These lizards have been right under my nose for years and I just never "discovered" them. For years I just walked right by them in the pet stores and reptile shows. Nobody I know had one, and I just never really took the time to meet one. I "noticed" them around 6 months ago and have been reading and researching them ever since. Until just recently, I had never owned one.
Well our own Jeff G has corrected that situation. He shipped me one of his hatchlings this year and gave me a thorough explanation of all I needed to know about them. I've always heard they are great pets, but they are REALLY great pets! Most of my lizards and tortoises I think of as "just reptiles". Don't get me wrong. I love them all, but my little hatchling skink is really a "pet" in the traditional sense of the word. He rides around on my shoulder like my pet rats used to. I just carry him around outside in broad daylight in the sun and he has never tried to jump off of me or become stressed in any way. He's my little buddy. I had him on my shoulder while I was preparing the bowl of meat for my monitor lizard and I could see his tongue start to go. I let him crawl down my arm to my hand and I held him up to the bowl of meat. He started eating out of the bowl! I had been walking around with him for 15 minutes or more and I was holding him on my hand while he was eating from a strange bowl in a strange place, right out in the open. He just has no fear and is not stressed in a situation where most reptiles would be. Man, I just love this little guy.
They are often referred to as the perfect reptile pet and I have to agree, now that I have one. Here's why:
1. They are super easy to set up and maintain. I cannot think of an easier reptile to set up. Lots of room for error or for different climates. Good for any skill level, including first time reptile owners. They need some substrate, a hide, a water bowl and a small heat lamp. That's it. You can make it more fancy if you like, but that is all they "need". A 40-60 gallon size tank is "big enough" for an adult, but I'll use something bigger. They get kind of big, 18-24", but not huge. They are big enough that I'm not afraid to hurt him when I pick him up and handle him, but not so big that they become difficult to house or feed. They are also super hardy and not prone to any diseases or health maladies.
2. Super easy to feed. Pedigree canned beef dog food and mixed veggies. They will eat just about anything, but these two items will give them what they need. Mine eats roaches, other dog and cat foods, Mazuri, chopped greens, bird of prey or carnivore diets, bearded dragon pellets... just about anything. I'm following Jeff's advice and sticking mainly with the Pedigree and mixed veggies, but I let him sample lots of other stuff too. Jeff recommends some calcium supplementation too.
3. Personality. They are fearless, inquisitive, interested, interesting, bold, curious, etc... They seem to be very thoughtful and contemplative. When I look into his eye, there is someone looking back at me. Somebody is definitely home! I've never had a lizard that would ride around on my shoulder out in the sun and NOT bite, poop on me, jump off of me and run or all of the above. And mine is just a hatchling a few weeks old. I've been told they get much better as they age. I can't even imagine how they could be better. I guess I'll find out.
In closing, I can't recommend these lizards enough. They are just perfect in every category. I feel stupid for NOT discovering them sooner. All these years I've been missing out on a great experience. And Jeff is simply the best. I have never had a better or smoother transaction. Seriously, there is nothing he could have done to make everything about dealing with him more perfect. Not one error, complaint, problem, nothing.
I feel about these lizards the way I feel about my tortoises. I just want to tell everyone how great they are and I can't understand why everyone doesn't want to own one, or a bunch. Thanks for tolerating my enthusiasm!
Well our own Jeff G has corrected that situation. He shipped me one of his hatchlings this year and gave me a thorough explanation of all I needed to know about them. I've always heard they are great pets, but they are REALLY great pets! Most of my lizards and tortoises I think of as "just reptiles". Don't get me wrong. I love them all, but my little hatchling skink is really a "pet" in the traditional sense of the word. He rides around on my shoulder like my pet rats used to. I just carry him around outside in broad daylight in the sun and he has never tried to jump off of me or become stressed in any way. He's my little buddy. I had him on my shoulder while I was preparing the bowl of meat for my monitor lizard and I could see his tongue start to go. I let him crawl down my arm to my hand and I held him up to the bowl of meat. He started eating out of the bowl! I had been walking around with him for 15 minutes or more and I was holding him on my hand while he was eating from a strange bowl in a strange place, right out in the open. He just has no fear and is not stressed in a situation where most reptiles would be. Man, I just love this little guy.
They are often referred to as the perfect reptile pet and I have to agree, now that I have one. Here's why:
1. They are super easy to set up and maintain. I cannot think of an easier reptile to set up. Lots of room for error or for different climates. Good for any skill level, including first time reptile owners. They need some substrate, a hide, a water bowl and a small heat lamp. That's it. You can make it more fancy if you like, but that is all they "need". A 40-60 gallon size tank is "big enough" for an adult, but I'll use something bigger. They get kind of big, 18-24", but not huge. They are big enough that I'm not afraid to hurt him when I pick him up and handle him, but not so big that they become difficult to house or feed. They are also super hardy and not prone to any diseases or health maladies.
2. Super easy to feed. Pedigree canned beef dog food and mixed veggies. They will eat just about anything, but these two items will give them what they need. Mine eats roaches, other dog and cat foods, Mazuri, chopped greens, bird of prey or carnivore diets, bearded dragon pellets... just about anything. I'm following Jeff's advice and sticking mainly with the Pedigree and mixed veggies, but I let him sample lots of other stuff too. Jeff recommends some calcium supplementation too.
3. Personality. They are fearless, inquisitive, interested, interesting, bold, curious, etc... They seem to be very thoughtful and contemplative. When I look into his eye, there is someone looking back at me. Somebody is definitely home! I've never had a lizard that would ride around on my shoulder out in the sun and NOT bite, poop on me, jump off of me and run or all of the above. And mine is just a hatchling a few weeks old. I've been told they get much better as they age. I can't even imagine how they could be better. I guess I'll find out.
In closing, I can't recommend these lizards enough. They are just perfect in every category. I feel stupid for NOT discovering them sooner. All these years I've been missing out on a great experience. And Jeff is simply the best. I have never had a better or smoother transaction. Seriously, there is nothing he could have done to make everything about dealing with him more perfect. Not one error, complaint, problem, nothing.
I feel about these lizards the way I feel about my tortoises. I just want to tell everyone how great they are and I can't understand why everyone doesn't want to own one, or a bunch. Thanks for tolerating my enthusiasm!