Raised belly scales?

[Kymbadina]

Okay, There is an adult I'm guessing to be IJ skink at our store..we think she's a she. And we call her Richi. Well I noticed last night at work while iwas playing with her that her belly scales seem to catch on my hand..it's like she layed down on sand paper and walked backwards. I feel bad becasue that can not be comfy on her part.
Any idea as to what caused this?
She is on repti-bark but she has been for some time now.

[Bird_Brain]

Increase the humidity a little and it should take care of it. I recently had the same problem with my Kei Island.

With that said, make sure there isnt any other raised scales and if so, check to make sure the skink does not have mites. From what you described though, I think it is more of a humidity issue than a mite. But it is better to be safe than sorry.

[jasjmm27]

yeah, both of my Indo's have that same thing going on...my first BTS (Fenix) never really had that before, but I think he is shedding now...could raised belly scales be partially due to a shed coming?

If it is just too dry, what is recommended to increase the humidity...the "cheap" barometer I have shows between 30-40% humidity...

I use Aspen for bedding...

(I have checked for mits many times, luckily NONE)

Oh, also...the rest of their bodies show perfectly fine, nice, and shiny scales...not indicative of being dry...is the belly the first place to show when humidity is too low?

[Hockeyrulz48]

Usually if the humidity is too low when they shed they will have a hard time shedding.

[Fatal_S]

Pryce and Wocket currently have the dry belly scales. During the winter it gets much drier, and this seems to have been the effect. They've gone into brumation now, and are doing fine, so I'm just leaving it alone. Once they wake up I'll give them occasional baths until they shed, and I think it will clear up. I don't see it as a bad thing, it's just like my dry hands, they feel weird but that's all. Providing a moist hide (a hide with a damp cloth or some damp moss is perfect) for them to use should help with humidity/shedding problems.

[Tattoo]

Sounds like dry winter skin. I had Tattoo on Reptibark for a short time and I think it made him dryer than normal. I don't use it anymore. I think that is a better substrate for critters that need humidity and you can mist the stuff to keep it damp.

[Blotch]

could be one of a couple of things - but the main one that springs to mind is the bluey really needs to shed. So as Reptileking said, Raise the humidity. You could also just soak the animal in warm water for a while. I recently had this problem with one of my blotchies. I saoked him for just over an hour and he completely shed. Now he's shiny and clearly happier than he was.

[jasjmm27]

could be one of a couple of things - but the main one that springs to mind is the bluey really needs to shed. So as Reptileking said, Raise the humidity. You could also just soak the animal in warm water for a while. I recently had this problem with one of my blotchies. I saoked him for just over an hour and he completely shed. Now he's shiny and clearly happier than he was.

That is kinda what I thought as well...my male Indo looks like he needs to shed, but the female doesn't "look" like it...though I have never seen her shed yet...


I will try to soak them in the near future...

[Kymbadina]

Mmmk thanks everyone. I told them to take her to the herp vet Just to be sure. She also seemed to have scratched her ear cause she has a little cut.
The vet said it's just the humidity. She does get baths in warm water about once a week. I dont know for sure because I'm not the one to do it. She is on reptile bark but I can see about getting her switched to aspen. Do you think that would help the situation any?
They are a bunch of jerks about "policies" really makes me mad because..they arnt always right...
The snakes are on aspen so I'll see what I can do. And it's regular aspen, not shredded.

[Blotch]

SOLUTION - Buy the skink - soak it for and hour in warm water (the bath is a good place) - and watch the shed fall off. I'm currently soaking Vic. I can hear him splashing around like an infant in a pool with floaties on.

[Kymbadina]

SOLUTION - Buy the skink - soak it for and hour in warm water (the bath is a good place) - and watch the shed fall off. I'm currently soaking Vic. I can hear him splashing around like an infant in a pool with floaties on.

I want to buy her..I love Richi.
The only issue being..She's another 200. I'v spent at least 250 on Chompers cage stuff and I havnt bought the materials for his final cage..
I work at PetSmart, not very often because of school. But on a PetSmart salary..theres no way I can get her and another cage. I'd just put them in the same cage but..If she is really a boy..I don't want her to bully Chomper cause he's still a baby and if she is really a girl..I don't want babies because I'd be to paranoid about making sure the new owner is responsible that I'd end up with the babies.
Howerer graduation is coming up..Which means money from relatives I don't even know exist. And I'm asking for her..hopefully I can get her..LOL who needs college when I have 2 little skinks to take care of?
Here are some pictures of Richi..Sorry It got hard to take and hold a skink. I think at one point someone helped me. I'll get some better pics soon.

[rachel]

very cute ..hopefully you will get her *fingers crossed*

[Leigh]

Yes,they're like pringles,Once you shop ,you cant stop, hahahah.

[Kymbadina]

lol I know what you mean.
I was perfectly happy with Chomper, and still am..but I want him to have a friend. Once he is fully grown I'm gonna fight to the death to get one of Zach's babies..I want one that looks completely different from Chompy. don't care about what breed(pedigrees never wowed me) but I think 2 will be my max untill I move out.

[Blotch]

you could maybe split the current enclosure and have them both inthe one tank.

Just a thought. Oh - and petsmart should give you a really good staff discount.

[Kymbadina]

eh, it's 15% so Chomper cost me only round 184 I could split the tank...but I'd rather spoil both of them His tank is gonna be 4 feet by 2 feet..I'll just make a stand then build the second
Oh! and I just talked to a friend who works there..She's going to get her if nobody has by August

[Blotch]

you'll have to advise her of the site! That way we can keep track of the little guy.