Weird Behavior

[Barbel]

Hi there!! I have 2 skinks right now and they are so much fun! My first skink is about a year old and I have him for about 7 months now. I take him outside often and normally he enjoys leisurely walks around the yard and basking in the sun. Recently when I take him outside, he frantically runs to a bush or tall grasses and hides. He won't move until I pull him out in which he immediately returns for cover! Why would he suddenly be so scared? This began before I adopted the second skink.
My other skink I have just recently adopted. He is 9 years old and beautiful! I don't know the sex of either skink so I decided to place them together to identify "gender by behavior". The youngest one, who has never seen another skink before, holds very still and stares. He seems very scared! The other one :chin: stares but has a relaxed posture, then wonders off. Now from reading the care sheet to me, that seems like they are both females??
I was also wondering about probing. The care sheet talks in detail about popping, which I don't want to do, but I was wondering how safe/successful is probing? What would I be looking for? I was also wondering about taking them to a vet for blood/DNA tests to determine the sexes. Can anyone estimate a cost for that? I don't want to breed or anything I would just like to know. I mean how would you feel if you were a dude being called "she" all the time or vice versa!?! Any info would help, sorry about the long post!!

[Blotch]

Ok first things first, Blueys don't care what you call them. Second - probing can be dangerous. I've been successful with the squeeze method. Basically you gently squeeze the base of the tail just behind the back legs. If you were to look where you are doing it from beneath - you would be slightly behind the vent. Anyway - if it's soft and squishy - more than likely you have a Male - if it's hard (solid) you have a girl. Reason for this is that if there are hemipenes, the area in which you are gently squeezing is where they sit, and you should be able to feel them.

So far i've been spot on with all my blueys doing it this way, and I now have 11 blueys.

Another way is to make sure they are seperate, and look out for sperm plugs when they poo. This will happen ALOT more around Spring time if you have a male.

The run and hide thing sounds like normal bluey behaviour to me - nothing to worry about, just keep an eye on it so it doesn't run away!

Post some pics too or leigh will hunt you down! j/k

[Barbel]

Ok first things first, Blueys don't care what you call them.

Have a sense of humor!

[Blotch]

Ok first things first, Blueys don't care what you call them.

Have a sense of humor!

I do have one - but believe it or not - some people would've taken you seriously. In actual fact - I probably have one of the most twisted and strange sense of humours.

[Tattoo]

Another good way to spot a male is to watch when they poop. A male will often show his equipment during potty time. Sounds kinda gross but it works. You gotta get right down on the floor and get a front row seat. I would avoid any type of invasive action to sex your bluey ... not worth the risk. And hey give them genderless names to avoid confusion.

[Barbel]

They genderless names, but even so everyone still says "he." I guess I will be on poopy patrol for a while. It will difficult though since I work nights and they are sleeping when I come home.

[Fatal_S]

For your outdoor problem, when you take the BTS out, have a balled up towel or something, and right away put the skink in there. Then it can decide if it wants to come out again. It may have scented a cat/dog, or had a bird pass over it, and now it's spooked. Stay with it, interact however is normal for you (if you talk to it inside, do that outside, if you pet it's head, do that, etc), and offer some treats. It could just be a phase he's going through.

[SailleSkinklover]

I have to second the "bird" thing here. My Chuffie is normally content to explore while outside but one day when we were out in the yard, he suddenly freaked and ran under my legs! (I was sitting down and he ran between them, naughty skink!)
I actually didn't see anything, but where I live, there are ravens, jays, crows, bald eagles, herons, any number of large hunting birds and raptors. So he may have seen something I didn;t, and ever since then, he's skittish. I always always always always supervise directly when we are outside.
(for many reasons other than predators!)

[Fatal_S]

Even an airplane in a place with few birds could set them off.

Yes, always supervise, and always be within grabbing distance. A bird can swoop down extremely quickly, or a cat can grab and go, and if you're across the yard, you're screwed. If you can't sit beside it the whole time, I'd suggest building an outdoor pen, portable if needed.

[Barbel]

I am always near them when they are outside. Mostly because I have two dogs that always want to play with them (never in a mean way!!) if I am close I can keep them at bay! Plus I don't want them crawling under something where I can't get them out. I am going to build them each an outdoor enclosure with a latched screen top sometime this year, that way I don't have to babysit them all day.
Another question, about what age do skinks stop growing? Well, length wise anyway, I know they can always get fatter!

[Fatal_S]

Depends on what kind of skink. A Northern can be fully grown at 2, while a tanny can take many years. Also depends on food. So long as it isn't losing weight don't worry. If you want to breed, I'd say age 2 or 3, mostly it depends on weight and body condition.

[Blotch]

Even an airplane in a place with few birds could set them off.

What's an Air plane other than The sky?

Do you mean Aeroplane?



Sorry - I'm a stickler for little things like that.

[Fatal_S]

We often call them Airplanes. I don't go around saying I fly Aeroplanes, I fly Airplanes. Even my spell check says Airplane instead of aeroplane.

[Blotch]

We often call them Airplanes. I don't go around saying I fly Aeroplanes, I fly Airplanes. Even my spell check says Airplane instead of aeroplane.

Hmm interesting - I'll let this go (for all those thinking I'm hijacking the post), It just tweaked my interest. The correct word is actually Aeroplane - but I guess this is an American thing much like night and nite. Saying you fly AIRPLANES is like saying you fly the sky.

BTW - I do realize you're in Canada - however, It's more than likely an Americanised term adopted you Canadians. Shameful! You're losing your british heritage like Us Aussies are with many things.

[SailleSkinklover]

I don't think reptiles actually literally stop growing like mammals do. They reach an adult size and slow down considerably and their size is probably genetically pre-determined so you won't get Blueys the size of crocodiles or anything absurd like that, (could you imagine being licked by a gigantic Blue Tongue?!? ) but I think they do continue growing, however slightly, throughout their lives.

Someone correct me if I'm a total idiot here?

[Fatal_S]

You are correct. Reptiles never truly stop growing. It does slow down to the point of being barely noticeable though. We have members who measure their skink every year, and you still get an inch every year or so with adults.

Northerns and IJs grow the faster to start with. Babies can reach adult size in less than 2 years. Tannies grow slowest, at a rate that doesn't change much over the years. Andrew Seike pointed out that his silver tannies are just now turning white, which is new for these proven breeding animals.