Food for Vacation?

[Kymbadina]

Okay, I'm going to Texas for about 10 days. My parents will be taking care of my little Chomper boy...and they are basically reptile retarded.. Any suggestions as far as easy ways to go about food? I feed him everyday..or rather offer it. weather or not he eats is up to him but he usually nibbles each day. I'm buying some catfood but that's not all he is going to get...I would come home to an obese sausage skink because he scarfs that down like crazy. So, What have you done in the past if someone was babysitting?
Everythign else is taken care of as far as lighting schedule(Invested in a timer..love it)
I have a veggie mix and a fruit mix still from healthy herp..He just doesn't seem to like those as much as fresh..

[SailleSkinklover]

I made the mistake of letting some people Skink-sit last August. I printed a care sheet and instructions and everything, and they still over fed Chuffie Catfood which led to explosive diarrhea when I got him back.
I was not a happy camper, and I know poor Chuff was miserable for a day or two until his belly settled down.

I would actually skip the catfood altogether just to be safe, and offer stuff like veggies and hard boiled or scrambled eggs and fruit.
If you can pre-mix portions and put 'em in ziplock baggies or something and instruct to feed maybe every other day and make sure all old/uneaten food is removed, you should be fine.

The scary thing was, these people were NOT reptile retards, they have a beardie and should have known better!

Good luck, I'm sure your buddy should be fine.

[Lizardqueen&Chuckie]

snails are good. you could say to them to put as many as you think he will eat in a bowl and put it in his tank. I mean they do eventually leave the bowl and wonder around if they dont eat them instantly,but it means that he can go and find them later, like a hunt

[Katrina]

When my boyfriend and I were snowboarding for a week we got his sister to look after Kira. I left the food list printed out, and filled one of the veggie drawers in the fridge with 'Kira food'. I left kale, squash, dandelion greens, raspberries, superworms (not in fridge!), cat food and apple. I showed her how we fed Kira the day before we left, and left some money in case she needed to buy more greens as well as the proportions of meat / veg / fruit.

There were no problems - it isn't very difficult, as long as they know how small to cut everything up and the ratios. Good luck!

[Bird_Brain]

If you are really worried that they might mess something up, then just mix everything up together and put it in either a ziploc bag or a storage container. I put everything together with the exception of the fruit. Then all they would have to do is spoon out some of the mix into your blueys bowl/plate and thats it.

This is how I feed all my blueys and it works great. I spend 1hour (give or take some) every week or 2 preparing the blueys meals for the next week or so. I just shred up the greens, cut up the veggies, boil the meat and throw it all together. I store it in containers and put a paper towel on the bottom, put the mix on top of it and then put another paper towel on top of the mix. Everytime I open up the container, I change out the top paper towel. The mix stays fresh for a week and sometimes longer depending on what veggies I have in there.

The fruit usually goes into its own container just because it contains a lot more liquid than everything else. I also dont feed fruit with every meal.

[NomadOfTheHills]

10 days?

I say just don't have them feed him.

Much safer.

[Kymbadina]

10 days?

I say just don't have them feed him.

Much safer.

Gosh no. Lol. He's only a baby. I'm pretty sure he would hate me if I didnt feed him at least every other day. He's only about 9 months old or so... Thank you for all the help. The ziplock containers sound very easy. They cant possibly overfeed him cat food...if they do..I'll sick Chomper on them. I get the catfood in pouches. So there are like little chunks. I pour about 8 or 9 little pieces and then drissel the gravy on the rest of it. He loves it and it's the easiest way to get him to eat greens and what not..Plus I can easily disguise vitamins and calcium in it.

[Helikaon]

bahahhaa 9 months old isn't a baby. yes i also say don't feed him, if you are that worried just reduce temps and go. its a reptile it will be fine

[Lucifer_Spades]

10 days?

I say just don't have them feed him.

Much safer.

That was going to be my response but I didn't want to potentially get jumped on.


Remember wild babies brumate and eat little to nothing when only a couple of months old. 10 days is nothing.

