Another new skink owner, questions...

[Leigh]

Another idea for fixing to the glass are the suckers, we getem from hard ware stores they, stick to tiles/glass/ceramic to hang towels/bog roll holders and the such like, just a thought any tape used for fixing is dodgy as adhession lessens with humidity and time

[Mach10X]

Suggestions for mounting inside the viv? Masking tape is the first thing that comes to mind. Pictures of such set-ups would also be cool.
By heater I mean a Repticare Ceramic Infrared Heat Emiitter, that's what's inside the circular lamp housing.

Don't worry about the probing guys, it ain't gonna happen. Please keep the suggestions coming, though.

M...m...masking tape?

KW

Perhaps Kaijubait meant MOUNTing tape. Masking tape is specifically made to come off easily and not leave a residue...it's used for "masking" while painting.

[Fatal_S]

Ceramic heaters and infrared coil type heater work just fine on dimmers.

I'd suggest about 6" from the basking spot for the UVB light.

You will cut their life significantly if you use a dimmer on a ceramic heater or an infrared heater. They are cheaply made and do not respond well to the drop in hHz along the line. I have never had it happen, nor have I known anyone to, but I've heard stories of them causing the wires and plug to heat up enough to melt and touch, starting electrical fires because of the resistance load on the line to the dimmer switch.

KW

Woah **** Kyle. The first line made my heart stop! I thought you were talking about cutting the lizards life short if you used a dimmer! My eyes must have been huge. I had to re-read so many times to understand. I need a nap...

[blueygirl83]

I'd just got my skinky about 2 weeks ago and she acted the SAME way...she didn't come out much at first and didn't really eat anything...I started to flip a little because she's like...my CHILD! But I actually turned her heat up (hot spot around mid 90's and cool end mid 70's) and just made a point to take her out and keep her social and she's been coming out a lot more and eating quite a bit more. Especially the meat--she loves the natural-type canned cat food, or baby food...LOVES banana...snubs her greens. They say getting a food processor and mixing it all together helps though.

[KyleWeiss]

Perhaps Kaijubait meant MOUNTing tape. Masking tape is specifically made to come off easily and not leave a residue...it's used for "masking" while painting.

Thanks for clarifying. That'll teach me to use duct tape when I cut and corner a room...

KW

[KyleWeiss]

Ceramic heaters and infrared coil type heater work just fine on dimmers.

I'd suggest about 6" from the basking spot for the UVB light.

You will cut their life significantly if you use a dimmer on a ceramic heater or an infrared heater. They are cheaply made and do not respond well to the drop in hHz along the line. I have never had it happen, nor have I known anyone to, but I've heard stories of them causing the wires and plug to heat up enough to melt and touch, starting electrical fires because of the resistance load on the line to the dimmer switch.

KW

Woah **** Kyle. The first line made my heart stop! I thought you were talking about cutting the lizards life short if you used a dimmer! My eyes must have been huge. I had to re-read so many times to understand. I need a nap...

Ech... I can see how that might have seemed that way... I'm not into giving away free heart attacks, unless you promise to come out as a zombie that fights for justice with me.

Anywho, yeah, I'd vote against infra-red/ceramic heaters on dimmer switches.

KW

[kaijubait]

Nothing real eventful happened last night. She was back to hiding when I came in, and hissed/huffed a lot more today, which was actually kind of cute. Did some sneezing, too. She likes to climb around my shoulders.
Today is feeding day, we'll see how her appetite has progressed.

[Omega]

They say getting a food processor and mixing it all together helps though.

I can verify that, my baby indo can't avoid the greens now.

[Pr0zAc]

I'd just got my skinky about 2 weeks ago and she acted the SAME way...she didn't come out much at first and didn't really eat anything...I started to flip a little because she's like...my CHILD!

Well my friggin skink whom I finally came up with a name...Hyde. Because he NEVER comes out when I'm around and I've had him almost a month now. Even when I let him outside all he does is go hide in the grass or underneath me. And he constantly huffs and puffs. He hates me still. It's kind of getting annoying but I love him still even though he is a turd.

[blueygirl83]

Haha Pea still huffs and puffs at me when I try and take her out, or at new people. So I just take her out even more. She hates her legs being touched, she acts like it tickles...so I do it more. And it kind of desensitizes her to it. She's been getting better. Just keep harassing him and he'll have no choice but to get over it eventually! I think the huffing and puffing thing's kind of amusing anyway, haha.

[kaijubait]

Well, just got finished feeding her some chicken. The weird thing is, it was like feeding an invalid... as though she didn't know how to eat herself (although I know she ate of some the veggies I left for her this morning). I held the chicken up to her face, she licked it, like before, then gobbled it down when I stuck it in her mouth... I don't think she would have eaten it otherwise.
Pics.
Food bowl this morning:

this evening:

Me feeding her chicken:

[Lisa]

Good stuff! You might want to cut her portions a little smaller, make them mouth size. I cut banana pieces like that in half again, or quarters if she's a baby. Are they apple pieces? I think they're a bit big, might be a bit hard for her to chew up and swallow. Actually, ditch the apple for some veggies

Also try experimenting with the time of day you feed her. She might prefer eating at night rather than morning or vice versa. If you feed her at night, leave her heat light on a little longer so she can digest.

[KyleWeiss]

Agreed, Lis.

KW

[Lisa]

Agreed, Lis.

KW

Hey, I'm not just a pretty face. Well actually, not even one!
I've fed mine tinned apple as a treat (they all have sweet tooths) but I don't know that apples really do it for blueys. Well, I can't imagine them eating them in the wild knowing where apples are grown in Aus, and knowing that bluey populations aren't prevalent there.

[KyleWeiss]

It's hard to find canned apples here; I actually like them. Canned pears and peaches too...

KW

[Lisa]

It's hard to find canned apples here; I actually like them. Canned pears and peaches too...

KW

Pears, yes. Peaches (and apricots)
They sell them in the baking aisle. For pies. mmmm....pies....aarrggghhh

[KyleWeiss]

Oh! I almost forgot to mention.

If you keep feeding your skink by hand, kaiju, you're going to be encouraging bad habits, and your skink will be harder to feed (on it's own) down the road. Just leave the food there, yes in smaller pieces, and hunger will prevail. I promise.

KW

[thesilverbeast]

you didnt tell me that when i asked a similar question kyle!


my yoshi ate for himself for the first time in my care today, i put my foot down and said "im not feeding you, if you want food you have to get it yourself!" and after a week it worked!


(during that time he shed so thats probably why it wasnt sooner)


and to kaijubait, just be persistent, i had no hope i would see yoshi eat for himself but tonight he proved me wrong, im glad to be wrong this time

[Nature's Gift]

It's hard to find canned apples here; I actually like them. Canned pears and peaches too...

KW

Try looking for "pie apple" - might be in a different section of the supermarket - like the cooking section.

[KyleWeiss]

you didnt tell me that when i asked a similar question kyle!


my yoshi ate for himself for the first time in my care today, i put my foot down and said "im not feeding you, if you want food you have to get it yourself!" and after a week it worked!


(during that time he shed so thats probably why it wasnt sooner)


and to kaijubait, just be persistent, i had no hope i would see yoshi eat for himself but tonight he proved me wrong, im glad to be wrong this time

I don't catch them all, sorry... I'm only one babbling forum member...

Kaij, have faith, your new pal will eat on his/her/it's own soon.

KW