a cupboard over the spot after hours of scrubbing. Please keep that to yourself

[Scotts1au]

Just make sure they can't find a drainpipe. Right Zach?



Scott

[Leigh]

I let Blue out in the spring/summer,even with the heating on its still chilly up against the skirting board and walls,I worry about him getting somewhere and chillin off too much,or getting caught in a draught and not being able to come back out.

[Tattoo]

No eggs for Santos huh?

Hey Saille ... sounds like Jubby can join our "Boys that don't crap in their Viv" club. Wonder if there are any girls out there?

Leigh I'd be worried about my critter outside in cool weather too. Never know what they might get it into their skulls to do.

[Zach]

Just make sure they can't find a drainpipe. Right Zach?



Scott

Oh geez, yeah...

We let our's roam sometimes too...just be sure there are no holes of course and everything is skinkproofed. Watch out for old couches where a skink could crawl up and get caught inside. Remember reclining mechanisms in furniture and subwoofer holes! Moe dee crawled in one one time and we had to take it apart to get her out.

[SailleSkinklover]

Chuffers has a habit of making way toward all the wires behind and under the computer desk. I think he likes the whirring sound and the warmth. I'm training him that if he starts sneaking over there, he gets scooped up and dumped back in his cage!

[shingleback aus]

one time olivia crawled under the heater i took a long time to get her out