Help with Sp. ID please

[ssr]

We will be picking this guy up tomorrow. Some of you may have seen him in the classified section. I'm thinking IJ but would like some experienced opinions on that. He sounds like a great skink. His name is Leonard (though sex is unknown) and I'm looking forward to introducing him to Lizzy. I would like to let them socialize with each other outside of their enclosures. Do most skinks get along with each other?
Here's his picture:

Thanks for your input.
Serena

[BlueyBoy]

Irian Jaya

[KyleWeiss]

From this picture, he looks like an Irian Jaya to me.

No, skinks do not typically get along with each other. Some will tolerate each other's presence, but they do not socialize like mammals or birds. You would want to keep an eye on them, especially closely at first, should there be any violence.

Just as a point of note, house them separately. Outside time together while supervised is another story.

KW

[Zach]

Yep, IJ, and what Kyle said.

Have fun!

[ssr]

Ok, thanks guys. They will be in separate enclosures I just wasn't sure what to expect when I got them out for some supervised outside time together.

[Edward]

From this picture, he looks like an Irian Jaya to me.

No, skinks do not typically get along with each other. Some will tolerate each other's presence, but they do not socialize like mammals or birds. You would want to keep an eye on them, especially closely at first, should there be any violence.

Just as a point of note, house them separately. Outside time together while supervised is another story.

Agreed. 100%.

[Katrina]

I introduced my three slowly and haven't had any issues with them playing together when outside of their enclosures. I supervised very carefully at first, and they are always in large spaces so they have room to retreat / hide if they want.

It might be partially because they are related, but they seem to get along fine. They explore together and seem to have no issues being close or even climbing over each other. They are still supervised at all times.

If you are getting a new skink it is advised to quarantine it for a few weeks / months until you are sure it doesn't have anything it could pass on to your first skink. After that I would introduce them slowly, with constant supervision, in an area that they can find hides / retreat if they want. Also, don't feed them together.

Good luck, its a cute skink!

[ssr]

Katrina: Thanks for the advise. I know you have three skinks and I looked at the pictures of them together. I am hoping my two will get along at least to the point of being able to be out together like yours.

[Jenn]

Just because they get along now doesn't mean that they'll stay that way so it's important to always supervise very closely. Spike and Frankie use to be able to hang around each other and then a couple of summers ago that changed. She now goes after him whenever they are together. They could have the whole back yard and if she seems him she goes right after him.

[KyleWeiss]

Using the terminology "playing together," gives lovely personified Utopian images, but the truth is, they don't play together. They're territorial over mates, food, and space, and inasmuch blueys have been known to have different personalities and moods, some need more space than others. If you have a bluey (or more) that you can't provide more space for, and is extremely territorial, there may be trouble.

Just understand there is no absolutes to their "getting along." Nature didn't program them this way, so just understand it's playing roulette towards injury.

I also suspect, because a few Aussies have outdoor enclosures, if the Australian species have a touch more tolerance of one another because of the vast spaces they evolved within, they probably didn't have to compete the same way an island species, like an Indonesian or an Irian Jaya would. Look at how aggressive Tanimbar Island skinks are, for example. I couldn't imagine having a group of those guys in an enclosure, if what I suspect is true.

KW

[Katrina]

Mine are all young (6.5 months) and siblings, so that may have something to do with it. It also may change with time and as they sexually mature. I keep a close eye on them and hopefully they will continue to get along, but its no guarantee!

It is really nice that they can all have outside time together, as it allows them to be out and about more (although I need my boyfriend outside watching too if they are in the backyard, as there it too much they can get into!!).

I would definitely listen to people like Zach, Edward, Kyle and Jenn though, as they have kept blueys for a lot longer than I have!!

Let us know how it works out.

[KyleWeiss]

Truth-to-tell I'm not "Mr. Experience," but Zach, Edward and Jenn beat me with hoses until I fell in line and said the right things.

