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I recently aquired a young PTS which was somewhat malnourished (raised on romaine lettuce) and it is very reluctant to eat, and very lethargic. I left a bowl out with different greens, squash, and even a little strawberry, but he did not eat. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Ian
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buy the ticket, take the ride...

If you describe your set-up PTS people on this forum can probably help more. Correct temperature and humidity are very important for this species as well as a vertical oriented enclosure (they are arboreal).
If this animal is addicted to romaine, you may be able to entice it to eat by mixing in mashed romaine in with the more healthy food, then try to wean it off over time. If it is in very bad shape from eating such a deficient diet- you may need the help of a vet (severe calcium or other vitamin/mineral deficiency, or dehydration).
Good greens to try: collard, mustard, chard, dandelion, mulberry, golden pothos (house plant). Mine really like cooked yam. I grate hard veggies into the greens mix I feed (carrot, yam, squashes ect). I also squeeze fresh fruit over everything (kiwi, mango, pear ect) to make supplements stick and to make the food more attractive. Be careful with the fruit feeding so you don't switch a romaine addiction for a banana or apple addiction.
If the previous owner was feeding such a bad diet- they probably did not provide adequate humidity, soaking opportuntities, or temp gradient. Your rescue may also be dehyrated. If this is a captive born from a wild caught animal or a wild caught juvenile, you are also likely dealing with GI parasites and a fecal exam at your vet would be a great idea.
pix is of my PTS family of 7 soaking in the tub.
cheers, Jess b

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (LCRC)

There are several variables here.

How young is young? A newborn ---is about 292 mm LOA
A 2 year old is about 440 mm LOA

A very young Corucia ripped from her/his parents and kept in isolation WILL exibit major stress including diminished appetite. This recently acquired individual-was he/she will a Circulus group?

Corucia enjoy DARK leafy greens. Romaine is fine as long as additional supplements are given.

What is your youngster's physical look? Are the eyes sunken and somewhat listless? Is the spinal column and hip bones prominent? Are the sides and underside of the abdomen usually sunken in?

Stroke the underside of the far end of the tail-Is there sufficient curl? In an undernurished or damaged Corucia, The snow-cone muscle attachment to the tunic-like sheath is compromised.

In a somewhat dark setting- shine a penlight on the eyes. There should be sufficient dilation and contraction of the pupils.

When was the last time you actually saw her/him eat?

The stools- Normal Corucia turds look like Pretzel nuggets and have a smoky smell.

Are you providing the proper conditions -non-stagnant air, humidity >65%, Temperature ~70 at night

Don't even go here!

Have you consulted your vet? Do you have a Herp vet in your area?

Try a little baby food (Ie Peas, sweet potaoes, etc) on a coated infant spoon and see if your little one will lick it off the spoon. If not, rub a little on the corners of the mouth to see if she/he will open. You can then try to spoon a little into his/her mouth.

These are some points to consider...

Let us know of your progress and any further info you have,

Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

Sufficient hides, climbing areas, Proper height and size for this species as far as the enclosure is concerned.

(My original post was cut-off so I'm putting the pieces back in as I think of them.)

He is probably a little under two years old. I recieved him from a man who kept them in a group of three in a small aquarium. He seems to be ok, except for the fact that he is very listless and doesn't want to eat. His eyes dialate fine as well, and are quite beautiful. I have not seen it defecate yet, and its temps are good. I hand fed it a tiny bit of kiwi, but it only took several small slices. Its temps/humidity are proper.
Thanks!
Ian

This solution has worked for me 100% of the time and almost 100% of the time for 3 other people that tried this!!!!

I don't know what kind of enclosure you have your Monkey Tail Skink in, but it really doesnt matter the type: First of all do not offer your Monkey Tail Skink romaine lettuce at all anymore.
Try a mixture of any of these Greens ( use atleast 4 in combination): Collard Greens, Dandolien leaves, Kale, Mustard greens, Beat tops, swiss chard, the green tops of carrots and baby spinach. Cut it up or tear it up into small pieces, mix it up good and run it under warm water to clean and raise the temp.

Now dice to mince one carrot, a little sweet potatoe, a few green beans or peas, and some kind of squash ( I use yellow). After you have any three of these ingredients chopped up pretty good, boil some water and drop the chopped contents in for about 30 seconds ( just so they become blanched ). Once you have greens chopped, cleaned and put on a plate or bowl, sprinkle the blanched vegetables on top of the greens ( not to much, about 5% in ratio to the greens.

