Any Ideas?

[Lady_Kiya]

This isn't about a gecko, so I apologize for it being in the wrong place. The general discussion gets more attention.

As most of you know I recently became a mama to a fire skink. The first or second day we got her I saw her eat one cricket. The rest of this time she has always been in hiding, either in the lay box, or in the soil in her enclosure. I realize that burrowing is in her nature, but is it normal for her not to come out to eat at all?

I am wondering what I should do to make sure she is eating... or should I just leave her be and assume she is?

If anyone has a fire skink themselves and can give me some advice it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Pepper]

Mine has just started to eat regularly, it's been a month.

Assume it is wild caught, a lot of them just, won't eat.

Mine NEVER comes out that I see.

They do stay buried basically all day and night, except to come out, get a little heat, get a drink, etc..

Also, what are your temps?

If you really feel they are not coming out, they live in Western Africa in dense brush, so try bulking up the enclosure with thick plants, real or fake.

Don't just assume she is eating because I did that and my guy didn't eat for, well, a long time.

Give her a few days, don't give her any food or anything. If you want to you can put a shallow dish with some meal worms in it, bury it into the soil a little so it is flush with the ground.

I did a test today too see how they eat, and how they know where food is when they are buried.

I took everything out, like the logs and stuff and threw about 3 crickets in.

Within about 30 seconds the ground started moving, my skink busted through the ground and snatched up all three and ate like, three more crickets. The most he's ever eaten.

I believe they can either hear the movement, smell them, or feel the vibrations.

Don't try to feed every day yet. Try 2-3 times a week, this way they get a little hungry and eat.

Then they get used to having food whenever you offer it. A lot of the not eating is due to them just being stressed and in a new environment, just like Leo's.

You can try that in a few days.

No handling. Fire skinks are very susceptible to stress, and if they have parasites(which most do) they can completely go crazy in the animal's system. So, let them settle down. Try feeding, if they don't eat, it's okay. If they do, great!

P.S. It's also pointless to just put crickets in and hope they eat them, the crickets just hide, or drown in the water bowl.

One more thing, try not to un bury her for a while, it is complete and utterly unnatural and they have to get used to it, which can take time for them not to become stressed every time you try. It's basically like something that wants to eat them is un burying them.