It's true what you say, though, as they are young and haven't started to compete for food and mates quite yet might lend themselves to being more peaceful.

KW

[Katrina]

Using the terminology "playing together," gives lovely personified Utopian images, but the truth is, they don't play together. They're territorial over mates, food, and space, and inasmuch blueys have been known to have different personalities and moods, some need more space than others. If you have a bluey (or more) that you can't provide more space for, and is extremely territorial, there may be trouble.

Just understand there is no absolutes to their "getting along." Nature didn't program them this way, so just understand it's playing roulette towards injury.
KW

I am bad for personifying things, exploring together was a better way to put it. All of mine have their own large enclosures, and only socialize when we have them out. As I said before, I understand that they are territorial and if we see any signs of aggression they won't be out together.

Until then, the fact that they don't seem to mind each other makes it easier for us to get them out, exploring more.

[KyleWeiss]

Oh I wasn't criticizing (overly), but it does sometimes give people with active imaginations the wrong impression. Like, "Hey, blueys play together!" to someone that's new.

There's been people on here that appear one day and say, "Hey I know blueys play together perfectly, but I can't understand why my three Indonesians are biting each other in my 40 gallon tank that the forum also said was big enough!" It's user error but I just like to clarify.

Part of the reason why I only have one bluey is because it is much easier to make sure he's not getting into trouble. Watching two of them would probably drive me to eat one.

KW

[Katrina]

Oh I wasn't criticizing (overly), but it does sometimes give people with active imaginations the wrong impression. Like, "Hey, blueys play together!" to someone that's new.

There's been people on here that appear one day and say, "Hey I know blueys play together perfectly, but I can't understand why my three Indonesians are biting each other in my 40 gallon tank that the forum also said was big enough!" It's user error but I just like to clarify.

Part of the reason why I only have one bluey is because it is much easier to make sure he's not getting into trouble. Watching two of them would probably drive me to eat one.

KW

We are always typing at the same time - every time I hit submit I see something new that you posted!!

Always good to clarify, I wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong impression. That why I kept posting here, wanted to clarify that they are not unsupervised or best friends or anything like that. Usually when they are out 'playing together' they are just in the same room, not really close to each other, each doing their own thing.

Our plan was also to only have one bluey, the next two were free (except for large vet bills). We couldn't say no to a little Nemo face! But we definitely started out with exactly the same intentions, it just didn't work out that way.

[MartinsPerson]

IJ, hands down. Glad you're able to take him! Seems like a great little critter. Be sure to take photos when you bring him home!

[ssr]

He had a long ride home today so I'm letting him get settled in tonight. I don't know how "normal" Lizzy is, but she tends to be up for one day then sleeps for two. This leaves me with alot of time just staring at her wishing she would wake up. With any luck, maybe her and Leonard's schedules will be different so that most days at least one will be awake and ready to come out and explore with me. (Kyle-notice I worked really hard to keep the word "play" out of that last sentence!)

[Lucifer_Spades]

Personally I see IJ, northern X But generally speaking, Majority rules...

[ssr]

Luce-Ya today Lizzy was up and about and maybe IJ have vastly different characteristics from one another, I don't know, but her and Leonard have some big differences. It could be a male/female thing tho. Lizzy has a must broader, triangular head with bigger eyes that are set back further and Leonard's head is much more narrow with smaller more forward set eyes. So there are obvious differences, but like I said, I didn't know if 1) IJ's had such vast differences among them 2) if it was the difference between male and female or 3) if it was the influence of different species.
When you say Northern X can you tell me exactly what that is? Do you mean a cross between a Northern and IJ?
Thanks,
Serena
ps Glad to hear from you. Hadn't seen you around lately.

[Katrina]

I think Luce means IJ cross Northern... hard to tell from that pic (more please!!), but narrower heads are typically a Northern trait. IJs seem to have the broader heads.

Male / female blueys do not really exhibit noticeable differences which makes them tough to sex!