Now take a kiwi, which you have stated your Monkey Tail Skink already likes and dice it up very finely into a mush almost and spread it on top odf the greens and vegetables in the size of half of a dime(Coin) in several differant areas atop the greens(Maybe 5 half (coin) Dime size. After this you can peal a romano tomato ( one of those tomato's shaped like an egg(Oval) and spread it ot in the same manner as the kiwi(or you can mix all of it in a salad like fashion ( I found the most succesful way to be the first of the ideas (organized and proportioned).The tomato and the kiwi should only make up about another 5% together.

Now you have a huge variety of different greens, fruit, and vegies for your Monkey Tail Skink to choose from.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS IS THIS THOUGH: place the food in the enclosure and then SPRAY THE ENTIRE ENCLOSURE (whatever it is you house your Monkey Tail Skink in) until the Inside of the enclosure is drenched ( I always as well as the others this has worked for, sprayed the inside of the enclosure as if a monsoon, or heavey rain storm has hit (I mean soaked, everything dripping wet). This should without a doubt stimulate a feeding response!!!!!!!!! Try this between the hours of 7:00pm to 10:30pm at night, I will be suprised if this does not work!!!!! I have used this method alot and personally have never had it fail for me.

Good Luck, let us know what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eveyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

Ian

What if the problem requires medical treatment -not diet. You should be careful to say It can't fail. Romaine should not be given exclusively but shouldn't be shunned either. Iceburg lettuce yes.

Liz

I sorry there is nothing here for you to read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eveyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

n/p
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Edward
Carpe diem

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (LCRC)

I concur..

Why so strongly negative??

It should not be used as a main staple, But Romaine is a fine food source. If any doubts on vitamin or mineral content, one can always sprinkle on an additive. With Corucia, DO NOT give spinach, Pothos should at least be occasionally given. If Mulberry leaves are available, one should try them. Jess from this forum swears by them. She is a successful Corucia Breeder and I value her opinion.

Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

Hi! Thanks for the nice words-
I DO love that mulberry. (fast free fresh fiber food good calcium content)
Question being- the spinach reference, is it the oxalate content/calcium binding properties that makes you say not to give spinach, or is there something more dangerous I should know about with PTS?
I do mix spinach in occasionally to the greens mix if I have bought it for the people in the house. I certainly do not use it as a staple. Mine will eat it, but don't 'relish' it. I think of it more as something to use occasionally for variety and not in large quantities (along with stuff like broccoli and cabbage)

General interest: Pothos has huge amounts of oxalate crystals- which is why most vegetarian reptiles will not touch it- it is extremely irritating to the mouth. Dogs and cats will drool and froth if they chew it, which is why as I understand it, it is on the toxic plant lists for cats/dogs. I find it amazing that the PTS likes it/loves it/thrives on it! My PTS get pothos on a regular basis. The red urine always disturbs me a little, though I know it is not a health concern.
cheers, jess b

n/p
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Edward
Carpe diem

n/p
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Edward
Carpe diem

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (LCRC)

Hi Jess,

It is true that Corucia in their natural adaptation to the chemical 'poisons' of Pothos can handle the Oxalate binding properties. With other reptiles it's a given that calcium binding will occur. I don't take the chance with Corucia because it is a form of contraversial vegetation from another part of the world they have not evolved with. The urine could be a key. (And I may add, it is still unnerving at times to me too but they can handle it. Besides it is a GREAT guage to time digestion if internal problems are suspect) Spinach given does not produce the reddish-Brown urine.
What does that tell you? Possibly that their system isn't distilling it out the same way as Pothos if the oxalates are the factor. Yes, there can be other variables at work on this (Such as other chemical properties)but as precious as this species is- I don't take the chance without further data. Yes, Humans eat Spinach (Especially me. I love it fresh or cooked.) and I know that Ron Dupont in his younger and more foolish days, experimented by eating a Pothos leaf and became deathly ill and formed at the mouth. So one must always be aware of the fact that a reptile may not be able to handle what a mammal eats and vicaversa. Also, to consider what a species has evolved with in the way of food and can they handle food sources from the other side of the world.

Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

Have you ever noticed the brown/red urine with other diets? I remember when I first introduced Dandelion greens in large amounts (A few months after I first purchased Gertie and Chip), I saw red urine- this went away after a few feedings. It didn't bother me at the time as I already had determined that the red urine produced after Pothos ingestion was not a worry. I wonder now if there is something in Dandelion (or those first few bunches I bought) that they adapted to.

For general PTS info- I think I have posted it before, but some specifics I checked when I first saw red urine after pothos eating: I had a PTS urine sample checked for hemoglobin (the 'red' in red blood cells) and myoglobin (from muscle breakdown) to make sure the red pigment was not from direct blood loss into the urine or hemolysis (blood cell destruction) or muscle breakdown. Urine was negative for these. My exotics clinician working with me believed the 'red' was a metabolic by product- probably a break down product of one of the plant pigments.
cheers to Pothos, Jess b