Feeling Bad For My Blueys

[MrChonks]

Hey all,

Been forever and a day, I know. Ever since having my son, life has become exponentially busy for me. The latter compels me to elaborate on the subject in the hopes of gaining some insight from you, the dedicated bluey community.

Nutshell:

Because I am so busy, I have been neglecting my blueys and geckos. Yes, I still give them water, still feed them, still clean out their cages (the regularity of the latter being less than when I was without offspring), but I find that I have little to no time for them. Chewie still knows who I am, for the most part, but appears to be a little skittish due to lack of interaction. Louie, well, Louie is (and always has been) a grump, but these days, he is off the grumpy charts. Again, I associate these behaviors with a lack of proper interaction.

Question:

For those of you who are in the "parent" situation, what did you do about your lack of free time to interact with your blueys/lizards? Did you find that, as your child/children got older, you had more time for them?

Indeed, I have considered putting them up for sale here, but I cannot bring myself to do that since they are my "kids", as well. But, therein lies the crux; I don't want to give them up, but am not of the caliber I once was before having a kid, thus feeling as though I am doing them a great disservice. I state all of this with the hope that I will get some type of dialogue or well-thought-out responses from the lot of you.

I hope this finds you well. Sorry I haven't been around much as of late.

Chonks

[Fatal_S]

Hi! Welcome back!

I'm having somewhat of the same problem right now. I just got a new, full time, very physically demanding job, and add that to cadets 3-5 nights a week, I tend to be too exhausted to do anything more than put in food and water.

My suggestion? See if you can convince your BTS to brumate. That way you wont have to worry so much about them until spring, giving you time to get used to your new schedule. Things should calm down in a bit, and you'll find you miss your herps and have some time to spend with them.

I find if I skink proof a small area (bathroom, kitchen corner) I can take my guys out for a wander while I do things like dishes. I can also set them down there anytime I'm cuddling and need to make a run for laundry. Try to set a time for cuddling each skink, such as an hour a week. If you know you've got an hour to watch TV, bring your BTS along too. This should be just enough to keep them social while your going through life. Even if they do get a bit skittish with your time apart, when you have time again, they'll come around and be friendly again.

Try to stick it out. If all else fails, see if there's a forum member around you who wouldn't mind taking them where you can get em back when life calms down. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck.

[NomadOfTheHills]

As long as you are feeding and watering, they are not being neglected. Bluies do not want your companionship, they are fine even if you do not "play" with them. Maybe as your kids get older, they will take an interest in them.

[Marie]

As long as you are feeding and watering, they are not being neglected. Bluies do not want your companionship, they are fine even if you do not "play" with them. Maybe as your kids get older, they will take an interest in them.

I agree with this. Your son could grow up being the Steve Irwin of BTS!

[russman]

I sold two of my three blue tongues not too long ago because of a lack of time/interaction. I don't regret giving them a better home, and I'm glad I did. I am also very glad that I didn't give all of them up. Bella is so funny, and I would really miss her if I did.

A possible solution (maybe not the best, but possible) is to sell ones that you don't feel as connected to and keep a few or one of the ones that you really feel attached to. Keep the blue tongues, sell the geckos!

[Shadowfax]

Agreed with Nomad -- if you can still attend to their basic needs, they are fine with waiting for you to have some free time, they won't really know the difference or begrudge you your busy-ness.

[SailleSkinklover]

You could always sell the kid and get more Blueys. . .
Just Kidding!
Whatever you decide to do, it will be OK. I personally would keep the Blueys and make the time, even if its 5 minutes/day. But I'm a forever home kinda gal, adn I know life happens.
Good luck!

[MrChonks]

Thanks, everyone, for your tips. I know Louie really could care (or rather prefers) if I did not play with him. But, yes, I am maintaining their needs. I feed them less than I did before, but find that it is good since they were getting a wee pudgy with the lack of proper exercise. I will stick it out, though. I really could not imagine getting rid of them. They are family to me.

[LittleFoot]

I have four kids and work a part time job. I try and handle all of my critters daily. Even if it is for 5 minutes, I try and hold them. Luckily it gets easier as the kids get older. LittleFoot can freely roam around my kids rooms and snuggle into their stuffed animals and all the clothes they 'accidentaly' can't seem to get into the hamper.

