Irritability and pacing in 3yr old Irian Jaya

[valentyt]

I have been reading the forum for some time but this is my first post. I am wondering if some of the more experienced Bluey keepers might have some thoughts on this behavior. Some background information: Chloe is a 3 year old Irian Jaya. I purchased Chloe last spring (March) so this is my first winter with her. She is showing signs of her appetite slowing down even though I have not decreased her temps (I did read the excellent thread on brumation). However, her behavior has been different since late December. She has been irritable to the point of attempting to bite (v unusual) and restless. She paces in her cage and occasionally tries to climb the side of it. At first I attributed this to shedding as she is always CRANKY when shedding but the behavior continued after the shed finished. She seemed to calm down a bit so I figured I would keep an eye on her. However, she shed again this week and continues the cranky and restless behavior. She has a 65 gallon aquarium for her enclosure with aspen shavings to burrow in, a cool hide, a humid hide and a nice, flat basking rock (temp usu 95F for basking; in low 70's for cool side). She was fine in this set-up since March and the problems just started in late December. I should also mention that I am a middle school teacher and she lives in my classroom (and at home with me when school is out). She did exceptionally well with the noise and activity from the kids (until now); she actually seemd interested in the kids instead of perturbed. I am wondering if I need to take her to the vet to rule out illness. Any input from anyone who experienced similar behavior would be very appreciated. Thanks!

[jasjmm27]

Sounds to me like she is just trying to brumate and, if the temps aren't lowering, she can't do it very effectively? That would be my thoughts on that. I have a female Northern that was sweet as ice cream in November, but lashed out and tried to sprint away from me when I tried ot pick her up in December...very uncharacteristic... I guess it would be like someone waking you up in the middle of the night at 2am and rolling you off the bed onto a cold floor...would you be happy? Or if you were trying to sleep and the AC stopped working (or heater for those in cold climates) and you didn't have any blankets...I think I would be cranky too..."I JUST WANT TO SLEEP!"

That's my two cents..especially since she was so sweet before the brumation period.

[SailleSkinklover]

I wonder if her mating behavior is stimulated by the cooler temps? As far as I remember reading, the IJ's have more wet/dry seasons rather than cool/warm seasons. I know that even though I keep Chuffers' enclosure pretty constant, he is very keyed on what's happening outdoors, and will sleep or wake up accordingly.
Are you sure of her gender? If female, maybe she's just anxious for a nice handsome male IJ to come ito her life, and if male, has the wanderlust to find a mate, hence the scrabbling to get out of the cage.

(I have a male Merauke, so he's my only experience, but he did get crazy this summer and he was laying plugs nearly every time he pooped. Not cranky necessarily, just "busy". )

Hopefully someone with more experience/both male and female Blueys can pipe up on this?


Oh, by the way, WELCOME!!!!
We would love to see pics of your Bluey!

[valentyt]

Thanks for the input! I am thankful there are other people out there to talk to about this. I don't know anyone else who has a BTS.

I am not sure that Chloe is actually a "she"; that is what the previous owner told me. After I read the care sheet (and everything else I could find) I decided that I would just go with that since they are difficult to sex. I'll contact him and see how that determination was made.
Should I try to cool temps to see if that helps?

[NomadOfTheHills]

Could be a male looking for some hot females!

[Tattoo]

I am wondering about the period of time the lights are on. Have you cut back on her light exposure? Winter would provide shorter days and if she is still getting 12 hours of light per day that could be confusing to her. If you cut back on the light time she will be warm for less of the day (cooling her for longer periods each day). Sounds to me like weather confusion bring on breeding behavior. I know a breeder that has a female that is really grumpy each year when she wakes up till she "gets some". Could yours be the same? Just my 2 cents. and keep us posted.

[SailleSkinklover]

Has Chloe ever laid anything that look like the white things circled in red?



If so, you have a boy! If not, it could be either, (depending on age) and you might not know until your skink is put in with a definite male. (behaviour)

[Blotch]

to me sounds like a restless male. However, being in a classroom with kids everywhere, he/she could be stressed due to wanting to brumate, hot temps, and being annoyed by people. If i were you, I'd leave her at home during the day over winter, and lower the temps just slightly. Decrease the food, always have water there and see how he/she goes then. If when you get home he/she is buried, then it's more than likely that it's a brumation thing.

Was he/she wild caught? And if so, do you know how long ago? If it was a recent Wild caught Bluey, it could be a breeding thing, which would bring it back to possibly being a male.

I'd suggest you just pay attention and as I said - leave him/her at home to settle.

[valentyt]

I have not cut back the light exposure. Good idea; I will try it. Should be done gradually, correct?

The previous owner was just going by what the person he got her from thought so "her" sex could really be either. However, "she" has not laid any of those white things.

I think she was captive bred but I will doublecheck. The previous owner had her for awhile before I got her so even if she is wc I don't think it was recent. I will try to take her home; any suggestions on how to transfer a mightily cranky skink without sustaining serious damage to me or her?

[Blotch]

cut back light gradually. I'm not sure on how much to cut it back though. IJ's obviously aren't Aussie Blueys so I have no exp with them, however the basics are the same. Someone else on here with IJ exp could tell you that though.

Sperm plugs can be easily missed. Watch him/her take a poop - you may see the hemipenes.

To grab your skink, well, if it's going to bite you, you could either wear gardening gloves, or use something like a ruler or a Y shaped stick to hold the head down then just grab it behind the head so it won't turn around and bite you. Either that or you can just grab it super quick and hope for the best.

Generally that's what i do if I need to.

Hope that helps!

Luke

[SailleSkinklover]

Approach slowly and talk gently to her as you go to take her out. I transport Chuffie in a cardboard box a little larger than a shoe box with a black towel inside it. (the black towel is dark and warm and he can feel safe burrowing into it. It also buffers any joggling that night happen)

He has two cages, one in Everett, (his original 20 gal) and his big cage at the house in Carnation.

So he has a cage either end, I just transport him. I have the car warmed up and waiting and put him in the box last minute.

When he gets defensive and huffy, I just read his body language and talk to him. I distract with the other hand if I have to, then pick him up with the hand not distracting him. I let him see me coming and let him knwo I mean no harm. It works!
Good luck!
Saille

[valentyt]

Everybody, thanks for the tips. I have started decreasing the light 15 minutes and plan to do so every few days. I'll let you know how the transport goes. Thankfully I have a tank at home and just have to change the substrate before I can take her home.

ps Thanks for the welcome!