Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
Just felt I should give an update on my little baby girl. She is doing well. She just had her first shed since I got her. She has been extremely friendly, once out of her cage. When she is in her cage, watch out! She seems to be territorial. If I try to touch her with out proper warning, she will try and take off a finger. She almost jumps with her mouth gaping after my hand. She has done this many times, and I take this as a good thing. If she is fiesty, it probably means she is healthy, and acting the was a PTS should act. I have been having some problems with feeding her. She won't eat from the dish in her cage. The only way she will eat is if I hold her and offer food to her. It works well and she is eating plenty, but it is a bit a a pain in my posterior. She also eats from a pothos in her cage. Should I maybe take the plant to make the food I offer more appealing? Is there something I can do to make her eat? She is kept at proper temp and humidity(mid 80's for temp, 65-90% humidity).
Nice to see you back Brian. You replies our alwas insightful. We have missed you around here lately.
I also want get input on my new cage plans, but I will wait to do so in another post. Thank you all in advance for your help. I have been meaning to take a picture of her to post, but I have not gotten around to it. So here is the photo I got from the guy I purchase her from. Isn't she just soooo cute? Josh

Are PTS usually as fat as she is or could she be gravid?

PTS take several years to mature- 3 or more. This is a baby PTS, it likely looks fat in this photo due to a yolk sac still being absorbed- or a good appetite if it is a few months old in the photo. They come out looking very pudgy in the middle. This is a photo of a set of my newborns and mom- the newborn you can see to the right is pretty typical of a fat baby with a nice big internal yolk sac to absorb over the next few weeks.
cheers, jess b

What a beautiful pic, Jess! I just wanted to welcome you back, you've really been missed! Hope you are doing well & that Gertie & crew are still keeping the PTS captive population growing & strong.

Take care & so good to see you back!

Sherri

Sweet face !!! And extremely healthy looking !

Eve

LEEWAy CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (LCRC)

Hi,

Thank you for your kind words. I just like to help when I can. There are others on this forum who also deserve high praise.

She is Beautiful! I certainly wish you and her the best.

If your baby was purchased, It is a fact that Baby Corucia separated from their parents and kept alone are invariably stressed and somewhat aggressive. They also act this way for strict defense against predators. Being isolated makes them more vulnerable. If your baby is alone, Please consider if it is within your means to create a new Circulus (Reptilian social group)with adoptive adults or with another baby.

On Feeding, based on your situation try a hanging dish with pothos or romaine draped over the edge. This may overcome the hand feeding over flat dish feeding dilemma.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Thanks for the idea of a hanging dish, I never really thought about a hanging dish before. I have had the full intention of starting my own circulus from the start, but unfortunately it can only be one skink at a time. I may be getting another tomorrow at a reptile show(from LLLReptiles), but I don't know whether or not I will purchase one there. I just want to see if the animal(s) at the show are in good health and the right sex. I hope to get a male at the show as I want to set up a pair first, then introduce another female. Beyond a male and two feamles, I don't know how big my circulus will get. I wanted to start with all juvies, but it is getting much harder to find younger animals. The animal(s) at the show are suppose to be adults. The person I purchased my skink from had a small group of young skinks. I think the jump from being in a group to being alone might have had an effect on her.
To the people who thought she might be gravid, she is definately not. She is something like six months old now, so she could not be gravid, she is just a bit frumpy. I will try to get more picture of her soon. Her head is not actually as dark as it looks in the picture. I think she may have been in the process of shedding at the time of the photo. Her head is in fact quite light in color. By the way, can anyone think of any good skinks name??? I have had her over a month and have yet to name her. I said I was going to name my skink once I determined its sex. I have done that, but I still have not named her. Anyone have any good idea? Thanks for the help, Josh