Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone! I've never posted here before, but someone on my crested gecko board pointed me in this direction. My boyfriend has a sick crocodile skink, who has been acting funny ever since it lost part of its tail about a month ago. It sits for long periods of time in the open during the day and sleeps, which is very unusual. Normally they run into a hole or hide out at the first sign of a human. Today he was even content to sit on my arm for nearly a half hour. That really disturbed me because I had never been able to hold any of them before without restraining them, for they aren't very exceedingly friendly critters. His normally difiant eyes also seem to be dimming, which really scares me. We really don't know what to do for him. He seems to be eating ok. Today I gave him a bit of honey water on his mouth just to make sure he had something in his tummy, and when he licked it I noticed his tounge was black. My boyfriend remembers it being a dark pink color, so I don't know if this is another bad sign or not. We are concerned that moving him out from his cagemates will only stress him further. Any ideas? My boyfriend has the habitat set up to all specifications and has never had any problems prior to this. I am a crested gecko person and really little experience with other kinds of lizards. I do however have experience w/sick animals, and am afriad we might be losing him.

Dont disturb him because if he is not sick he will be soon if you guys keep disturbing him like that!Sometimes when crocs are VERY scared they freeze like that! When i bought my boy, almost 2 years ago (22 months ago to be exact)during a PET EXPO his previous owner was displaying him on the top of an aquarium lid! My poor baby was there, frozen, without moving like a statue!Was he sick? No, only scared to death!Your baby lost his tail a few weeks ago you said, that must have been VERY stressing and traumatic.He needs to recover in tranquility without being handled, without being placed in a bright place with lots of people staring at him! Crocs are VERY sensitive and NERVOUS, you guys are scaring him to death!Litterally speaking!

Yes, I realize they don't like to be handled. And, my boyfriend posed the same question to me when I was holding him. My boyfriend rarely handles them because he doesn't want to stress them--and was actually repremanding me much the same way you are now--however, this has been going on for a while and he (the crocodile skink) seems to be going downhill. The thing that I thought was unusual was that he did walk about on my arm and seem content to sit there--not scared to death. Usually they flee like little supermen if you're not carefull. That's what makes me think he is very ill. Is there anything we can do (other than not handling them--I don't plan on handling him further, today I was concerned for his health) to compensate for the stress of tail loss? What can we do to make him 'heal'? Or at the very least, make a more healing environment? My observation was that he seemed to be soaking in the warmth of my arm--the cage is at the proper temp...but he seemed colder than he should have. I really do appreciate the response, and the advise, and please respond to this post--it's just that my boyfriend is very careful not to handle them--and I've already gotten yelled at today for handling the little critter (by my boyfriend). We are both concerned he's seeming very depressed and afraid we will lose him. His color even seems to be fading.

Is he eating?If he is eating and if you dont disturb him he will survive! Dont change anyhting in his cage because any change even if you change his cage's furniture is stressing.If he thrived in that cage dont change anything. Is his remaining tail healing?

When crocs are ready to shed their bodies' color fades. Check your baby's belly.If its round and looks full its because he is eating.If he is eating he will survive the loss of his tail.Only look at his belly please dont handle him!Dont keep handling and looking at him the whole day because that will kill him!

Yes, well, they've shed before, I understand the color fading before a shed. I thank you for your replies. I now run up the white flag and give up. Hopefully he will make it. My boyfriend knows what he is doing--you are both almost identical in your opinions of how a crocodile skink should be cared for. This is obviously no longer my concern--I know the little critter is in good hands, I had just promised to see if I could find out anything more to do for the little guy. Thank you again.

Are these guys "display" pets only? The reason that I asked is because I do handle my little guy about twice a week, trying to get him used to being held.

Thanks for any help.
-----
phflame

"Are these guys "display" pets only?"

An interesting question. The short answer is: Yes. The long answer is: No. Hope that helps! ]

Seriously, croc skinks are very nervous animals that tend not to do well around people. Most don't like to be held, but holding them isn't going to physically hurt them like some pets (certain frogs, etc..) unless you send them into distress. So long as you're not holding them long enough / often enough to send them into serious distress, you should be fine. Keep an eye on them to make sure they are eating / swimming enough, and try not to disturb them when they are "playing" in the terrarium.