Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently acquired a CB09/female Irian Jaya BTS in a trade at a herp show. She was very calm and relaxed in her deli cup at the show. However, once home and set up in a bigger enclosure with approprate heat source, she became a little hissing and lunging demon when I went to handle her the very next morning and continues to do so!! I temporarily housed her in a 28 quart sterlite box in one of my snake racks for a few days, and tonight moved her into a 20 gallon tank with a basking bulb. I understand they prefer the clear glass to observe their surroundings and I am hoping this will help calm her down. Other than just gently handling her, is there any hope she will calm down into a good natured adult? So far she has fed on high quality cat food, but hasnt touched her greens or canned crickets offered. I plan to try a little banana soon. My daughter and I love this little skink and think she is awesome. We are really hoping to get her calm and trustworthy like our bearded dragons when she grows into an impressive adult.

You have to give the little guy time to adjust to their new home. I would just set him up in the first cage you used, and limit interaction with him for the first couple weeks. Feed and water and clean up but understand it does take a little while for them to calm down and get used to you and their surroundings.

It is also natural for them to assume anything bigger than them are going to eat them, hence why they become defensive.

I also suggest being careful with how much catfood you offer...should only be just enough to help make all the greens etc stick together (or better yet for young skinks, put all their healthy greens into a blender with a pinch of multivitamin and calcium powder). Instead of crickets, try live superworms or silkworms...the living action of these worms attract their attention more than dead canned insects.

TO ensure they do eat some of their greens, dropping some superworms right ontop of the ground greens, will end up with them grabbing some greens along with the worms.
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks for the info. More daughter is mored dissappointed then me right now and I tell her to be patient. I have offered it greens, but I dont think it was interested or really ate any. I will try the coating of the chopped greens with the cat food smear as suggested.

Another good trick is mixing up some Crested Gecko diet CMR powder with water, and sprinkling it onto the greens...though if you don't keep crested geckos, may not be worth buying this extra diet just as a enticement. A little pureed fruit or squished/chopped berry may work just as well. If you go this route, just use a small amount...less than a half teaspoon for babies...so a single blue berry, a similar sized bit of strawberry, peach, apricot, mango can work too. I would stay away from all citris fruits (ie apples, oranges, limes etc) and even bananas. Grapes are good too, but again chop fine...pealing it first too.
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks again for the advice!! Tonight I am going to offer finely chopped spring mix mixed with a bit of cat food. Do you think it would be OK to offer mazuri tort chow? My torts and beardies eat it like crack cocaine LOL!! I do not offer it as a staple diet, but its nice to have around because it stays and is convenient when I need more greens or they unexpectedly go bad.

If broken down in some water...instead of dry chunks, it should be alright as an addition to fresh greens or to tie over a day or two if you run out and can't get to the store right away to bet new stuff.

Though not sure what sort of greens are used in tortoise pellets...if mostly timothy hay...may not be all that great for BTS's...(or bearded dragons for that matter). Check the ingredients for what kinds of vegetation is in it.
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PHLdyPayne

I dont use tort pellets. The torts and uros mainly get fresh mixed greens, collards, turnip greens, and romain about 90% of the time with fruit/mixed vegs and mazuri tort chow rotated the other 10% (uros dont get any fruit). Plus whatever bugs the torts may catch and possibly eat when outside during spring through fall LOL!!

If you don't use tort diets..why did you ask if it was OK to offer it and your dragons and uro's eat it whenever you offer it?

...Tonight I am going to offer finely chopped spring mix mixed with a bit of cat food. Do you think it would be OK to offer mazuri tort chow? My torts and beardies eat it like crack cocaine LOL!! I do not offer it as a staple diet, but its nice to have around because it stays and is convenient when I need more greens or they unexpectedly go bad.
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PHLdyPayne