New to Board ^_^^_^

[ktaylor]

I would like to say hello! I am new to owning a BTS. I jst got her on friday but have been admiring her at the Petsmart i have been working at and finally got her . I want o make sure she is happy so i will be asking a lot of questions.
One question i have is that she has made a sound i am not sure of it was when I moved some leaves to check on her and it kind off sounded like a hiss or a woush of air. While in the store i would hold her when i could and she did not do that. Is it becuse she is in a new environment?

[NomadOfTheHills]

Thats a normal noise when they are trying to scare you away. Have you read the caresheet? Its a great reference and a must read:

http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

[ktaylor]

I read soewhere that you should wait to interact with a new pet after they get use to a new environment is this true and if so how long do you wait?
BTW the caresheet is very usefull ^_^

[Fatal_S]

I gave mine 2 days of me just watching them through the tank, then another 5 days of the only interaction being food time. But I think it depends on how the skink settles in. If it's out all the time, and seems curious, and not hiding, maybe try taking it out for a bit in a quiet space. If it's terrified, give it a chance to settle in. Oh, and the noise is normally called 'huffing' as in they're huffing and puffing and trying to make themselves seem big and scary. All my 3 do it every time I take them out. However if the're already on their basking rocks they tend to be calmer about being picked up in comparison to if you dig them out. When they're burrowed they're usually hiding and sleeping, and don't like to be disturbed. Doesn't usually stop me though ^.^ Welcome to the forum! Don't forget to post some pictures soon!

[Leigh]

try to get through as many old posts as you can, there are hundreds of questions with answers here, and the caresheet can answer the majority of faq's, we all love good photos so hop to it. What kind do you have, and do you know how old he/she is?Mine was already very handleable when he came home{one reason I got him}they are all different so you just have to test the waters so to speak.

[ktaylor]

While in the store she was easy to handle and well loved by most of the people working at the place i bought her.
She had been in the store since March though.I cant tell what age she is, but maybe someone can tell in a picture. Now where did i put that camera. After i find my camera i will post pictur3es as soon as possible. ^_^

[Tattoo]

Take a good gander at the care sheet it is a wealth of knowledge. As Fatal said they are a bit more huffy if you dig them out of hiding. They also get a bit cranky when they are getting ready to shed. Good luck with your new bluey and don't forget the pictures

[mom22wins]

Welcome to the forum!

There is lots of info on here and if you can't find it, just ask. I asked about that sound they make in a thread called "PFFFTTT" and found that everybody else's bluey does that too. It's just air expressed through the nose that sounds like a huff or a hiss but I think of it as just a little complaining on their part when they don't want to be bothered.

I love bluey's!

Just curious, what is your set-up for Sophie?

[ktaylor]

I have her in a 40 gallon tank. Here are some pictures of it. I also have a rock i want to use as a basking rock but it is cold. Is there a way to warm it up?

[NomadOfTheHills]

It will warm up once you up it under the basking light.

I can't tell from the pics, but do you just have florescent?

[ktaylor]

It has a Repti Glo 5.0 Compact Tropical and a Repti Glo 2.0 compact Full Spectrum.

[LittleFoot]

Welcome to the boards...

It looks like a cute little IJ. LittleFoot also makes the huffy noise when I disturb him from his nap or when he is burrowing, otherwise he is such a sweetie. Give him a couple of days to settle down and to adjust to the new tank.

What kind of substrate are you using?

Good luck with your new friend.

[ktaylor]

I am using bed a beast litter. It is a reptile substrate that i got from Petsmart.

[Brigget]

ok not to scare you in any way but here in tn every pet store i go in their reps have mites i have been complaining and getting them to do something about it but i would watch him close and make sure no teeny tiny bugs are crawling on him. or just purchase some reptile relief and treat him anyways.

[Kristin]

that is quite the cutie you have there.

[ktaylor]

If she did have mites where would they be.......SO i can look for them.

[aggiegirl]

No mite experience so can't help you with that! Hopefully we've scared you unnecessarily!
Welcome aboard.

[NomadOfTheHills]

It has a Repti Glo 5.0 Compact Tropical and a Repti Glo 2.0 compact Full Spectrum.

Ah, okay.


First, the 2.0 is pointless. If you look at the spectrum readings on the box, its a complete waste of money, it produces no UVB. The 5.0 is fine for UVB though.


You want to use some sort of incandescent or halogen bulb to produce a basking spot of 95-100 degrees in one area of the tank. I would put the log under that spot, and possibly get a second hide for the cool side.

[DeadEye]

Ahoy a big welcome aboard ..Yes do read the care sheet re heat temps . As that is really what kicks your skink into life the right heats ,If there not right you will have a sleepy skink that wont eat/ Nice to meet you Karen there is loads of smart cookies here that can guide you ...A nice heat rock is the go i even use them on blistering cold nights in Australia . ...Well 12 degrees ya need you pj,s on

Looking forward to some sweet pics .
cheers

[Leigh]

Yes thats a nice set up to start with.I'd put a back ground around the back and two sides as young Blueys have been known to spend a lot of time bent up against the sides trying to work out why they can't get out, this can develope kyphosis{not life threatening}but they can end up with a permanent dip at the place they bend.As said use a normal spot lamp facing straight down on to a rock/bit of slate/tile to create a basking spot, you'll have to experiment with wattages and distance from it to get the best temperature for basking.