Skink Notes
Here's some random notes that I try to stay current on. Just observations of behavior and anything else I find of interest. They might not make a lot of sense to anyone as they are only notes. Pretty much posted them here so that I won't lose them. If they are a benefit to anyone else, then that's even better.
- 11/20/00? Purchased large old male (Ralph). Respiratory problems right off the bat. Prob too dry in the room. Not much interaction with others. A little with Cranky at first. Escapes constantly. Minnie doesn’t seem to be escaping since Ralph was introduced.
- 12/13/00 Brought in big branches to span the gap between dresser/beam to entertainment center.
- 12/13/00 Tried to sex the two originals (Minnie and Cranky) and Ralph. Minnie probes 6 scales deep, Cranky probes 7 scales deep. Can’t pop either one. Ralph probes 10 scales deep. Popped both hemipenes and saw large sperm plug.
- 12/14/00 Caught Ralph straddling Minnie but didn’t see actual copulation. Coincidence?
- 12/15/00- Purchased two supposed breeder females. “Lucy” is a house. Supposedly copulating with one of Mike’s males shortly before I purchased her. She’s fat but I can’t tell if it is she’s a fat ass or if she might be gravid. She has a pretty good appetite.
Second new female really looks to me like a male. Bulges at the base of the tail and wide head. I need to confirm with Mike that she is absolutely a female. Unable to pop and I didn’t probe her. “She” is VERY active at night and seems to keep nearly constant tabs on Cranky. Also caught her chasing Lucy.
- 1/09/01 or 01/10/01 – Large old male died. Amateur autopsy reveals severe intestinal blockage. Poor old guy. I will miss him. See photos.
- 1/18/01 Purchased new female. She is in great weight and eats like a pig. Gave her half a tablet of Flagyl. Within 45 minutes of bringing her home, Ralph chases and mounts her. Lucy being extremely active with new girl's arrival.
- 1/19/01 See Lucy attacking new female. Biting her tail and belly. Much more aggressive than breeding attempts by the male. Had to pry Lucy off her. See photos. Also scrapped with Cranky a little before this.
- 1/19/01 Noticed Cranky is losing weight. Never stays on the branches. Make a point to feed and water her separately.
- 1/25/01 I have separated the skinks into two groups. Lucy and the jerk male are together on one side and the three others (Cranky, Tiny, new female) are together on the other side. This seems to be a good mix and haven't seen any fights. New female is really fat and she eats A LOT.
- 2/18/01 New female hasn't eaten for the past 5-7 days. For the first time her hips are beginning to show but her belly remains round. I think I can feel a baby in her belly but I'm afraid to push and prod too much. I'm concerned with her loss of appetite. It still looks like she has quite a ways to go before giving birth and she is much more lethargic than usual. Stuff that I would expect at the end of her pregnancy. Not now.
- 2/20/01 New female shed and appetite has returned. Must have been cloudy while I was in FL. Whew...
- 2/21/01 Lucy shed. I'm pretty sure she is gravid. Really getting fat and is eating like a pig.
- 2/24/01 Awoke this morning to find new baby!!! New female gave birth to a little replica of herself. Baby is very active. Soaked him for 15minutes this evening. Mom doesn't look nearly as thin as I would have expected even though the baby looks WAY too big to fit inside her. Mom is pretty annoyed with everything. Even saw her nipping at the baby who threw himself onto the floor. Baby is now confined to 55-gal aquarium.
- 2/26/01 Baby taking first few gulps of water when hold him over the dish.
- 2/26/01 R.I.P. I'm sorry Cranky....
- 2/27/01 Baby apprehensively eats a couple peas when I offer them by hand.
- 3/25/01 Baby doing very well. Extremely active and eats consistently for weeks now. Still no mother/offspring interest so baby still live sin 55 gal.
- 3/25/01 Mom already fat enough to look pregnant again. strange. have been lettng the male visit her on occaision.
- Lucy is still getting bigger.
- 4/1/01 Lucy shed today with a soak and my help. Appetite is still voracious. Is she pregnant or not?????? I really think she has to be. If so, I should find out in the next 4 or so days.
Mommy skink is living with the studly male. He doesn't seem to chase her at all. Weird seeing that while she was gravid he wouldn't leave her alone. He is kind of thin. He shed today too.
- 4/18/01 Baby skink hitches a ride to Rachels. I get him back a couple days later - seems to have developed a resp. infection from the whole ordeal. Been cold in the room too.
- 4/23 First 80* day of the year. Cold front came in the evening and temps dropped drastically. T-storms forecasted but never happened. Walked in on studly male attempting to breed Lucy. He had a big flap of neck skin in his mouth. She didn't seem to be resisting at all. Didn't see actual copulation though. I quickly shit out the lights, snapped a couple pics and left them alone. Obviously Lucy was never pregnant like I thought she was :-(
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