Shy skink

[beckym]

Hi we have had our bluey, Doug, for about 6 weeks now and he is doing really well. He is eating well and has grown quite a bit since we got him. The only problem is that he just hides all the time. Is this normal? He is always burrowed under the substrate or under his log. It is not just that I miss seeing him out and about, I'm also concerned that he is not getting UV light.
Are there any reasons for this behaviour? Could it be something I'm doing wrong? He is currentlt in a 3ft viv(he's only about 6 months old) and he has a basking spot one end and a hide and then his water bowl and log are the other end and there are some plants and stuff too. The heat lamp is controlled by a thermostat.
We have bought a 6ft viv for him to move into when he gets bigger, we just need to finish repainting it. When do you think he will be ready to go into it?
Sorry, for the essay! Just want to know that I'm doing everything I can to make him happy!

[Leigh]

Hi , can you tempt him out with a favourite food? Do you get to handle him on a daily basis?Because he could be still settling in but 6 weeks is plenty of time. Have you seen him shed yet ?It could be that,they shed about once a month as bubs, they do spend a lot of time buried it's quite normal, but you should try to get him used to interaction.Have you checked the temps because if it's too hot they lay low until it cools to their liking{around 100F hot end-low70F coolend}I see you've posted pics in another thread {I'll go to it now } good luck and don't worry yourself too much.

[beckym]

He does come out when I put food in eventually. He is handled on a daily basis but normally always hisses at us when he pick him up, he normally settles after that and has never tried to bite us or anything.
He has shed twice since we got him. I'm thinking that maybe the temps are too high because the cool end is about 80f. I think this is because the viv isn't very big so there isn't much of a gradient? I don't know what to do about this other than turn down heat lamp or move him to bigger viv? Would he be okay in a big viv? It's hard enough to find him at the moment when he is buried!

[Jenn]

80 is okay for the cool end. What is te temp of your hot spot? WHat type of bluey is he? Some types hide more then others. What type of things do you have in his tank. With my shyer guys I have found that having lots of hides and fake flowers (almost to the point that the tank looks over crowded) makes them feel more secure and they are out and about more.

[mom22wins]

From what I've read the Merauke is beautiful but tempermental if not handled often. I think she'll tame down over time if you give her lots of attention and handling.

[laurnerox1]

I'm curious about this too. my baby is always hiding. and he gets all hissy whenever i try to get him out. but i dont let that stop me because i dont want him to learn thats good behavior. if he hisses i usually just blow lightly at his face and he stops and closes his mouth. then i pick him up and let him do his thing out of the cage. and then when i put him back in and feed him he'll walk around his tank for a while...but then goes back to hiding.

so i know how you feel!

[Hijinks]

How do you know for sure that they are always hiding? Mine isn't out and about as much when I am home to observe. He goes into a hide and peers out. The activity still makes him a little nervous, I think. (But he rarely hisses anymore and has stopped biting! ) During the day when I am gone he is often quite active, BUT I only know that he's active because I have a webcam on him. I know that ideally we want to get them used to us as soon as possible. But if someone is nearly always nearby, maybe what they need is "alone time" to find their courage to come out in the first place..?

[beckym]

Well I am at home a lot, as I am studying and have a toddler to look after, but I don't think I'm in his face or anything? His viv is in our living room but it is up high to stop my daughter peering in or tapping on the glass. Do you think that me just being in the same room will stop him from coming out?
I had him out earlier and he only hissed at me once and then I had him on my lap on the sofa and he had a good explore around and seemed quite happy. I'm feeling more positive that he will settle down in time. I have the next 20 odd years to try! We had a rescue cat when I was a kid who took 10 years to trust anyone and even then would only sit on my lap and no one else's, so I can be patient!
What about the UV thing? Will he be getting enough?

[Jenn]

What type of skink do you have? As I said some are out more then others.

[aggiegirl]

I dug my first skink (obtained at six months from a breeder who seldom handled him) out daily for months before he would actually come out on his own. I would take him outside, feed him treats by hand or when he was out. He finally has come around and he is a sweetie. The only time he hisses now is when he is still cold and I dig him out. He is a Northern though. He was never a biter but I remember worrying about his shyness. Just keep trying. Different types may take a little longer but I'm sure your skink will come around eventually. Keep us updated!

[boonaen]

yeah - my first thought would be "is the hot end hot enough?"

[Leigh]

Jenn she has a Merauke, I think.There's another thread with some pics

[beckym]

Everyone seems to agree that he is a merauke. I really don't think that the temperature is too low, it is always in the recommended range.

[gloom_kitty]

mine is the same. im worried about the lack of uv to but he doesnt seem to be taking harm from it. i figure when he is a bit older and bigger he will stop hidng so much.

[SailleSkinklover]

I am 90% certain that Chuff was a wild caught. He's a rescue, and so far in my experience, he is a very mellow guy. I can't speak for other Meraukes, but he has never opened his mouth to hiss at me (except once, when I startled him by coming into a room unannounced!) He "Chuff's" through his nostrils when he's cold and/or doesn't want to move, much like aggiegirl's Northern, but now I always talk to him before I touch him, so he knows whats going to happen. This seems to prevent any display/defensive behavior due to my startling him.
I handle daily, and let him roam the house in certain areas, so he's used to big feet walking around him and hearing us in our household activities.
Also, hand-feeding treats while he's out is a good way to "train" them that you are a positive food source.
Good luck with Doug! He's a beaut!