BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

A few days ago I noticed a scuff on the side of his face. One spot was in front of his eye, and one on his chin. No big deal, just little scratches. I thought he just had a misadventure, because he's really really active throughout the day. Then a few days later, it looked more prominent. I thought it was just the healing process. Whatever he did, he has done yet again, because here's what it looked like yesterday: click here
(I'm not embedding this image because it's hard to look at )

It looks bloody, but I don't think it actually bled. Everything in his cage has been there since I got him, but the enclosure itself is new (it is a glasscages acrylic slider). What I think he's doing is sticking his nose in the gap between the sliding glass doors and the front "lip" that holds substrate in. The lip sort of has a rough edge, and if you look closely it's the back of the scales that were torn -- like he stuck his nose in a small space, got it caught, then ripped his head back really violently. The dark irritated spots above and below the injury line up, like you can pass a straight line (e.g. a ledge) straight through them. That's what makes me think he's sticking his head in there. He became obsessed with those doors when he learned he can climb out when I open them. I am just guessing though. I filled the gaps with cardboard for now so he can't do it again.

So my questions are... Has anyone else ever had a skink do something like this to themselves? Is there anything I can do for now aside from keep the cage really clean? Vet visit required?

Just try and keep it clean with saline washing and put some ointment on, to stop any infection setting in.With any luck it might go after a few sheds.

Poor Ping. I can't say I have had a similar experience. I agree with Leigh though about the after care process. I'll be sending good thoughts for our little friend.

Thanks, Leigh and Tam. This morning it looked more brown and less red, so I guess it's scabbing over. What sort of ointment should I use? Like Neosporin?

Caught in the act? He is just fascinated by these doors... Maybe I should just make a curtain for the front...?

More evidence: 1, 2, 3

Looks to me like Ping knows the way out and is trying to figure an escape. They are too smart. And yes I would use some sort of anti-biotic ointment for a day or two till I knew it was healing. Please keep us posted on the little mite and his progress.

I'm changing his middle name from "Bling" to "Scarface."

Oh that naughty Ping! Yet more battle scars for him, eh? So what was his old enclosure like? This is a new one on me, he sure is a little mischief maker, isn't he!

thats a cut alright. my custom enclosure also has glass swing out door, it hasnt cut Boris but it did cut me-really deep, the g;ass supplier didnt polished edges so it was really really sharp, i had to put tape on all sides before i put Boris in it.
keep the wound clean, if its still a little fresh, i would put betadine on it everyday.
im sure he will be fine. cheer up!

on my glass peices that i ahd made i used a nail file and rubbed the edges to smooth them out then washed the glass real well to get any shards that i missed and havent had an incident .

If you use betadine, dilute it down. I used it to good effect when Santos ripped a nail out. It even grew back.
But I'd probably leave it. Provided your tank is clean and you think the risk of infection is small, he'll heal well enough on his own. You should see some of the injuries that wild ones get and they tend to heal well without assistance.

Is there any kind of seal or weather strip you can put in the gap that won't impede the opening of the doors maybe?

Lisa wrote:If you use betadine, dilute it down. I used it to good effect when Santos ripped a nail out. It even grew back.
But I'd probably leave it. Provided your tank is clean and you think the risk of infection is small, he'll heal well enough on his own. You should see some of the injuries that wild ones get and they tend to heal well without assistance.

Is there any kind of seal or weather strip you can put in the gap that won't impede the opening of the doors maybe?

Thanks...so far I just dabbed some saline solution to make sure it is clean. The wound is dry, not weeping or anything.

Weather strip is a great idea!! I could file down the ledge so it's not sharp, or cover it with aquarium silicone so it's actually squishy, but he'd still stick his nose in. Something like http://www.sz-wholesale.com/uploadFiles ... ip_717.jpg may do it.

I know a lot of people have these cages! They are awesome! But my skinky embodies Murphy's law.

You can use sandpaper or wet and dry paper to smooth off the edges like brigget did, I've just looked at the new enclosure and saw that you have a large grey brick to climb on, have you checked he wasnt trying to squeese around the back of it and that that had caused the injury, I say this because the original injury photo didnt look a clean slice that's normally associated with a glass cut.