New to the world of BTS

[SailleSkinklover]

You know, I bring my Skink with me between two households. . . he travels very very well! I just keep him warm and dark en route. He's a good traveller and very laid back. But he's a chunka big boy, at 22 inches total length!
That said, he's perfectly fine to be left alone for several days at a time as well. I may be biased and partial to him but I find him very flexible and adaptable in personality. Maybe I got lucky with my guy.
I also bring my cresties with me, and they travel in small critter keepers. No problems there either.
Just my experience. . .

[PsyKoViggy]

Perhaps a Crested Gecko would suit you then?
If you put its lighting on a timer that wouldn't be an issue, and because they are nocturnal it would be out in the evening when you got home from work.
Its small enough to take with you or, if you have to leave it in the care of relatives or friends, it can eat a special Crested Gecko Diet which is a very simple 'just add water' thing which doesn't need suplimenting or anything, so you'd know he was getting everything he needed. They can be handled but its best not to handle them loads, which wouldn't be a problem if you were working.

Good luck with what ever you decide!

[Blotch]

Gecko talk on a bluey forum. Probably should be back on the bluey topic.

The major problem with you getting a bluey is the fact that you're away from home doing lighting for gigs huh? hmmm, How often would you say you're away from home?

[Tattoo]

I think you should start with a plant. If you don't kill that try a goldfish. Working 80 hours per week and monthly tours away from home will conflict with the enjoyment of your bluey.

[Leigh]

You'd need a well informed skink sitter to trust, if your away for weeks at a time.

[Shadowfax]

My bluey is my first reptile pet as well and has been awesome. I travel A LOT during the summer, but am generally not away overnight for more than three days in a row -- bluey is fine with that. Really, they don't care too much if you are not there all the time as long as they have food and water. And in the space of just a week, they don't even need food.

Now, being gone for a month at a time, it would be ok as long as you had a very reliable skinky caretaker. I totally understand having a crazy life/schedule and a lot of travel, but it can work as long as you're willing to go above and beyond the call to make sure pet(s) are properly cared for.

[SirGalahaut]

Thanks guys much apperciated. My job is to the point where i never have two weeks that are the same. There are times where I have lots of one day gigs but i sleep in my bed. But sometimes i get sent out on a week long gig and I'm sleeping at a motel. The only issue i really thing I would run into is if I go on Tour but that screws everything up in my life not just taking care of a pet. As it is and there are tons of things I have to take care of in advance. I have lots of friends who have cats and dogs who they have people take care for them. If I were to get a reptile I would teach someone close to me how to properly take care of them. Or possibly find someone with the same reptile to take care of them for me. Thanks again.

[Blotch]

Sounds like a plan SirGalahaut! The main thing you need to worry about is that your guy was being cared for properly, if you think you can achieve ths - then sweet!

Let us know how you go!

[SirGalahaut]

well I'm pretty sure I will end up getting a bluey. But since i'm new to the reptile world I still have a few questions. Mainly for somebody who is new to BTS as well as reptiles would it be better for me to get a baby or should I look at getting an adult instead? Are there things i need to know before getting a young BTS (if I decide to go that way)?

[shingleback aus]

well with babys they are genrally more work then adults you will probably feed it once a day compared to an adult you feed every three days there are more edgey and bitey then an adult and adult are more docile and layed back with handling they both have good and bad points when im buying i usally go for sub adults they are still young yet less demanding then a baby although its an individual preference:D good luck

[MartinsPerson]

First off, welcome to BTS.net. Its a great group here, I think you'll be impressed.

Second, Have you had a chance to check out the caresheet? Its a wealth of information and would give you a really accurate picture of what caring for a bluey would mean.

As a baby, your bluey would require quite a bit more care than an adult. I fed my youngest daily for over a month after I got him, then switched to every other day. When he starts waking up more, I plan to feed every third day. Both of my adults are eating about 3-4 times a week.

As far as time commitment goes, I don't handle my blueys as much as some people do, and I'd say that I devote about 2-3 hours average to them per week. The bulk of that time is once a week when I make up their veggies. I choose several items off of the food charts, and then chop it all up in a food processor, and I store the lot of it in the refrigerator. After that, I just dish it out and mix with dog or cat food when its time to feed.
I don't eat a lot of meat, so the bulk of my protein comes from pet food. I do try to make sure that they get some live foods, but that doesn't happen as often as I'd like. My lights are all on timers, and I check their water when I feed them.

I have left my blueys for a week before and they were fine, I just made sure that they had enough water. Much more than a week and I'd get a little concerned, just from a water stance. If you had a reliable neighbor you could just have them come once or twice and feed/water, then you'd be fine.

[Leigh]

For a water supply, you could use a water dripper, I had this with my chameleon,it dripped into a bowl via the Ficus tree,if you've no plants, just drip into a bowl for your bts to sip at his leisure. With regards to food they dont need the routine set up for most pets and can go long periods(weeks) without food, at least this way he'll never get fat from over feeding,and on a side note,no food will intern lead to no pooooooh!! so there wont be a need to clean him out.