Question about pooping

[Katrina]

Hi all -

As most of you are aware, we just got our first BTS Kira a week ago. She is doing great and is a total sweetheart, but I'm worried because shes has not been pooping regularly - only twice since we got her.

As far as I know we are doing everything right - she has temperature gradients from around 105 degrees in the basking area to around 75-80 in the cool area, and uses all of the terrarium throughout the day. She does bask, drinks plenty of water, has peed at least daily and has a great appetite.

We have been feeding mostly just catfood and greens, with a bit of carrot, banana, green pepper etc. 2 out of 3 days (the third day we don't feed her, otherwise she just gets picky and tried to pick out only catfood). Her appetite is always great, she has never refused food and isn't too picky.

She is really active when we have her out to explore, and has lots of energy to run around and explore. Inside her terrarium she basks lots, just finished shedding, and spends lots of time just lounging, but is also fairly active at times.

I'm not sure whether or not to be worried about this - she seems perfectly healthy in every other way and is peeing daily, has a great appetite etc. Nothing else would lead me to believe that she is not completely healthy, except she is only pooping every 3 days or so.

Is this somewhat normal? Otherwise, does anyone has any ideas why or what we might be doing wrong? I would take her to a vet in a heartbeat if I thought that she was sick, but she seems to active and alert, and has such a good appetite. She is 6 weeks old now. Let me know if you need any more information, and thanks so much for the help!!

[Tattoo]

I would back off on the banana. Banana can constipate ... of course for others it can have the reverse action. Green peppers would be something I would not feed often either. Have a look over the care sheet. There is a section that shows best and worse food choices. I don't think a poop every three days is anything to worry about. It's better than the daily fire hose brand right?

[Jenn]

I wouldn't be worried. That might just be her schedule. My guys don't poop everyday. It's normally every couple of days. Also you'd be surprised where some of them hide it so make sure you are doing a good spot clean. There might be more in there then you know!

[Katrina]

She has only been fed banana once - just a little bit as someone said that it is some skinks favorite. Same with the green pepper - it is on the food list as a sometimes food, so she got a tiny bit all shredded up. I think we are just been overly concerned, but I wanted to make sure!! I have printed the food list and read the care sheet more times than I care to admit lol

Because nothing was mentioned about how often they poop I wanted to ask. I kind of got the impression from the caresheet that it was a feed, bask, poop thing and then they were good to go for the rest of the day (although I know babies tend to be more erratic, but I was prepared for the opposite!!).

Thanks for the reply - I just wanted to make sure!! Like I said, overly concerned parent here.

[Katrina]

I wouldn't be worried. That might just be her schedule. My guys don't poop everyday. It's normally every couple of days. Also you'd be surprised where some of them hide it so make sure you are doing a good spot clean. There might be more in there then you know!

We just cleaned the entire terrarium yesterday because of the shed, so no surprises. As long as it is alright to be feeding her a couple of times before she poops the first stuff, then I'll stop worrying!! Thanks so much everyone!

[Jenn]

The cure for a concerned parent is to get more blueys! With more then one bluey you see that they are all different and even though there is a norm they pretty much all do their own thing. I freak out way less (notice I'm not saying I never freak out!) now that I have 8!

[SailleSkinklover]

Remember too, they're reptiles, so their metabolism isn't going to be like a mammal or bird where we poop every day, sometimes more than once!
My guy only poops a couple of times a week, but he's an adult, and right now as its winter, he's not eating nearly as much as his summer appetite, and he's sleeping most of the time. So things are sporadic. So, no worries, It sounds like you have a very healthy happy little skinklet, congrats!

[KyleWeiss]

The cure for a concerned parent is to get more blueys! With more then one bluey you see that they are all different and even though there is a norm they pretty much all do their own thing. I freak out way less (notice I'm not saying I never freak out!) now that I have 8!

So that's my problem. I'm too relaxed, therefore I'm stuck with just Rollie?

KW

[Katrina]

We just got a large turd, and Kira got a worm as a reward, in addition to greens mixed w/ cat food to make them more appealing - so I'm going to stop worrying!! Thanks for all the replies. lol I think I was worried because I really expected the opposite problem with a little baby.

[Fatal_S]

At least your baby actually poos. I had Wocket for about 2 weeks before he finally decided to let loose... all down my shirt, pants, shoes and the floor. Now he poos every few days. Pryce did poo every day when he was eating properly (down for winter). Trikks barely ever poos, cause he barely ever eats. He did get me today though -.-'

[Tattoo]

I was freaked in the beginning when Tattoo didn't poop every day. I have grown to appreciate it now. Katrina I must have mis-read your post. Thought you were using banana and pepper in every meal. Sounds like you are right on track. Glad to hear you got a big present from your little darling.

[Katrina]

Tattoo - No worries - its better to check. Right now we're trying lots of stuff to see what she likes. So far, she likes meat. lol. Hopefully butternut squash will be better received than yesterdays raspberry. At least she isn't too picky - veggies do get eaten.

Fatal - Oh wow, I can't image 2 weeks and nothing happening! Because our little one was eating like a pig every meal I was starting to worry - we saw it going in, but nothing was coming out! lol. Was Wocket eating for those 2 weeks? I would have been so worried!


Question: Are you supposed to cook squash before feeding it? The food chart doesn't say, and it seems so hard! lol Thanks!

[Hijinks]

I remember how difficult it was to cut up squash by hand into pieces small enough for a tiny baby. If you don't have a mini chopper, try grating it -- added bonus is that it sticks to everything.

[SailleSkinklover]

I have given raw diced zucchini pumpkin and yellow squash, and cooked acorn/butternut squash. (not the vein-ey part though!) He didn't like the Chayote squash, Or cactus pad! He LOVES yam and sweet potato. (cooked of course)

[Tattoo]

You never know what they will like ... all are different. Mine gets the big eyes over raspberries but looks at me like he has been defiled if I try to give him strawberries.

[SailleSkinklover]

Hahahaaa, mine loves strawbs but he turns his nose up at raspberries!

[Tattoo]

And they are both neat and tidy poopers. No complaints right Saillee?

[SailleSkinklover]

Yep, nice and neat, in one spot, and no Poo-nami's from our boys!

[Hijinks]

Did somebody say poo-nami?

I know a skink who is happy to oblige.



(This picture actually is from today.)

[Fatal_S]

Lol, a poop thread is always the best. I give all my veggies raw so far. And I use the mini-chopper to dice it all into a nice mash so they don't get to be picky.

Wocket was eating very well during those first 2 weeks. I knew stress from a move could throw everything off, so I wasn't too worried, at least until the end, but I did check his tank daily. I was more worried about Trikks, who wouldn't eat at all. Still wont eat much.

Both Pryce and Wocket are great eaters, not picky about much, and decent for pooping too. They do tend to go through their food a lot though, making a mess of themselves and everything they touch -.-'