Nail Clipping?

[zakkhogan]

hey, it comming up again for clipping time,

when i inherited lynyrd one of his nails was completly over grown and curling, after i cut it down to the right size it didnt grow back correctly, and now its time to give him a re-trim.. (this nail has re grown)

This is the problem... im a big wimp and always feel like im gonna hurt him,

are there any tips? i was advised by a local shop at the beginning of our relationship to use regular nail clippers but i feel like i dont have enough control, the guy who gave me him used to just use sand paper, gently over the tips of the nail.....

whats the easily and most comfortable method for lynyrd!

[rachel]

I use baby nail scissors for BTS and Bearded Dragon. None seem to mind. Maybe this could work for you? Though i have to admit, i have never used sandpaper.

[Tattoo]

Try when your bluey is not warm. In the morning when they are cool they will be less reactive which might be more calming for you. Also try to do them over the course of a week ... a few nails per day. It won't seem like such a big chore.

[evil pixie]

I use cat nail scissors. Honestly, I've cut the quick on my Blue before... it bled a little but not bad. I just held my finger on the nail until it stopped.

As Tattoo said, cut when your skink is cold as they will be active. It's best to just trim a little bit at a time and do it frequently. When I got Blue, his nails were like raptor claws, and I cut them a little bit once a week to get them to a more manageable length.

[Fatal_S]

If you let them get long and cut off a big piece, it'll likely bleed. Instead, do a weekly or bi-weekly trim. Letting them roam and crawl over rough surfaces (cement blocks, basking rocks, etc) too is great for wearing down the nails. I could see using sandpaper to dull the points, or having it on the tank where they like to scratch at, but using it to bring a nail down to size would be time consuming and have the same effect as the trimming.

[shingleback aus]

well since mine are in an outdoor encloser with plenty of rocks and hard surfaces i have never had a problem

[Leigh]

Would letting them soak in a tub of warm water help make them softer like ours?

[Brigget]

Blue is very picky about touching his feet. He jerks them away quickly but lilly will allow me to rub all over his

[Scotts1au]

What about using a porous gritty basking rock ie. granite or anything else abbrasive. The action of continually climbing over it might be enough that you don't need to trim them?

I'm sure you could get something that is functional and still looks good.

Scott

[Zach]

What about using a porous gritty basking rock ie. granite or anything else abbrasive. The action of continually climbing over it might be enough that you don't need to trim them?

I'm sure you could get something that is functional and still looks good.

Scott

This type of thing REALLY works. Our roommate got a bluey and uses excavator clay (actual reptile substrate); it's soft, and you mold it to the bottom of the cage creating caves, bumps, whatever you want then let it harden -- Blaze's nails are dull and short as can be and have never been cut. He also uses normal substrate over certain parts of the cage too...

[zakkhogan]

when i inherited lynyrd one of his nails was completly over grown and curling, after i cut it down to the right size it didnt grow back correctly, and now its time to give him a re-trim.. (this nail has re grown)

ive just noticed i error in my post the nail that was curled when i got him has not regrown correctly, its still very small and grows to the side!

[LittleFoot]

I have only had to clip LittleFoot since I have had him, and that was about a month after I got him. I wrapped him up like a burrito in a towel, used my own nail clippers, and had my oldest pop waxworms into his mouth. He never complained

[Jenn]

I use reptile nail clippers (which look exactly like my cat nail clippers!) because I find it easier to slip their nails into the little hole vs trying to slid them into human nail clippers. Human nail clippers are bad for cutting cat's claws because they can cause them to split. To be on the safe side I don't use them on my lizards either. I find it helpful to mess with my blueys feed all the time, that way they are use to it when it comes to nail clipping time. If you are nervous only cut a little bit off and do it more often.