An age estimate?

[Kymbadina]

Okay, so, I work at Pet Smart, before your get angry about petstores, it's not the petstore as much as the people who work there. I go to great lengths and do a lot of research about each animal, especially rept we have, to make sure they are getting the best treatment they can. We got an adult bts in because the store she was at, I'm not sure, either she wasnt being taken care of properly or she just wasn't selling. I fell in love with her immediatly but she sells for $200...that's just not someting I can pull out my rear. I did the research about her and decided I was going to save for her. Well then we got a baby in. I changed my mind. I got the baby because I didnt want someone getting him young and not realizing how big he gets or not giving his his calcium:phospherous ratio. Or anything that would mess him up. So I got the baby, and named him Chomper. I'v had him for about 2 weeks now and of course, nobody knows how old he is. He is about 11 inches nose to tail. Any guess as to an age? I notice he is growing fast, Right now he is in a 20 gall his permanent tank is in building process, I'm thinking 4 feet long 2 feet wide and 16 inches tall, does that sound good? I'm wondering what your tank sizes are.
One last thing, He doesnt seem to enjoy much fruits or veggies. Anythign out there suggested? I have a whole list of foods that im trying one by one..He seems to favor meats and romaine lettuce, I'm looking for a fruit that seems to be popular, He seems on the fence about kiwi, doesnt like oranges, and doesnt seem interested in bananas, and likes grapes barely.

[mewzic-7123]

look at the caresheet, it'll answer your questions, for the diet, try mixing his favorites with his veggies. and your tank under construction sounds good. and im sure one of the resident experts knows how old he is.




P.S post some pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lucifer_Spades]

No worries. No one will attack you for working at a petstore. We enjoy hearing from petstore emploees who care. I was originally sent to this site by a petstore employee when I bought my Quigs.

As for age it would be hard to tell based on size as that will depend on diet and care he's had up till now. but I know my Quigs was about that size at around 7months of age. As for food and general care, it will be repeated again and again here but caresheet, caresheet, caresheet. It is the go to for care and feeding. Copy the food chart and bring it to the store with you, and remember he may not eat properly at first but keep offering the greens and he won't starve to death he will eventually eat what he's given. Romaine is not a very good staple at all and meaty products should be given in moderation.

Welcome to the bluey addiction and . Pictures are the law so get some up quick or you'll have an angry mob after you.

[Kymbadina]

That's when he was on paper towels, He is on reptibark for now, I'm looking for some aspen shavings, All I have found is shredded so far, I've been told to check a feed store.
Is there anything else reccomended? Carefresh? I've heard of that, any expierience?
I have read all bout the mixing of foods..little bugger eats around everything. I picked up the food chopper they mentioned, I'm expierementing with him. He's a chubby little boy so I'm going to try and give him less eggs and dog food and more fruits and veggies.

Also, Any idea what exact species he is?

[Lucifer_Spades]

Just looked in your profile and copied the links that didn't post properly.

I think I'm gonna cry he looks just like my Quigly did.


LOVELY Irian Jaya!!! Maybe Eastern but not often seen in petstores.

[Fatal_S]

That looks very Eastern to me. And a wonderful eastern at that. Could you possibly get a birds-eye pictures to confirm?

Tank size sounds good. I suggest chop all his food very fine and mix it together, so he doesn't get to choose what he wants to eat. Romaine Lettuce is useless, don't bother with it. Read the caresheet and download the food charts on it. It'll help, promise.

Carefresh is fine, I use it too. Shredded aspen also works great.

I see you've already gotten to the mash it up stage, good job. Must read posts more carefully before I reply...

[Kymbadina]

Okay, My camera commit suicide, so these pictures are taken just now on a camera phone..Sorry they arnt the best quality and they kinda distorted his colors.

[Fatal_S]

Thanks!

I update my opinion to IJ or possibly IJ/Eastern. I also would like to add he is amazingly cute!

He was likely born last May/June, so that would give you an idea of his age. He's so cute. I want to visit just to give him a hug. Congrats on your adorable baby.

[Kymbadina]

One more thing, I read that the youngins like it hotter, I don't use my daytime basking light anymore because when it is on, Chomper is burrowed underneath anything he can as far away from the heat as he can get, I got he message fast.
I have an undertank heater on the "hot side" and just run my daylight light. His tank is about 85 on the hotter side and 80 on the cooler side(I have 2 thermometers)
When the basking light is off he wanders around his cage normally. Is this around the temps your cages are?

[Fatal_S]

You want a warm side of about 85-90, a basking spot with a surface temperature of 100-105 and a cool side at room temperature. The little thermometers are pretty crappy though, so I'd strongly suggest getting a temp gun. I got mine from www.tempgun.com It was a really good price, and it works amazingly. Now if I could just find out where I put it...

[shingleback aus]

nice skink it looks to be an eastern to me

[NomadOfTheHills]

Petsmart gets IJs.

Nice one.

[SailleSkinklover]

Nice little skinker! Congrats on your new guy, and hopefully maybe they'll adopt the larger older one out to you if she doesn't sell? (Does Petsmart do adoptions? I know Petco does but I've never seen or heard of a Bluey at Petco)
Caresheet Caresheet Caresheet for the feeding and suggestions, it is excellent. Agreed with Fatal, ditch the Romain. Its just water and Chlorophyll, no nutrition to speak of.
Feed your skinklet Dandelion leaves, Collard and Mustard greens!
Your Tank-In-Progress sounds good, My boy's enclosure is about 39" x 24" floorspace and about 20" high.
Welcome to BTS.net!

