BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I know this isn't a big deal to those of you who are seasoned BTS owners. But this is my first bluey baby and I was not so sure if I would stress her out if I picked her up too soon after she came to her new home...

Well, I finally got tired of waiting for her to come to me and I went and got her out today. She was fine. No hissing, nothing. I held her and let her walk around on my bed for a little while and then I put her back. She looked out at me for a while as if to say "Hey! Ya done?" lol

I was watching her later after the kids came home and she looked so lonely in there so I took her out again. This time one of my 7 year olds held her. He did a good job actually. But I told him not to get too used to it. I want her to get bigger before the boys handle her too much.

Now I have one question. If your bluey hides most of the day, how does she get the benefits of the UV rays or the basking lamp? Should I be making her come out to bask?

This is actually something MartinsPerson and I were talking about yesterday.....

The problem is she might learn that she can just hide in there all day and never come ou -- tIf she's "forced" to be out a little bit, I think this helps them a lot more, because in the long run, if they're scared all the time, that causes more stress than the initial stress of getting them out of burrowing. You might want to even minimize the subtrate a little bit so she'll be encouraged to be out more! I would certainly be fine with getting her out and putting her under the basking light every now and again throughout the day.

during the summer you could let her bask in the outdoors, get some REAL U.V rays

YAY!

they're so fun to hold, huh?

mine crawled up my arm and right up to my face and just sat there licking my cheek and goatee for at least 5 minutes... i got a little headache trying to look down at her!

too fun!

I get a cricked neck when Blue's on my shoulder, you can feel his tongue flicking my ear ring and I just wait for the clamp on the lobe , hasn't happened yet though, thankfully.

The problem is she might learn that she can just hide in there all day and never come out -- If she's "forced" to be out a little bit, I think this helps them a lot more, because in the long run, if they're scared all the time, that causes more stress than the initial stress of getting them out of burrowing. You might want to even minimize the subtrate a little bit so she'll be encouraged to be out more! I would certainly be fine with getting her out and putting her under the basking light every now and again throughout the day.

I took your advice, Zach, and poked her in the butt. That got her out of the log and she explored for a while. She basked for a minute or two and then I held her for a little while. How long should she bask? It didn't seem long at all.

mewzic-7123: That's a good idea. I am just kinda worried about taking her out and losing her! lol I guess I'll get over that eventually.

mine crawled up my arm and right up to my face and just sat there licking my cheek and goatee for at least 5 minutes...

That was too cute.

you can feel his tongue flicking my ear ring and I just wait for the clamp on the lobe

lol! You're too funny Leigh.

That's great! It's important to handle them alot as babies because a mad baby bluey is less intimidating then and mad grown up bluey.


You don't have to put her down when you take her out. You could just hold her and let her climb on you or you can always put her down on a picnic table or something.

Yeah, I have an idea about putting up a little fence on the grass for her to walk around in. I think I have the materials for it. I'll have to check...

When my guys were little, I used the little animal playpen. I think walmart sells them for around 10-15 dollars. It has colorful panels and is about a foot high. As they get bigger they can climb out if they try but you've still got a while before that.

Really? Can't they lift the playpen up with their nose? I just did a search online and Petsmart has one which is cool because I have a credit there.

I make sure that it's on a pretty level ground. Again you have to be more carefull when they are adults because that's when they tend to tunnel under. When I put my babies in there, I still hung around and kept an eye out so I was able to grab when any one was trying to go over or under.

Great posts, Jenn.

I, too, think it's important to start handling and interacting as much as possible, as soon as possible in a controlled environment.

KW

Also play with their feet and toes! This will make cutting their nails when they get older much easier.

Jenn wrote:Also play with their feet and toes! This will make cutting their nails when they get older much easier.

I do this with Rollie. He's gotten over twitching and trying to jerk his limbs away now.

KW

I hadn't thought about playing with their toes. That is a great idea because their nails are really sharp for being so little.

That is a good idea. I can't hold her little legs too long as it is now but now that you said that, I will try to more often.

i have never seen my skink hiss, good luck for years of enjoyment with ur skink