How to pick up your Skink, and my BTS drinking problem

[Thehurricane22]

Hey guys, I was just wondering, whats the best way to pick up the skink. I kind of just scoop him underneath his belly and put him on my arm, but he freaks out a lot of the time, but not always, when I do this. So i was wondering if u could tell me a better way to do it. Also ive just started taking Lenny out, he seems to really enjoy it, but im worried, because I dont think hes been drinking any water, im not sure though. Do they not drink a lot in the winter, or is this something i should be worried about?

[shingleback aus]

with handling ,well first i aproch the bluey from the front and make sure he knows im there maybe say somthing i then reach for it from the front grab it behind the arms and pick it up supporting the arms and legs. usullay they freak out when you hold them by the belly because there legs arnt supported in result thrashing there body about and waving there arms. about the drinking they normaly brumate in winter if you have low temps in result not drinking as much or not eating as much or or at all.

[Fatal_S]

I grab behind the front legs, one hand under the back legs, and lift. Then I'll put them against my body or cradled on my arm where they can feel secure. Sometimes they just wiggle no matter how I hold em, so I'll put em down to wander.

[Thehurricane22]

alright, i figured that he didnt feel secured when i picked him up like that. When i put him back in his cage, i had him in a towel wrapped up to keep him warm, and he was just looking around like everything was all good . So thanks for the tip. Well the temp on the cool side is at a constant 70-72 degrees no matter what and his basking spot his almost 100 degrees so idk if thats the problem. He does hide in the coconut bark i have in there for a long time, i usually gotta dig him out, but he gets so scared when i do that. He is eating everything i give him every other day, except all his greens, but i try to cut those up very small and mash them together with his cat food so he gets some of them.

[shingleback aus]

[Fatal_S]

Towels work well. When you have to dig them out, make sure to make noise first, so they're awake. Once their out, give em a treat, makes it nicer for them.

[Thehurricane22]

Yeah he seemed to enjoy laying on the towel. Yeah he likes to bury himself, and lay there pretty much a long time, so i sometimes gotta get him up so he'll go bask in the light . I normally call his name a few times and pet the back of his neck if i can see it, if i cant, i try to move some of the bark, but that really scares him :/.

[Fatal_S]

He's likely trying to sleep the winter away. Once spring comes he'll wake up, be active, drink more, and be more social. As is, he's grumpy because you keep waking him up. Give it another month, maybe a bit more, he'll come out of it.

[shingleback aus]

yeah its probably better off not disturbing him in the winter months

[Blotch]

grab it at the tip of the tail and twist as you pick it up.

hahaha j/k - I just grab mine quickly at the base of the neck to the chest area, and support their legs straight away. When they have something under their feet they tend to relax alot quicker. the more you handle them the better they'll be.

[Leigh]

It sounds like he's still in brumation,I'd leave the handling until he resurfaces for his spring stroll.If you are concerned, all you need do is talk to him while feeling around in the substrate,when you hear him, you know he's fine.Mine likes to come up around sunset(time clock time)and have a drink,then submerges again.

[LittleFoot]

what kind of tank do you have? Some tend to get a bit more apprehensive when the tank is an open top. They tend not to like it when things come down from above (this is not true of all BTS)

I scoop up LittleFoot behind his front legs and his back legs go on my forearm.

[gloom_kitty]

loki still fits in my hand lol

[Shadowfax]

I rarely ever see Maya drinking, but he must because the water goes away and he's still alive!

I actually pick Maya up by grabbing his body around his back legs, leaving the front part of his body drooping. He seems to prefer this to any other method, he hangs there and then when I get him out of the cage, I put my other hand under his front legs.

[NomadOfTheHills]

If he has water offered, he will drink when thirsty.

[Leigh]

Dont go lifting him out too fast or spin around with him, he might do the jellywobble on you.They like to feel something solid to stand on even in mid air. Have you considered the fact that he maybe due to shed, that can make them hide alot as well.