One of my easterns is losing condition...

[Blotch]

... and I can't get her to eat. I don't know what to do. My previous questions about food have been in search of new things to get her eating but the only thing she takes in is egg (scrambled or raw), and banana. She used to eat pinkies now and then but last time She didn't touch them.

I have no idea what to feed her. I Know it's getting to the time of year that they brumate, but with constant heat - you would think that she would be more inclined to eat. I'm not that fussed about her brumating, I'm more interested in getting some condition back. So any thoughts? I don't want to force feed cuz it's not good for them, so what do you guys think???

[Leigh]

I'm no diet expert,but too much egg can be bad as it binds the calcium and can cause compactions{ feel free to correct me}I'd just offer greens to loosen her up or try a warm bath, have you noticed any change in her turn outs?Plenty of good advice from your fellow Aussies,I'm sure you'll get a good answer from them, best of luck mate.

[Tigergenesis]

Too much egg or bananas are not good. If it's the time of year for them to start slowing down then that could be all it is. Some of mine didn't eat much for months (no matter how warm I kept the cage they knew internally it was time to cool themselves), but now that it's gotten warmer they are pigging out.

[Jenn]

A few of mine stop eating and start cooling themselves before I start lowering the lights and temps. Unless I am planning to try breeding them, I let them set the pace of when they are going to cool and warm up and if they do it at all.

My northern Frankie won't eat anything but nightcrawlers the first few months out of brumation. I learned not to worry because come June she pigs out until the end of September.

[Blotch]

ok i went and purchased some cat foot tonight. Some turkey prime cut. Made by purina. I was quite surprised by the amount of turkey as opposed to gravy. there was HEAPS!!! Anyway, I put a little on a lid for my thin eastern girl to have a go at, and instead of eating she crapped everywhere. It was VERY runny (almost like water) and extremely stinky. Thing is she pooped earlier today when i took her outside, and it was a big poop. I'm thinking the runniness is due to me giving her some rawish egg. Anyway, after I cleaned her and the tub I had her in, I put some more turkey on a clean lid and tried again. No Luck. She just won't eat and she's quite warm. Surely someone has to have some idea what's going on. She doesn't seem ill, when heated up she's active enough, just won't eat.

I can't really afford to take her to the vet - not that the vet knows anything. Last time I took her to the vet that handles reptiles, he openly told me he knows nothing about Blueys and just read out a printed page that Craig loose wrote. What a quality vet huh!?

Come on guys and girls - brainstorm with me.

[Leigh]

BLOTCH, have you tried to pm Ian{DeadEye} hes in west Auss and knows soooo much, he's a busy geezza but brilliant for help, got some top skinky recipes, good luck

[Richard.C]

hi blotch,what temps do u keep it at,might have some other under lying problems,as im assumeing its been losing condition for a while yes,all i can suggest is dont use egg if u can help it,or if it is enjoying egg,perhaps use some egg on your cat food,also try wiskas jellymeat,its much better than that chunks and gravy stuff,and make sure its warm enough,has it been not eating for a while?

[Geoff Gates]

Blotch,

She probably wants to have snooze and is not interested in eating.

My blueys have not eaten for 2 months and have now only been asleep for 1 week.

Have you a pic of her? I want to see what condition she is in.

[Blotch]

ok Richard : All my blueys are kept around the same temps, under the basking spot, it was 30oC, didn't bother checking the cool end. I must admit - because I keep them inside and my room is naturally warm, the heat lights are rarely on long. No other problems with my other skinks, so at a guess I'd say my temps are fine. She has always been a really fussy eater. and yeah - she doesn't normally eat much anyway. I always thought it was due to me feeding her with another one of my guys at any different time.

Geoff: Sure mate - I have a couple of pics of her in my personal photo album. I'll whack the links up here for you.

Thanks for your attention guys.

[Blotch]

ok, before you look at these allow me to assure you of a couple of things.
She lost her foot, was already blind in one eye, and had spinal kinks before I got her. These are not products of my neglect. I don't neglect my lizards, the condition of Vic and the others in my album should verify this.

Here are the two best pics to show her state.
http://bluetongueskinks.net/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=3710
http://bluetongueskinks.net/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=3711

once again, thx for your attention.