[Fatal_S]

Trikks was about 4 months when I got him, 5-7 inches, less than 40g. He went right into brumation from Sept - March, 5 months of not eating. Your 9 month old skink can easily handle 10 days of no food. Just leave him, and get your parents to do lights and water.

If you insist on leaving food, think about an ice-cube tray. Mix up the 10 days of food, divide into ice cubes, and freeze. Your parents then take out one cube and thaw it and feed Chomper. You may end up losing a few nutrients with freezing, but for only 10 days that wont matter at all.

[Leigh]

Give him a feast the day before you leave and get them to just change the water in the drinking bowl every or every other day,noooooo worries, they're capable of using a tap I would guess....

[Kymbadina]

Oh okay I know he's technically not a baby..but he's my baby lol He is the first animal I got that I can hold and play with. (I had a dog when younger but its not the same...i didnt spend and entire christmas devoted to it) I'll let him pig out on dog food the day I leave..that will fatten him up for sure! And I'll ask her to throw in some blueberries later on in the week...seems to be addicted to those as well. Thanks everyone!
I went out and got an auto waterer..it's like those dog ones that you fill the jug and it keeps flowing down. Except it's only a little one but I've tested it in his cage for the past 2 weeks..he drinks from it and it doesnt go empty.
It's only about a quart of water. I think tap water is okay for them, I've been told it is. Even still. I use this stuff. It removes chloring and is made for drinking. The vet tech I was talking to who uses this for her uro. She said it's good.. And it lasts a long time which is nice
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... y&keepsr=1

[Funda]

When i went away for 10 days i just put a big container of fresh water and didnt feed them at all. when i came back i gave them abit of food and they couldnt even finish it all
So it should be fine

f.C

[Leigh]

Oh okay I know he's technically not a baby..but he's my baby lol He is the first animal I got that I can hold and play with. (I had a dog when younger but its not the same...i didnt spend and entire christmas devoted to it) I'll let him pig out on dog food the day I leave..that will fatten him up for sure! And I'll ask her to throw in some blueberries later on in the week...seems to be addicted to those as well. Thanks everyone!
I went out and got an auto waterer..it's like those dog ones that you fill the jug and it keeps flowing down. Except it's only a little one but I've tested it in his cage for the past 2 weeks..he drinks from it and it doesnt go empty.
It's only about a quart of water. I think tap water is okay for them, I've been told it is. Even still. I use this stuff. It removes chloring and is made for drinking. The vet tech I was talking to who uses this for her uro. She said it's good.. And it lasts a long time which is nice
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... y&keepsr=1

If your really worried about the chlorine in his drinking water,just leave a jug full out over night,the chlorine will escape to air and it'll be gone in the morning, I dont bother, as it helps to keep algae outta the bowls

[Lucifer_Spades]

Oh okay I know he's technically not a baby..but he's my baby lol He is the first animal I got that I can hold and play with. (I had a dog when younger but its not the same...i didnt spend and entire christmas devoted to it) I'll let him pig out on dog food the day I leave..that will fatten him up for sure! And I'll ask her to throw in some blueberries later on in the week...seems to be addicted to those as well. Thanks everyone!
I went out and got an auto waterer..it's like those dog ones that you fill the jug and it keeps flowing down. Except it's only a little one but I've tested it in his cage for the past 2 weeks..he drinks from it and it doesnt go empty.
It's only about a quart of water. I think tap water is okay for them, I've been told it is. Even still. I use this stuff. It removes chloring and is made for drinking. The vet tech I was talking to who uses this for her uro. She said it's good.. And it lasts a long time which is nice
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... y&keepsr=1

If your really worried about the chlorine in his drinking water,just leave a jug full out over night,the chlorine will escape to air and it'll be gone in the morning, I dont bother, as it helps to keep algae outta the bowls

Not always true as some poor aquarists have discovered too late. it depends on wheather your municiple water supply has chlorine or chloramines, chlorine will dissipate over time if the water is left to sit, but chloramines won't. More and more cities are using chloramine for this reason.

The only way to tell if your city uses one or the other is to call the water company. If chloramine is used the a dechlorinator would have to be used.

