Let’s face it, the majority of bluetongue skinks in the pet trade are currently imported Indonesian bluetongue skinks (or subspecies). This could mean that the unsuspecting buyer waiting for the easy-to-handle captive-bred bluetongue skink ends up with a hissing, lonely, and defensive animal that they are unprepared for. Although the animal may never calm down to the point that a captive-raised bluetongue skink, we can “socialize” this blue to the point that handling does not put as much stress on the animal.
By socializing, I really mean getting the skink used to human contact so that when it is necessary to handle it (or the human caretaker wishes) it does not put pressure on the skink. Stress causes many problems in captive reptiles. From illnesses to stopping eating or simply putting them in a very bad mood. So really, when working with most wild-caught reptiles, taking steps similar to this can help them adjust to life in captivity.
The first thing to always remember is to stay calm. It can be a big task working with an animal that is mortally afraid of you and just wants to run away. It can also be intimidating for a blue-tongued skink to gape, threatening to bite you and hiss. They may bite you and you have to accept it. Believe me, when it comes to Blue Tongue Skinks, the thought of being bitten is way more painful than the sting itself. Anyway, 99% of the time they’re just bragging, and as soon as you get close to them, they stop bragging and try to run away.
Okay, now you’ve gotten over your fears of the not-so-terrible blue bite … Well, what’s next? Patience. This will not be an easy task. This bluey was caught (or farmed) and sent to a pet store. He probably doesn’t trust humans. So it’s going to be a slow and steady process.
This is where I would start. Sleep in a t-shirt for a few days (make sure you don’t wear perfume or deodorant before, shower if you had it) and then knot the openings so the skink can’t get in. Put this in its enclosure and leave it there. He will hide under his shirt, lie on top, and begin to associate his scent with safety.
Then I would move on to manual feeding. The title of that is pretty self-explanatory, from the skink to little bits of food on hand. If the animal is too scared to try, don’t force it. Let him eat by himself and try again the next time you feed him, he will eventually catch up.
Once Bluey lets you pick it up with just a little hiss and without opening your mouth, start handling the sessions. Let the skink walk over you and explore. Start for the first week by keeping these very short, around five minutes. The second week increases to ten minutes. The third week goes up to fifteen. Once the skink is comfortable in the fifteen minute range of handling, you should be ready to go longer. However, remember that the skink still needs the heat and UVB lighting in its enclosure, so don’t leave them outside for too long.
Remember, you will have good days and bad days. One day you might think you’ve made real progress, and then the next, blue might be back where you started. They will come, you just need to take the time to do it!
