Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, it may be controversal, but my jack russells have been on a raw diet since they were tiny. I simply hand them a chunk of meat and bone, or organ and they are 2 and three years old now, thriving and the vet thinks they are really doing well.
What does this have to do with skinks, you may ask? My personal opinion is that dog and cat food out of the can is disgusting stuff full of all kinds of harmful bacteria and gunk. So, I wonder if anyone does any type of raw feeding with their skinks instead of buying dog or cat food? I am hoping someone out there can help me to feed a more natural diet. I can't find pinky mice locally.
I was given a shneiders with a tail bent like an accordian, dyed orange from the cruddy sand it was in. a little kid owned him, and his mom gave him to me because he wasn't taking care of it. (UGH!!) I have had him over a week and his body has shedded to the back legs and just stopped. He looks like he is wearing orange pants. I dipped his body in alittle luke warm water when he came here.A lot of it washed off, but a lot stayed. He must have been breathing this stuff- poor little guy. It was inbedded on all of his scales and on all of his decorations in his tank, etc. We switched to white play sand. But, why doesn't he shed the rest off already?
He is eating crickets and meal worms, and was giving him mescaline mix from the market till I just read on in this forum that lettuce is a no no. I will feed right from now on. He tears lettuce up with glee.
And, altogether he seems like a happy little guy for the sh-- he has had to endure. Do you think he is in pain with a zig zag tail? He likes to be held and climbs all over me and my kids. My kids are older and he is MY lizard. Anyway, thanks to anyone offering me advice.

Was supposed to just say my new skink- my fingers are not good typers-LOL

I cant be of much help with schneider's skinks.

As for the canned food... dont but the cheap crap. Go to a "yuppie" grocery store and find some brands that list whole chicken as the first ingredient... no meal or byproduct. Personally, I rarely feed canned. I use shredded chicken from meat dept. and boil the pink out of it.
Think about these animals in the wild... for example, blue tongues will eat anything they find with smell to it. including carrion. their main meals are snails, which are known to harbor all sorts of worms and wee-beasties.
The orange color should come off with his next shed. do you have any photos to post?
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1 Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
2 Tarahumara Mountain Kingsnakes - Knoblochi
1 Thayer's Kingsnake - Thayeri
2 Golden Greek Tortoises
1 Pyxie Frog - 14 years old

I don't know how to send pics, but just took a good one. So, why not give him a little raw chicken or beef? Why must it be cooked?

Let me see if this works...

Nope. Let me try it this way....
My image here">My skink

Pic of my skink

Oh heck!!!

the url is
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/onlyformylists/detail?.dir=/e6b6&.dnm=58f8.jpg&.src=ph&.tok=pheb0FFBYgV.GTjn

I saw your pic.

very skinny! When the spine shows like that it is not a very good outlook.

Do Schneider's even need meat? I dont think so-mostly insectivorious. Just stick with "dusted" crickets and make sure he is hydrated.

go to www.bluetongueskinks.net

the forum peeps there are sure to help you with better details for schneider's. Plus, there is a wonderful food chart to show which foods are best...including specific brands of canned are best. just click the caresheet button or join the forums.

Wish I could help ya more.
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1 Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
2 Tarahumara Mountain Kingsnakes - Knoblochi
1 Thayer's Kingsnake - Thayeri
2 Golden Greek Tortoises
1 Pyxie Frog - 14 years old

I will look at the chart when I come home from work. Today I put out the canned lizard food for omnivores- smelly- but I am hoping he will eventually try that. He also has 10 meal worms laying in his dish, mustard greens and a little bit of mushed peaches. There is also a mess of crickets crawling around. I told you he was in sad shape. The lady wasn't sure the last time he had been fed, since she had left it up to her kid. amazingly, though, and you won't beleive it, but he has put on weight. I CAN see the difference. He looked so thin a week ago, I thought he might not make it through the next nights. Aside from not eating the canned junk I put out- (which is why I want to go natural)- this little guy can really put away food and shakes it fiercely before he swallows. I wanted to try wax worms yesterday but Petco was out. Cross your fingers with me I am determined to give it my best shot. He is so cute. I have to do my best. He has to live. He had a rough start. I was told he is 3 years old!