[Fatal_S]

My guys get plain tap water.

[Leigh]

Oh okay I know he's technically not a baby..but he's my baby lol He is the first animal I got that I can hold and play with. (I had a dog when younger but its not the same...i didnt spend and entire christmas devoted to it) I'll let him pig out on dog food the day I leave..that will fatten him up for sure! And I'll ask her to throw in some blueberries later on in the week...seems to be addicted to those as well. Thanks everyone!
I went out and got an auto waterer..it's like those dog ones that you fill the jug and it keeps flowing down. Except it's only a little one but I've tested it in his cage for the past 2 weeks..he drinks from it and it doesnt go empty.
It's only about a quart of water. I think tap water is okay for them, I've been told it is. Even still. I use this stuff. It removes chloring and is made for drinking. The vet tech I was talking to who uses this for her uro. She said it's good.. And it lasts a long time which is nice
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... y&keepsr=1

If your really worried about the chlorine in his drinking water,just leave a jug full out over night,the chlorine will escape to air and it'll be gone in the morning, I dont bother, as it helps to keep algae outta the bowls

Not always true as some poor aquarists have discovered too late. it depends on wheather your municiple water supply has chlorine or chloramines, chlorine will dissipate over time if the water is left to sit, but chloramines won't. More and more cities are using chloramine for this reason.

The only way to tell if your city uses one or the other is to call the water company. If chloramine is used the a dechlorinator would have to be used.

I use it for my fish tank water,but I've not bothered with lizards water, what do you do? rain water from the butt,makes the bowls green up in a day,bottled water has all sorts in it,metals,minerals,as its filtered through fine shingle , whats the issue if any with the chloramines and should we be concerned?

[SailleSkinklover]

Might be different in England, Leigh, we Americans Looooooooove to pump chemicals in any and everything!

[Kymbadina]

Might be different in England, Leigh, we Americans Looooooooove to pump chemicals in any and everything!

lol i agree with that! I don't leave my water outside for anything. I never use that method for aquariums..what if some tiny tiny bug lands in it and lays eggs..I'd rather Chomper have water from tap.

[Lucifer_Spades]

Oh okay I know he's technically not a baby..but he's my baby lol He is the first animal I got that I can hold and play with. (I had a dog when younger but its not the same...i didnt spend and entire christmas devoted to it) I'll let him pig out on dog food the day I leave..that will fatten him up for sure! And I'll ask her to throw in some blueberries later on in the week...seems to be addicted to those as well. Thanks everyone!
I went out and got an auto waterer..it's like those dog ones that you fill the jug and it keeps flowing down. Except it's only a little one but I've tested it in his cage for the past 2 weeks..he drinks from it and it doesnt go empty.
It's only about a quart of water. I think tap water is okay for them, I've been told it is. Even still. I use this stuff. It removes chloring and is made for drinking. The vet tech I was talking to who uses this for her uro. She said it's good.. And it lasts a long time which is nice
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... y&keepsr=1

If your really worried about the chlorine in his drinking water,just leave a jug full out over night,the chlorine will escape to air and it'll be gone in the morning, I dont bother, as it helps to keep algae outta the bowls

Not always true as some poor aquarists have discovered too late. it depends on wheather your municiple water supply has chlorine or chloramines, chlorine will dissipate over time if the water is left to sit, but chloramines won't. More and more cities are using chloramine for this reason.

The only way to tell if your city uses one or the other is to call the water company. If chloramine is used the a dechlorinator would have to be used.

I use it for my fish tank water,but I've not bothered with lizards water, what do you do? rain water from the butt,makes the bowls green up in a day,bottled water has all sorts in it,metals,minerals,as its filtered through fine shingle , whats the issue if any with the chloramines and should we be concerned?

Personally I normally use bottled for my lizard.

Only reason I know about Chloramines as opposed to Chlorine is because I also keep fish.

As for issues and concerns, I know that many animals are sensative to chloramines and it can affect them in different ways. I am not sure if BTS are one of those that are but I'd rather not take the chance.