[DeadEye]

Right Yes she is under weight , um there is this rehydrator called SPARK give back your skink all its electrolites rehydrates ...and picks them up ...cook that chicken breast meat ..and worm her

good luck .

Or try a native wild life hospital as ozzie vets arn,t covered and dont know alot bout skinks ..there will be some in vic just ring your local vet

could be worms , if the condition has been falling off slowly ...Worm rid or try vitimin and= mineral spray with calcium for reptile,s if she,s off her tucker ...It is cold in vic now ask geoff gates Mate ...He is in vic and has easterns good luck champ ...let me know

[Geoff Gates]

Hmmm,

Blotch, does she look dehydrated. compare her eyes to your one of your healthy collection. If they're sunken you can bet she is.

Is she drinking at all?

Where in Melb are you?
I think a vet visit is in order. The 2 vets that readily come to mind are

Canterbury Vet (on Canterbury Rd just down from Warrigul Rd.)

or Peter Cameron in Altona.

Good Luck.

[DeadEye]

Um any pet store that has reptiles , we give it to birds at the hospital as well ...easy to get here is another thing iam reading from my bible .check her droppings so you know she,s eating and it doesnt hurt to give them a sprinkle of repti-cal if her spine has MBD or repti - vite and wonabaroo reptile supplement . the package shows how to make it up ..... ..If she has a reluctence to feed could be any of these inadquate inclosure size, heat source ,heat gradiant, lighting land scaping, humidity, ventolation stress if its in a busy area or if its in pre slough ready to shed ...How r all those >???? NOMAD showed me a skink that stands up at the glass can wreck her spine if its to small ..Id take her out for a roam a bit more ..There Goeff is the man for vic ...Keep in touch i gtg to work Mate good luck any of that stuff is at pet store,s .But all mine have backed off there food a little , cya dude

[Blotch]

I was playing my bass in front of the computer which is 2 rooms away and i thought I could smeel something off - so i went into my room and sure enough she'd pooped again. This time there was some substance to it, and some runniness. I'll take a pic to show you guys. heheh sounds strange, I'll take pics of her poop. YUMMY!!!

[Lucifer_Spades]

Pics of poo HA I got video. hmm is that something i should admit to... that don't make me weird does it?

[Blotch]

Actually - scratch that - it was another runny one. The solid bit I thought was poop was just a bit of turkey.

[Lisa]

I can't look at your pics (dial up) My alpine went off ALL food (even snails and grubs) for about six weeks but was still active and awake. And this was a lizard that never missed a feed, ate anything, ate everyone else's leftovers too. I was worried but Geoff Gates said that can be normal for them to stop eating but not actually brumate. He started eating again abut two weeks ago. Have you tried to brumate her? Reduce her heat and lights?

If she is actually losing condition but, then I'd see a vet and talk parasites or worms.

[Blotch]

Lisa: I would but i'm worried she won't wake up if you know what i mean. I've alreay lost my dog recently - i don't want to lose another pet.

I'll email the pics for you to check out if you'd like.

[Lisa]

Lisa: I would but i'm worried she won't wake up if you know what i mean. I've alreay lost my dog recently - i don't want to lose another pet.

I'll email the pics for you to check out if you'd like.

Know what you mean. One of my poochies (Diesel, 12 yr old cattle dog) is blind, losing his hearing, his marbles, hardly any teeth left .... decision time is looming Sorry for your loss. I don't know how I'll cope without my best mate.

I'm no expert, and you are an experienced keeper and you would be in the best position to know if she's losing condition. If she is, then I'd take her to a vet (Geoff Gates is ace, his advice is well worth a listen). If she's not (or is, but can afford to) then I'd just let her be. Believe me, the first day Ralphie refused a feed I went into coniptions it was so out of character.

One thing, don't compare her to most of them on here, but. Alot of them (mine included) are a tad overweight. You've seen wild ones, yeah? Even squashies on the roadside. Compare them to yours. Wild ones hardly ever reach the size that ours do after 12 months.

Go to one of the recommended vets (think there's more on aussiepythons.com) - ease your mind, and hers, if there is a problem.

Ach, send em to me lisa.munro@optusnet.com.au (shrink em first, but!)