Lilly update!

[wastedindustry]

Just thought I'd let you know that Lilly is still doing really well, and says hi to all of you lot...

A couple of questions for the seasoned BTS owners out there.

Firstly I've been feeding Lilly a mixture of high-quality cat food, collard greens, blueberries, grapes (occasionally), many snails, cockroaches, and the odd bit of mushroom.
Thing is, no matter how I vary her diet amongst these things, her poop still seems to be rather soft - and it STINKS. I mean it smells so bad that you can smell her tank in the next room. Once I've spot cleaned her tank it doesn't smell anywhere near as much.

Is this normal? I can only assume it is (she tends to poop really close to her heatlamp, so that's probably why it smells worse) but I'm concerned that her diet might be affecting her.

Only other question was about shedding, in terms of how I know it'll be imminent. For a while now (a week or so) her tail's been looking very dull which I took as a sign that she was about to shed, but thus far, nothing's happened. Oh, and her underbelly's a bit rough. I'm spraying her with a mist of water every now and then but it doesn't seem to be helping at all. Any ideas on that one?

Otherwise, hope everyone (and their skinks) are ok

[PICJESS]

You may want to consider dropping off a fecal sample at your local reptile vet to rule out any possible intestinal parasites. Mr. Booger had roundworms and trichamonas at one time, and once I got that cleared up, his stools firmed up As far as shedding, mine will turn dull about 7-10 days before a shed, then return to normal color like the day or 2 before they actually shed. Being that yours' belly scales seem kind of rough, I'd say a shedding in in Lilly's near future

[Blotch]

jess pretty much nailed it there IMO. Only other thing i'd suggest is feed some banana - see if it hardens up. But hte Vet thing is probably a good idea.

[Lisa]

How embarassed must Ms Savage be knowing that you are discussing her ablutions on a public forum

When you say soft, do you mean soft or runny? Because they don't poo bullets, there should be some softness there. It hardens as it dries. Runny can be a problem, but not always. My alpine pretty much only does runny poos but he's been vet checked for worms and parasites. The one thing different in him is that he eats loads compared to the others.
Smell? Well they can be rather noisome at times, but even I've not smelled mine from the next room! Have you got central heating? It might be wafting through the vents!

In regards to shedding, they can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks to go completely dull, but usually about a day or two before they actually shed, their colour returns. So that's a sure fire way to know that it's imminent. You don't need to provide additional misting in the time leading up to her shed as their natural oils create a lubricant between their old and new skin that starts the process.

[Blotch]

HAHAHA! - yes! Central heating makes the poo smell travel all throughout the house! NOT NICE AT ALL!

[NomadOfTheHills]

The cat food would be your culprit

[wastedindustry]

Thanks for your help everyone

Lisa - it's definitely not runny, but it's not firm. She has this irritating tendency to lie on top of it after she goes as well, which results in it warming up and going a bit sticky really.
When I spot clean I can pick it up in one lump, so looks as though it's probably normal.

And we do have central heating, but only radiators - no vents. The smell probably travels because we have a one bedroom flat, and she's in the bedroom :/ The living room is the only other room there. Might have been a bit over the top on that one

Nomad - the cat food is really good... just turkey, really, with some added vits and minerals. I'd imagine it's about the same quality as the stuff that most people recommend on here. You're right though, we need to wean her off it - but the previous owner fed her exclusively on Cesar dog food and pinkies, so she's exceptionally picky.

I'm going to keep an eye on her over the next few days, wean her off the cat food, and see if that helps. If it doesn't, off to the vets with her!

[Leigh]

How would you feel turning out a house brick, as said ,soft and greenish is fine, runny puddle not fine, anyone who says that thier skinks sheit doesnt smell is a LIAR, everyones stinks, mine also dumps buy the basking lamp, the heat helps {them to poo and smell to waft}also my bluey goes whitish/grey 10/11 days before he sheds, then goes dull 5/6 days before with the milky tail, and he sheds in patches{old post of mine, deadly night shed} it all sounds similar to me, dont panic Mr Mannering

[wastedindustry]

Thanks, Leigh!