BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I got my first skink today. Its the one from the petshop I posted about yesterday. I came home from school today and there he was, in my tank. My mom bought him without telling me while I was at school. I told her all the things you guys said about him, but she bought him anyway. She said that she knew how much I wanted one and wanted to get him for me. I know she was trying to be nice but I'm a little upset and I feel bad that she bought him. I am basically stuck with him now. He isn't in too bad of shape. He has a little stuck shed, He sneezes everyonce in a while (I know they sneeze but how often is too much?) I am sure a proper diet will help him so much. I have him in a temporary 20 gallon. I am getting a bigger one soon, so the 20 is only temporary. He seems like all he wants to do is burrow. He was in the petshop since he was little and he has no idea "how to be a skink". He eats very strangely. He doesn't chew his food. He licks it up and lets it go down his throat. He is ALWAYS burrowing so I took some of his bedding out. All they fed him at the petstore was crickets and romaine (what a healthy diet, cough cough). I bought some good food for him today, made him a healthy meal and he had no problem eating. Everytime someone makes a loud noise he gets really freaked out. He does have a good personality though, he hasn't hissed or bitten me. I am trying to mess with his cage as little as possible and try to let him get adjusted before I start to handle him. I took some pictures of him. I think he is an IJ, what do you guys think? He is also really squirmy. Oh and his name is Rodney. I cropped some of the pics so they wouldn't be as big so some may look distorted.

I was also wondering if I should give him a supplement of some sort and what kind.

Congrats on Rodney

He looks IJ to me, but I am by no means an expert at id'ing. Sneezing and burrowing is normal. He will probably try and stay burrowed alot in the begining until he gets used to your household routine. The more they burrow the more they will sneezes to clear their nasal passages. There is a debate with supplementing. If he is going to be going outside for some sun and has a good uv light, there isn't as much as a need to supplement.

Well, it looks like you didn't need to make the decision after all! Well, everything happens for a reason, I always say. Make the best of it and take good care of him. It sound like you're off to a good start already.

By the way, he has pretty coloring...

Rodney is very handsome, i'm sure he'll have a very happy home with you and lots of nice yummy food

very nice skink! have you discovered his sex yet? also is that a paper plate there? and dont worry too much on the sneezing, if hes always burrowing than they have to sneeze

Dont feel bad Phantom he will make good changes if you help him make the good changes
By the sounds of it your off to a fantastic start already so no need to worry.
Sneezing is normal and as Littlefoot mentioned, the more they borrow the more they will
sneeze to clear their nasal passages, due to the dust going up there, you know how it is

Keep up the great work ok mate
Oh and also... Rodney looks like a beautiful skink

f.C

make te best out of it.. now he is in your hands, it doesnt hurt if you spoil him a little, like how i started with this forum TLC will do the thing!
goodluck

LittleFoot wrote:Congrats on Rodney

He looks IJ to me, but I am by no means an expert at id'ing. Sneezing and burrowing is normal. He will probably try and stay burrowed alot in the begining until he gets used to your household routine. The more they burrow the more they will sneezes to clear their nasal passages. There is a debate with supplementing. If he is going to be going outside for some sun and has a good uv light, there isn't as much as a need to supplement.

No no, if you feed a balanced DIET they're isn't a need to supplement. Outside sun doesn't hurt either though.

And there's not much of a debate.....it really just comes down to whether you feed a balanced diet or not....for example, if you offer collard greens with your meals, why would you add calcium powder? There is such a thing as over-dosing.

Phantom wrote:I got my first skink today. Its the one from the petshop I posted about yesterday. I came home from school today and there he was, in my tank. My mom bought him without telling me while I was at school. I told her all the things you guys said about him, but she bought him anyway. She said that she knew how much I wanted one and wanted to get him for me. I know she was trying to be nice but I'm a little upset and I feel bad that she bought him. I am basically stuck with him now. He isn't in too bad of shape. He has a little stuck shed, He sneezes everyonce in a while (I know they sneeze but how often is too much?) I am sure a proper diet will help him so much. I have him in a temporary 20 gallon. I am getting a bigger one soon, so the 20 is only temporary. He seems like all he wants to do is burrow. He was in the petshop since he was little and he has no idea "how to be a skink". He eats very strangely. He doesn't chew his food. He licks it up and lets it go down his throat. He is ALWAYS burrowing so I took some of his bedding out. All they fed him at the petstore was crickets and romaine (what a healthy diet, cough cough). I bought some good food for him today, made him a healthy meal and he had no problem eating. Everytime someone makes a loud noise he gets really freaked out. He does have a good personality though, he hasn't hissed or bitten me. I am trying to mess with his cage as little as possible and try to let him get adjusted before I start to handle him. I took some pictures of him. I think he is an IJ, what do you guys think? He is also really squirmy. Oh and his name is Rodney. I cropped some of the pics so they wouldn't be as big so some may look distorted.