[Funda]

His face looks Eastern but his body says IJ so im guessing his mixed between the two.

And to get him eating some veggies/fruits.
Cut them into very small portions or blend them in a mixer.
Then mix them in with the meats you give him.

My easterns werent eating any vegies/fruits til i started adding them to their meats.
Now i can give them vegies/fruits on there own

f.C

[Kymbadina]

Okay, Thanks everybody! I will get donate my romaine that i still have to my work for the other critters and let them know not to use if on the adult that is still there. There is a couple that keeps coming in to look at her, I've told them about my baby, I've had him for almost 20 days now and I'm in love, He has such a personality!
He was a little devil when i bought him, then i suspected a resp infect. so I returned him and they took him to the vet, he got meds, and then I got to take him home to give the meds. Eversince then he's been perfect. I heard he tried to bite people while he was back at the store..I think that is funny because the only attitude he has given me was what i call "dragon noises" when he puffs full of air then blows it out fast, He has stopped doing this now and I 'm glad.
I'm amazed at how smart he is! Duing the week, while i have school, we wake up at 6:30, I get his food then get ready, one day I took a shower first then went to grab his food dish and he was already up and looked from his food dish to me as if asking whats the hold up. He is definatly a character.

[Usersafe]

Okay, so, I work at Pet Smart, before your get angry about petstores, it's not the petstore as much as the people who work there. I go to great lengths and do a lot of research about each animal, especially rept we have, to make sure they are getting the best treatment they can. We got an adult bts in because the store she was at, I'm not sure, either she wasnt being taken care of properly or she just wasn't selling. I fell in love with her immediatly but she sells for $200...that's just not someting I can pull out my rear. I did the research about her and decided I was going to save for her. Well then we got a baby in. I changed my mind. I got the baby because I didnt want someone getting him young and not realizing how big he gets or not giving his his calcium:phospherous ratio. Or anything that would mess him up. So I got the baby, and named him Chomper. I'v had him for about 2 weeks now and of course, nobody knows how old he is. He is about 11 inches nose to tail. Any guess as to an age? I notice he is growing fast, Right now he is in a 20 gall his permanent tank is in building process, I'm thinking 4 feet long 2 feet wide and 16 inches tall, does that sound good? I'm wondering what your tank sizes are.
One last thing, He doesnt seem to enjoy much fruits or veggies. Anythign out there suggested? I have a whole list of foods that im trying one by one..He seems to favor meats and romaine lettuce, I'm looking for a fruit that seems to be popular, He seems on the fence about kiwi, doesnt like oranges, and doesnt seem interested in bananas, and likes grapes barely.

I like our local Petsmart here in Liberty, MO. Petco, not so much. He looks IJ to me, not so much Eastern but who knows. Use the food chopper and include collards, squash, mustard or turnip greens to mix with his meat/cat food etc. Fruit in moderation. Ours love bananas but only get them occasionally. Try superworms with him since you have easy access to them. Maybe nab some snails from your fish department or try the canned snails.

Huffing is a shared trait as all of mine do that if disturbed while sleeping. It means "go away you fool and let me sleep."

Steve

[Kymbadina]

Haha, Yes, He did that for a good week or so then finally got over himself.
I do like petsmart a lot, not because i work there, Some employees..I want to shoot but the store and the policies are very good..Petco..I don't like them at all. They seem like the kmart compared to target in my mind.
He is a lazy boy now, I was giving him some mealworms and some crickets. But now he doesnt chase them, if I hand feed him a mealworm he's good.
Superworms..dont you have to cut the head off those? That's what I'v been told. They are nasty looking creatures. They are always chewing through the plastic containers and that scares me that they might chew through Chomper. He tends to scarf down food.
I printed the food charts and I will be going to the indoor market to get some good veggies and some fruits, He does like bananas, he got a little bit with his food today.
I dust his food with multivitamins once a week and cricket dust about 3 days a week, does that sound good or more often because he's not eating a lot of variety and he is a baby...well I think of him as a baby but I guess he is almost a year old

[Tattoo]

Looks like you have a nice IJ there. Not sure if you need the under tank heating pad. I would focus on adjusting to correct temps with a basking light. Blueys benefit from a cool down at night (70 degrees F). Don't forget the UVB light if you can't take your bts outside for regular sunshine. Sounds like the tank under construction will be the right size.

[Kymbadina]

:welcome: Looks like you have a nice IJ there. Not sure if you need the under tank heating pad. I would focus on adjusting to correct temps with a basking light. Blueys benefit from a cool down at night (70 degrees F). Don't forget the UVB light if you can't take your bts outside for regular sunshine. Sounds like the tank under construction will be the right size.

I only have the undertank heater because his tank is right next to a window and it's been very cold lately in my room. I put up that plastic stuff around my window and it's much better now. the heater is on the outside of the glass and even if you touch straight glass, it's hadly any warmer than the parts without it. He does have a uvb light I made sure to get everythign set up and adjusted the wattage to fit his tank so the temps were alright.

When it gets warmer I'm hoping to take him outside for some real sunshine.

I was wondering...In a few years I'm going to be moving to France, Has anybody taken a bts on a plane? I know people can take dogs and such on the plane as long as it is in a carrier that fits under the seat. I will be there for a few years so there is no option of leaving him with somebody.