BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hello all, I use to post on the forums years back but became busy with school and all so I fell off visiting the website. I am posting this wondering if I am just being paranoid over nothing, I just clipped my northern males nails for the first time since they started getting bad for the first time in the years that I have owned him. Generally his basking slate tile kept them trimmed, there was a little bleeding which I read is normal. The bleeding was very small and I waited about 15 minutes after it stopped to place him back in his cage, you can still see red in his nails and I'm a little worried about them getting infected or something, am i just being paranoid for nothing since i waited for the bleeding to stop? I've just had him for so long and would hate to have something happen to him when I was trying to help him, any information will be helpful thanks!

Hi Silence, welcome back to the forum!!

I'm moving this to the general discussion forum, it will get more replies there.

If the bleeding stopped shortly and there is no sign of infection in the toes (swelling etc) then I wouldn't worry at all. The cuticle can grow down and bleed a bit when trimmed. If you see any sign of infection / puffiness in the toes or soreness then check out the toe loss thread and maybe give some lukewarm baths with epsom salts etc. But if the only cause for concern is a little bit of dried blood, then I'd leave him - they have pretty good immune systems and heal quite well on their own!

Welcome back, good to see you posting again! How old is your Northern? Any pics?

My only concern was just him being in his cage after the nails being trimmed but again I waited 15min after the bleeding stopped to place him back in. I have had him for about 8 years now and I bought him off Ray which was his last northern of that season. He was originally thought to be female but I discovered the opposite lol. Also he was about full grown when he got to my house so he is probably close to 9 years old still with a big attitude.

Wow - 9 years is pretty old, that is great! Not many people on here (other than those like Ray) have had blueys longer than that. It sounds like you did everything right, so I'd just monitor - if you don't have any cause for concern in future then I'm sure it is fine. They are pretty tough and can handle a lot of scrapes and scratches during breeding for example - so I'm pretty sure the toes will be just fine.

I'd love to see pictures of him if you have any.

I sadly don't have any pictures of him anymore. My old computer had them all and the hard drive died so my pictures went with it. It bums me out because I had a really good one of him curled up sleeping in my hoodie pocket with his head poked out.