BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Well I finally got my IJ on Friday and I have a quick question.

She is still geting used to her new home. The frist night I got her, she just kept walking around exploring and or basking on the warm end which the basking temp is right at 101-103 degrees. I have two temp guns that I use to ensure that the temps are right all around the tank, a 40 breeder.

Anyways my question is, is that Saturday Morning when I woke up at like 7 am she decided to go into her hide-away that is on the cool end and she hasn't come out since. I lifted the hide away up a little while ago to make sure she was ok looking and I guess I woke her up, she started huffing and then she quieted down so I put back down. She was fed on Thursday before I got her and I put some food on a plate for her to see if she would come out but nope, still sleeping...

So is she still just getting used to her new home or do you think something may be wrong?

Cheers

sounds like normal bluey behavior to me. I wouldn't worry about it, seems like a lot of them can get fussy when stuff is coming from above to pick them up. But hiding/burrowing a good bit of the time is not out of the ordinary, so I wouldn't take it as any kind of sign. Just handle the new pet when you can. Marley would run away when i slid open his sliding glass doors for the first few days, I guess the sound and movement in general scared him. So i tried to pet him right after opening it to let him know what the door opening wasn't a sign of danger, and also offer him snails occasionally right after opening(if he hasn't eaten yet). Try to get your BTS to associate eating with you, and with being picked up/handled if you can. But again, nothing you mentioned sounds like warning sign behavior to me at least.

Good deal. Since she is so new, she may be a bit fussy about eating too I am assuming? If so should I still try to offer her food everyday?

how old is she? I offer my baby food daily, but he doesn't always eat. Adults eat 3 times a week or so I believe though.

Maybe it is a little too hot in the tank? try lowering it about 5 degrees or something.

A year old. She was fed last time on Thursday and I offered it to her yesterday and today but she didn't seem interested at all. Just to coax her into eating I mixed up what the Exotic Tropicals (place where I got her from) told me she loves. She is a huge banana and papaya fan, so mixed up some for her just to see what she would do. I've seen her eat before and she is a good eater. So I'm assuming that it may just be stress of her new home. I've been in my room all day, which is where her tank is and she hasn't come out at all. So she has been just hanging out in there for the last 2 days. The temp inside her hide away on the cool end is right at 78 during the day and right at 72 at night. I have a ceramic emitter on the warm end and it keeps the temps as the care sheet has recommended. My room stays about 69-70 degrees, with a fan that creates a small breeze. Of course the fan isn't anywhere near her tank, so that couldn't be making her scared to come out.

Thanks
Addison

I just want to make sure that I can care for and give my bluey the best possible life that I can!

They can take a while to settle down, after the initial explore of the new home, she might be happy to relax and have a little peace and quiet, do you know when she last shed as that could be a reason? dont try to offer too much food, as a refusual can panic you into thinking there's a problem when there isnt, wait for her to actively search for a munch and try to hand feed her her favourite food, worked for me

Almost forgot

Blueys take a little bit to settl down. It took Tink a little while. Then he started hunting for food. I just gave him peace and quiet.

Well she poked her head out this morning so before I had to go to my classes (college student) I cut a small piece off of her banana I had in my frig and she ate half of the little piece and I offered her another slice and she turned her head. So she ate a lil bit. She is becoming more active which is quite fun to watch. She let me take some pictures of her today but then got camera shy and tried to burry her head!

I think all of you are right, she just is getting used to her new home.

Anyways here are some more pictures.

Thanks
Addison

Look at that pointy head!

Yes they do like a quick siesta hahaha ..Good for you yes he has a fast model head ...These Shingles i look after and keep ..Gosh they sleep so much ...Like me on sunday morning .
Thanks for the pics

Normal snoozing ...

Just to give an update. She ate a full meal for the first time today! Banana's, Papaya, this fruit/veggie mix, and some Ca powder! She makes me feed it to her with a fork or my fingers and doesn't like eating it out of her dish. Shes way too spoiled already!! She is a heck of a sleeper, just lays around and doesn't move much at all. I am in the process of building my own terrarium. 48"x24"x16", with a plexi glass door on the front that slides open! A work in progress for sure, for now she gets to hang out in my 40 gallon breeder tank!

Thanks
Addison

Zach wrote:Look at that pointy head!

I was more struck by the dark eye bands!

Well I got bored tonight and I just finished up my stand. Thought I'd take a few pics.

The top tank houses my Banana King Snake, Cornflake. He/She was somewhere under the substrate. He/She is a really cool and calm snake. Its my baby. Was my first herp!

The second tank is my BTS's home. I haven't got all of my little things in yet for it but it's working out great!

Very nice set up there mate{both},no wonder your bluey spends so much time relaxing, its a haven,

Great!

Thanks! This has been a work in progress. Being a college student money is tight all the time. My bluey eats better then I do though! When I can I try to build everything possible. Normally saves a few bucks and I can make it to my specs. I plan on building her own custom enclosure when she gets bigger.. It will be 48"x24"x16", with a sliding glass door. The top will have a false ceiling with the lamps built in. All of my guages will be built into the walls. I am really excited. I have my plans on a napkin. I'll draw them in CAD when I get time.

Thanks for all the support! She is finally starting to get active and ate great yesterday. She has no problem sleeping under the basking bulb. I've been treating her with some skin spray stuff, I forget the name of it. Exotic Tropicals gave it to me when I got her from them to treat for 2 weeks just in case she could have caught mites or anything else. I think a little bit dribbled down to her eye and she went crazy. She actually shoved her head into the water for a few seconds. It was quite funny, but I felt really bad because it may have burned a little bit. I read the back and nothing will hurt her eye just maybe a short un-fun sensation!

Cheers guys and gals!

Addison

PS I like watching my herps roam around their homes then watch tv sometimes! I swear its as if they know I'm there and they are say, "Hey Addison what are you up to?"

Sounds like it probably has alcohol in it, or some other chemical that really hurts like heck in your eyes.

Honestly, from what I can see in the photos, she looks great, and if she doesn't have mites or dry scales, there's really no need to be treating her with anything.