My blue tongue went on a fast about end of november. He picks at his food every now and then but isn't a pig at all. Won't touch anything that isn't canned cat food, so I use the stuff that has some veggies in it.

Anyways, his energy level is up and he's very frisky. But I have noticed that since his fast, he hasn't taken in much calcium supplement at all. His hips sway back and forth when he walks now, ugh. I'm forcefeed electrolytes and some calcium and it's keeping him going well.

How much longer does this breeding related fasting continue on for considering I don't have a female to breed him with?

He'll probably snap out of it around March, thats when Jack started eating again for me. Before that he just paced for 6 hours each day and would lick up some baby food, but thats it.
Jack lost weight but I really did not feel it necessary to put him under any extra stress by force feeeding, He quickly regained it in the spring. It is natural for them to go off feed.

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

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Why not just mix the other stuff in with the catfood. In a species that naturally goes into a fast I would refrain from forcefeeding unless the animal is visibly losing weight or becoming dehydrated. The stress of forcefeeding may be more than the stress of not eating.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I have to agree with what was said below. I wouldn't recommend force feeding! Unless necessary!

The hip thing is a direct sign of osteomalacia (bone softening) which manifests in the jaws or hips generally. He also has some forearm swelling, another key sign to early Metabolic Bone Disease. I'm just giving him some calcium and a bit of electrolyte because he has lost weight. He used to be solid muscle and a tube of strength, now he's just like folds of skin on a bit of muscle and bones. Still looks healthy til you hold him and he feels lighter and skinnier.

The calcium MUST go in him, he's low on it thanks to eating all of nothing the last month or so. I leave him alone most of the time and he doesn't care too much about the vial...I let him go and he's on his way! He doesn't hiss, try to bite and usually just sits still. No signs of aggression or defense duing the process . He eats more baby food than anything, so long as it has no calcium powder, so I can't even out smart him.

Is it just me or do Blue tongues change their favorite/only food they'll eat regularily?

If thats the case it's a strong possibility that there was already a deficiency problem prior to the fast.
Animals whose species naturally fast should be able to survive the fast without problem.
Otherwise they would be extinct!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

You should check all your Blue Tongue Skink reliable sources to see if you should tone down the temps during this period. If he's not eating, he's burning his reserves and therefore he should be kept in "low" mode.
What's that expression? "Run on fumes"?

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

No he's in overdrive! I've never seen a more active blue tongue!!

He didn't have any problems before the fast. Mind you, according to my research, if they mate in this period they calm down a bit and eat (hence how they can fast, it's not for as long).

Jack fasted for about four months before I figured out how to break the spell. He went from 300g down to 250g and then after the fast he sky rocketed up to 450g. He's on his way back down again for the winter, but i'm not worried.

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Yes they do. They can eat one thing for like a month and then boom they don't want it anymore! Haha they are awesome! I want one sooooo bad! I have no room at all though so i'm outta luck! This is just not a good year for you palent.....Sorry, and I hope everything ends up ok! Good luck!