Sounds like he knows how to be a skink to me.

There is a reason for everything I say, maybe Rodney needed you.

He doesn't look TOO bad by the pictures, and definatly looks IJ he could be Quigly's long lost brother.

Just make sure that he gets to a good vet soon and gets checked for paracites as those can cause his condition to go downhill, even with a good diet.

Welcome to the land of Bluey keepers, enjoy the ride.

Oh, and just say thanks to your mom she obviously just cared for you and the skink, all will work out in the end. I'm certain he will be a wonderful addition to your family.

Zach wrote:

LittleFoot wrote:Congrats on Rodney

He looks IJ to me, but I am by no means an expert at id'ing. Sneezing and burrowing is normal. He will probably try and stay burrowed alot in the begining until he gets used to your household routine. The more they burrow the more they will sneezes to clear their nasal passages. There is a debate with supplementing. If he is going to be going outside for some sun and has a good uv light, there isn't as much as a need to supplement.

No no, if you feed a balanced DIET they're isn't a need to supplement. Outside sun doesn't hurt either though.

And there's not much of a debate.....it really just comes down to whether you feed a balanced diet or not....for example, if you offer collard greens with your meals, why would you add calcium powder? There is such a thing as over-dosing.

Yikes, sorry about that, I should have proof-read my post.

Lucifer_Spades wrote:There is a reason for everything I say, maybe Rodney needed you.

I agree. Please don't feel disappointed and like you are stuck with him. What's done is done. Feel good that you are giving that creature a good quality of life! He has such a sweet face and you're already finding out about his unique quirks (e.g. licking the food), which is so fun.

Hijinks wrote:

Lucifer_Spades wrote:There is a reason for everything I say, maybe Rodney needed you.

I agree. Please don't feel disappointed and like you are stuck with him. What's done is done. Feel good that you are giving that creature a good quality of life! He has such a sweet face and you're already finding out about his unique quirks (e.g. licking the food), which is so fun.

I am no longer bummed. I love him so much. For being locked in a cage all his life he is sooo well tempered. He sits on my lap and lets me pet him. He is still a little skittish, but Im hoping handling him alot will change that.

Cuuuute. Just cute.

I like his eyes, heh.

He looks in fair condition from the photos, feed as per ceresheet and handle lots and you'll have the friend you wanted, even if it wasnt the friend you wanted , I wish my mum had supprised me with a skink whilst I was at school{so long ago}

Leigh wrote:He looks in fair condition from the photos, feed as per ceresheet and handle lots and you'll have the friend you wanted, even if it wasnt the friend you wanted , I wish my mum had supprised me with a skink whilst I was at school{so long ago}

Ive been feeding him the good stuff. Bokchoy, cactus pad, Spots stew and I ad different things to that each day. I bought him mango and a prickly pair that I am going to start feeding him. Boy can he eat. I was worried that he wouldn't eat it because it was new to him, but he eats it all. I am going to start handling him for atleast an hour a day. I get home, feed him, let him digest a little bit and take him out.

He just kinda lays there all day, he's not very active. He is almost always burrowed so I took some bedding out. Now he just lays there with a blank expression on his face.

This is probably a silly question if you've read all the caresheets etc., but what are his cage temps? If too cool, that could be the reason for his inactivity. Then again, you might just have a couch potato Bluey.

SailleSkinklover wrote:This is probably a silly question if you've read all the caresheets etc., but what are his cage temps? If too cool, that could be the reason for his inactivity. Then again, you might just have a couch potato Bluey.

I am ordering a tempgun tonight. So,I don't know. I am going to the petstore today and Ill buy a thermometer. I know that they don't work very well, but it will give me an idea. I know its bad but I hadn't expected to get so suddenly. I don't think he is quite a couch potato yet, but he will be soon.