Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For those of you who don't remember me, i rescued a BTS awhile back and have been learning and working with him for some months. He is doing much better overall, his respitory issues seem to have cleared up and he seems much more relaxed and calm. He is eating well and isnt nearly as flighty and scared as he was.

Recently however i noticed that his stomach and tail have turned red. It doesn't appear to be raw or irritated, the skin is smooth, not tender, and all the scales are fine. It just looks as if he is gettng more color. I know sometimes when reptiles are unhealthy and then get their health back their colors can come back out...could that be whats happening? Or is it some kind of problem?

Im really worried and i hope nothing is wrong...

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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

np

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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

I cannot see much in the picture and cannot vouch for any normal colour changes in BTS's.
I do know that what you describe has been associated with septicemia and if you are worried then take your skink to the vet for a blood test. This becomes more imperative if your skink shows any other symptoms.

What substrate are you using? Hard to see from the pics, but my northern developed something similar a few years ago when I decided to experiment with more naturalistic looking substrates. I tried some of the crushed walnut shell and within a week or so the red started to creep in. The scales didn't look uneven or damaged but I had noticed the stuff seems really rough (it is also the primary ingredient in many expoliating creams!) I switch him back to aspen and it disappeared.

As the BTS feeds on healthier foods and gets its health back the underside especially will begin to brighten up with rose, pinks and such. It's a good sign. Unless you see blood, puss, and/or raised scales there is nothing to be worried about. Be happy you are feeding him correctly. Many people feed their BTS a diet of insects, pinkies and the like with no veggies-70% of diet- and wonder why the color is dull, it is getting sick all the time with assorted infections and is doomed to a shortened life.