Adopted a Bluey and need some help

[becsta]

i have just adopted a 3yr old Blue Tongue. he looks like he is in good condition but his owner couldn't look after him anymore. i got him on thursday night and put him in my diamonds old enclosure with heaps of hides and over the weekend my dad and i built a new bigger enclosure for him with mulch sto dig, hides, basking rock (sandstone under heat lamp) and UV light
i'm getting a little worried is it ok for him to still be a little stressed?
i had him out on Sunday night and he was very content but the last 2 nights he has been hissing at me when i attempt to get him out.
i wouldnt be so worried usually only his previous owner said he liked to come out all the time, and i read somewhere that they need to be handled regularly to stay tame/handleable
should i just wait longer? how long should i leave him by himself

any help or advise would be much appreciated

[SyKeD]

i'd leave him for about a week and let him settle down into his new environment, would probably be the best thing and then after a week see how he is and see if he he has stopped hissing at you

[richardsc]

could be your temps to,blueys are a different kettle of fish to pythons,does the python cage offer warm enough basking spots at ground level,its best to get a thermometer and check,as ground level is cooler,blueys need a nice hot daytime basking spot,also even tame blueys can hiss,but do alot more when there not up to there prefered temps,if yours is eating though,temps may be ok,try not to worry about the hissing,as its natural

[richardsc]

oh for great info on bluetongues
have a look at
bluetongueskinks.net

they have an excellent care sheet to,the best ive seen

[becsta]

thanks i'll check out that site today
not entirely sure of floor basking rock temerature, what should it be?

i did give him a snail last night and it took him no time at all to eat, but he didnt seem at all interested in crickets, does anyone else find this?

[richardsc]

crickets arent needed for bluetongues,they can eat them,but yeah they can be lazy in chasing them,or not interested at all,especially larger bluetongues,they love snails,try dog food to,i feed mine mostly pal or chum,u can offer vegies to,and make a mix of meat and veg for them,blueys eat alot of different foods

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by richardsc

crickets arent needed for bluetongues,they can eat them,but yeah they can be lazy in chasing them,or not interested at all,especially larger bluetongues,they love snails,try dog food to,i feed mine mostly pal or chum,u can offer vegies to,and make a mix of meat and veg for them,blueys eat alot of different foods

yeah crickets are to much work, on top of that my blues will eat anythign that is covered in raw egg yolk.


and richard hows your centrals and westerns treating you, any matings yet?

[richardsc]

hiya heli,westerns are still hibernating,centralians are still a wee bit sluggish,but they seem interested in one another,i have to try get them a smidge warmer,especially of a night

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by richardsc

hiya heli,westerns are still hibernating,centralians are still a wee bit sluggish,but they seem interested in one another,i have to try get them a smidge warmer,especially of a night

if only you were up in sunny old queensland it'd be easy lol you could always send them up to me heheh but yeah my westerns are growing like weeds, they try to eat anything that moves. hoping to get a few centrals this season though. will be good i think.

[richardsc]

yep juvie westerns are eating machines,my young ones out eat the 2 juvie shingle backs with ease,lol,my easterns and blotchys have never done that,centralians are cool,very different,quite shy,prefer not to be held,but yeah,great fun to keep,hopefully i have some success with them

[jaffa_30]

http://www.mark.org.au/pages/cs_bluetongue.htm

I found this care sheet good for starting. It is Australian and set out simply.