[Tattoo]

I have four kids and work a part time job. I try and handle all of my critters daily. Even if it is for 5 minutes, I try and hold them. Luckily it gets easier as the kids get older. LittleFoot can freely roam around my kids rooms and snuggle into their stuffed animals and all the clothes they 'accidentaly' can't seem to get into the hamper.

Let me guess ... pink floral outfits right?

[LittleFoot]

I have four kids and work a part time job. I try and handle all of my critters daily. Even if it is for 5 minutes, I try and hold them. Luckily it gets easier as the kids get older. LittleFoot can freely roam around my kids rooms and snuggle into their stuffed animals and all the clothes they 'accidentaly' can't seem to get into the hamper.

Let me guess ... pink floral outfits right?

Just for my daughter....her room looks like someone pucked pepto-bismol all over the place. And for the record, I hate the color pink. I despise it. When she was born, the nursery was lavender. But she LOVES pink. Now, they three boys on the other hand, want nothing to do with pink or anything else remotely girly.

[Zach]

Good answers...


Hey, Chonks! Long time no see.

[MrChonks]

Good answers...


Hey, Chonks! Long time no see.

Hey Z, yeah, it has been too long. It is amazing how little time there is in the day when you have a kid. In fact, I am typing this while I sleep. It is highly efficient, yet error-prone.

How did the sales go for the bluey babies you had available this year?

Also, this post appears to be going the way of OT, so feel free to lock it should you feel the issue has been fully addressed.

[Zach]

No worries! Babies are all gone ~ which I guess is good and bad....we had so many and it was a little overwhelming, but then they were gone just like that.

[Fatal_S]

But now you have lots of room for next years babies!!!

[Leigh]

Mr Chonks, you feed and water your blueys and geckos(fair play). They can if you want ,brumate for a while, giving you more child time over the winter period, they sleep when you dont he hee heee, once spring has sprung and summer comes around, you'll find it no harder to take care of both pets and kids at the same time( i wish I could of fed and watered my daughter once every few days) herps are a good way of kepping a child occupied (instead of TV) as long as they dont bang the glass, seeing as your blueys will be there as your youngen is at pre-school,school and college age, they make for great entertainment if not hands on to start with, you will obviously be able to incorporate parent+child+education time all in one,what could be better. If you keep them for now you can still get rid of them in the future if it all goes pear shaped,if you get rid of them now ,it'll be game over,just my 2p worth. you never know Mr Chonk Jr could be a world leading herpotologist,all because you kept them.

[aggiegirl]

I would have never tried herps if my son's allergist hadn't threatened me. I'm so glad I did though! Yes, I worry a little about Salmonella, but the kids have learned what germs are and how to wash hands/use good herp hygeine. The kids have learned about responsible pet ownership. They have learned about empathy and compassion. They have learned more about herps than most of their friends. (My four year old was describing tail regeneration in blueys vs. cresties today and my son did his science fair project on BTs.) In short, the pets enrich their lives.
From a parent sense, reptiles are ideal. Rodents stink if you don't give them daily care/cleaning. Dogs become destructive if you fail to walk them. Cats have litter boxes (enough said.) Your skinks won't miss the daily handling and can tolerate less frequent feedings. I try to work skink time into my routine---like while I type, or while I wait for the bus, or while I fold clothes. My skinks get out most days but when they don't, they shoot me dirty looks and go on with it! I'm telling you. There will be ups and downs but as long as you consistantly provide minimal care, you are probably doing more than most skink owners. My time here is sporadic when things get crazy but that is parenthood! Most folks here are too young to understand---but all of the parents on here can empathize!

[Fatal_S]

Salmonella, bah! Me and my skinks kiss all the time ^.^ Then again, I'm not exactly a cautious person. At work I see a caution sign on an animal cage, and see it as a chance to cuddle Or when I rescue baby seagulls and cuddle them, even though they've probably got germs and diseases. I do however always tell anyone else to wash hands, just to avoid a lawsuit from a 5 year old

[NomadOfTheHills]

You actually have a better chance of getting salmonella from a dog or cat, then a reptile in a clean enclosure. The only way you get it, is to have their fecal matter enter your body (ie eyes nose mouth etc). This is why it is easier to get it forma dog or cat; dogs roll in crap, and cats have litter boxes.

So if you keep the cage clean, and then animal isnt crawling in its own excrement, salmonella is not a threat at all.

[Zach]

And even then, the animal has to carry salmonella, isn't that right?