Spine dent, what do i do?

[AndrewSeike]

Hi Zach,

You guy isn't doing anything abnormal. Some skinks are definitely more prone to do it than others. Still I believe it's environmentally triggered more than anything congenital.

The "kink" may or may not aleviate itself even with the corrections you have made to your enclosure.

(BTW: good advice people)

Visual barriers, adjusting temps, coverage (provide a proper shelter), all these things may help with the behavior. Good luck and let me know how it goes.

Andrew

[Drew]

my tanny does the same, and also suffered the same dent.
i rearranged his enclosure before and tried to correct that spine, i think
he is ok now.
photos of him are in my photo album

[aggiegirl]

I have a crazy climber too. I think you are covering most of your bases by watching diet, UVB, a visual barrier, and increasing activity. If there is some skeletal problem due to this habit, the increased muscle tone (bluey treadmills, anyone?) might actually take some of the strain off the skeletal system and allow it to mend. In other animals, post surgical physical therapy (think cruciates, herniated discs) usually focuses on maintaining muscle mass (and preventing obesity.) I'm not saying I know if this really benefits blueys (as I doubt there are studies) but it does make sense. (PM Deadeye as he might know.) I wouldn't have him doing steep inclines but I think wandering around catching UV rays would be a great summer activity. Keep us updated.

[SailleSkinklover]

What about having things he can climb over when he's out, like Chuff loves to crawl around, on and over our shoes and boots. He also loves to climb over my 10 lb weights. When he does this activity, he sort of bends his spine opposite of the "dent"and I think it gives him a good work out. Sometimes he even tries to nudge the weights and stuff, like he wants to burrow, and I think that helps him to build and utilize his muscles. I also let him run around in the bedroom, so he really gets to explore and climb over piles of clothes, into the laundry basket, and run alongside the closet door. He will bury himself in blankets, the whole works. Do you have a safe place you can do this with for your little guy?

[Tattoo]

Tattoo loves to climb up the couch and the overstuffed chair. I encourage this because I think it helps his all around well being. Of course I am right there in case he runs amuck.