BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I always have had lizards during my life.Right now I have 2 Tegus and 2 Beardies and a new BTS baby.
I wanted to join a group of people who also love and care for a BTS.
This is my first BTS so I have a question.
I understand they don't bite and mine is very sweet and calm but he does something that has me puzzled.
When he is anywhere around my neck or chin he takes a bite.I mean I wouldn't think he'd think a big neck could be something to eat but who knows? I don't smell like food but now have 3 bites on me that have turned black and blue.I want to be able to trust him but now get very nervous with him around my face.
Any suggestions would be welcome.I did order a few turtle neck sweaters.
Gennie

Welcome to the board. The only thing I can think of is maybe he smells the other lizards on you? Do you let them on your shoulder by your neck? Post pictures of him when you get a chance, it's the law

O.K. Littlefoot ... I wanna see your badge! I love it when new people come on board and you tell them they have to post pix because it's the Law.

Neck biting ... Part vampire? I guess I would avoid the neck area for a while if you are sure it's not a scent attraction. Maybe hold him in your lap and see what he is up to. He could just be a bit nervous because he is new to your house and that is his way of telling you he's a bit out of sorts. And of course

Welcome to the boards! This is the place to go if you need to know anything bluey.

My BTS doesn't bite either but when I first got her, as a baby, she bit my son Matthew on his finger. It wasn't enough to bruise him. And it wasn't like a strike it was more like a "I wonder what this is" kinda thing.

I think as babies they sometimes explore things with their sense of smell and their mouth. Were you wearing perfume? lol

Got me! I'm sure the others on here will have better suggestions for you.

Anyway, welcome!

Diane

WELCOME!

If you have a baby he may be exploring; biting things scratching things etc

But if he continues to do so maybe stop putting your skink on your shoulder for a while so he forgets about it, and aventually stops.

You cant really say that he's a bad skink, he's absolutely fine. He's just doing whats natural


f.C

I think I would cover my sholder and neck with a towel for a while or not let him by my neck.

Welcome aboard! I hate to second things but I agree with the fact that blueys are heavily influenced by scent---as previously mentioned, watch smells from other animals and perfumes---these may be a contributing factors. Also, post pictures! If we could see which kind of BT, that might influence our suggestions because different types (even individuals of any given type!) have different temperments. Also, the likelihood of your guy being captive/wild caught can be determined that way. (We're suckers for pictures of all types though! ) Tell us more about the origin of your guy and maybe we can help you a little more!

Welcome!
So you've got a bluey that likes giving hickeys, huh?

Babies do tend to be more curious, and like human babies, like to stick anything in their mouths at least once. I reckon he'll outgrow it and until then I'd keep him away from your face and neck area.

Lol. Welcome. My bluey has a facination with breasts, and is comstantly trying to get into the shirt of girls (only girls). He also will lick if a girl wears a low cut top -.-' This is why we're assuming he's a he. I guess they just have quirks.

Its been 6 weeks since I got my BTS and he is cage aggressive but a sweetie when out of cage.I have started to trust him not to bite me but this morning he bite my neck again.
I always read they don't bite but he is just sitting there and all of a sudden he bites.
I am super confused as to why he has this facination with biting my neck.
He does let go fast so I am wondering does he realize he just bit his Mom and better let go?
Any suggestions?




Gennie

keep it away from your neck, thats simpel .

Also, ditch/get rid of any perfume you might be wearing!!!

Mine tried to take a nibble on my ankle bone this past summer, but I put a quick stop to that when I saw him open his mouth. I scooped him up and moved him. It distracted him ,and he hasn't ever tried it again.

For the neck biting, avoid it all together! Just keep him on your lap until you know you can trust him, which may be a while. For the cage aggression, make sure you talk to him and let him know you are approaching, then just keep talking to get him used to your voice/presence. Move gently and slowly toward him, as sudden moves can freak them out.
Sometimes these guys do requite a bit of patience, but they are great animals when they are comfortable with you.

my sassy doesnt like anything to be above her she would try to bite me at first if i held her low and would be perfectly fine if i held her eye level maybe your size intimidates her try keeping eye level for awhile or just in the lap till she can trust you completely.

My Mel is the sweetest lizard, but he can be a little bitey at times. It's not like an attack bite, it's more of a slow motion chomp. He usually does it when I think he's nuzzling. The first time he ever bit me was when I had him in my shirt. I am telling the complete truth when I say that he bit one of my woman parts. Talk about leaving a skink hickey! When my husband had pneumonia last year, I gave him Mel to cuddle with. Mel was trying to burrow his nose into the bend of my husband's elbow. As I watched, Mel slowly opened his mouth and then slowly clamped down onto my husband's arm. It was so slow that I could have stopped it if I wanted. On both occassions, my husband and I were squirming a little bit because Mel was tickling us with his tongue. Maybe that particular type of movement attracted Mel. None of my other skinks have even attempted to snack on me.

I took Pryce to a daycare with Cow where they got petted and shown off. While carrying him down a set of stairs, he too bit my neck, leaving me a nice hicky. I don't know why this happened, but he's not really allowed near my neck now. I don't know if it's smell (i don't wear perfumes), movement (I was going down a set of stairs and talking), or maybe even the strong pulse in the neck? Wocket will do the slow bite whenever anything rubs against his mouth. Such odd critters.

Thanks so much for all the quick replies.

I love him to pieces and will keep him off my neck.
I bought a turtleneck and wore it the other times and of course he didn't bite but I decided today to trust him and he probably was saying "Hey,where is that really cool red shirt?"

This is such a great board.

Gennie

Wear a polo Tshirt and turn up the collar, thats what I do, and when hes settled I turn the collar back down over him, he'll sit there for ages like that.I'm sure the slow bite thing is a tester, maybe he's practicing his sex hold on you or maybe you just smell nice.

Practicing his sex hold; that's a good one.


Hi Gennie...I have a lizard like this too named Sassy, in fact Marie, she does the same slow motion thing you're talking about. I wonder if Phoebe does it too?