Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My BTS just loves to be rubbed on both sides of his neck; behind the ears & in front of the legs. Anyone else's into this? He'll actually close his eyes & get all zen when I do it!
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1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton & Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

I don't mean to burst your well-intended and commendable bubble but ... your BTS (or any other lizard) closing his eyes when being rubbed is not an indication that he is enjoying what you are doing. Rather, he is tolerating what you are doing.

Has he reemerged from under the sink?
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Edward
Carpe diem

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

Hello,

In addition to Edward's comment on tolerance, The possibility exists that the situation could be one step further negative. Some Reptiles will close their eyes if experiencing stress. One could be interpreted as contentment could be the total opposite.
I'm not discouraging you from loving your reptiles, but Edward's as well as my advice should be taken into consideration.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

I was actually trying not to sound too negative, but in fact, stress is more likely to be what the animal is experiencing when closing its eyes.
I, too, encourage you and all lizard keepers to love their animals and to give them the best home possible. However, assigning human traits to animals is misguided and can sometimes be actually detrimental. Petting and even holding are not truly appreciated by reptiles, in spite of appearances. Continue to love and care and appreciate your BTS for the wonderful creature it is and it will thank you in its own way.
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Edward
Carpe diem

Thank you. How do you know when they're enjoying something?

I posted above about his recent adventure, or was it a resort vacation? I think he was enjoying his new, extremely roomy "cage".
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1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton & Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

when I rub under their chin and some just inflate and hiss their head off.

Ah...the same debate went on on the kingsnake forum...only there it was more of a debate. The truth is no one knows...do they close their eyes because they like it or it stresses them out.
Eather way there is no way for any human to know what is going though a lizard's head. But I do know this my skink (BT Eastern) acts much diffrently when I startle him compaired to when I pet him. To much petting is not good, and not enough is not good eather (as is the case with snakes as they can become more snapy).

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

One knows when the vital signs are measured and monitored on screen.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Ah well you must have some nice high tech equ. to study skinks with. Why don't you share your data with the rest of us...I would like to see it.