Trying to break the hand feeding habit

MartinsPerson · Postby **MartinsPerson** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:27 pm

So I gave it some thought and have decided that I don't want to be a slave to a lizard (even if he is a very cute lizard). So Sebastian is going to have to learn to eat inside his tank. I'm having a bit of a problem though, he doesn't seem to be even remotely interested and I think it has something to do with the tank being a top loader. Any suggestions on getting him more comfortable eating in there? I've put his nose in the food and he'll eat if I'm touching him, but once I remove my hand from the tank he isn't interested anymore.

If I have to I can switch Baloo and Sebastian so that the little guy is in a front access tank, but I'd rather keep him where he is if possible. What do you guys think? Would it help?

Lucifer_Spades · Postby **Lucifer_Spades** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:49 pm

As I say everytime something like this comes up.

In general an animal will not volintarily starve to death, offer food every day eventually it will get eaten.

Not most peoples favorite way of dealing with it but it works and rather quickly at that. Hunger is a powerful force.

Postby **Zach** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:54 pm

It's strange, we never once fed these babies outside of the cage. Try leaving the food in there for the majority of the day on the cool end or middle area... (if the smell is not too strong!)

kvega92 · Postby **kvega92** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:12 am

When they are hungry they will eat.

aggiegirl · Postby **aggiegirl** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:15 am

Tell me when you find out. Charlotte has me trained too. Although, I think I will continue (for awhile) because she now looks for me since I am the "food source." I almost always feed Pele' his live prey by hand (except roaches) and he is always excited to see me and look for treats. As a matter of fact, my kids get the same look when they see their grandparents... :oops:

Postby **Zach** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:47 pm

mewzic-7123 · Postby **mewzic-7123** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:41 pm

my skink will eat in his tank, but only if i give it to him directly

Leigh · Postby **Leigh** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:23 am

DONT FEED HIM FOR THREE DAYS, he will be hungry enough then, and will take what ever you offer, where ever you put it, they can go months{so I've been told} without food to no detrement.

boonaen · Postby **boonaen** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:22 am

ooohhhh!!!!!

my NEW skink is TRAINING me?

hmph!

i'll show her. no more food from my hand! o_O

well... maybe a little.

MartinsPerson · Postby **MartinsPerson** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 1:50 pm

HAHAHAHA It worked!!! I just had to to bribe with a little mango! I just right this second looked over to see Sebastian take a great big bite out of his BBF (baby bluey food). Yay!! I discovered that I have to dig him out, put his nose in it, and then leave the food on the cold side of the tank. It took him about 5 minutes to come back out and eat. Yay!

aggiegirl · Postby **aggiegirl** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:37 pm

Charlotte ate on her own today too. I left her food in the tank (on her platform) and she ate all of it. I can't believe how much food such a small skink can consume. Her food consisted of collards, spaghetti squash, dandelion leaves, blueberries, kiwi fruit, and cat food. She ate everything I gave her without picking any out. Good baby. Picky eaters stress me out.

Postby **Zach** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:43 am

Trying to break the hand feeding habit

Trying to break the hand feeding habit

Sebastian

blueberries for bribes

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