Pooping is one of the most important functions of the body, for your blue tongue skink to stay healthy and happy. But due to different reasons, your blue tongue skink might not poop much or at all for some time. Why is my blue tongue skink not pooping? Let’s find out.
Common reasons why blue tongue skink is not pooping include low temperatures, impaction or constipation, shedding, stress. Other reasons for not pooping might include diet mistakes, lack of activity and more.
How often do blue tongue skinks poop?
How often a blue tongue skink poops depends on how much it eats, on temperatures in the tank, activity levels and general well-being. In general, blue tongue skinks poop once a day, but some will poop every 2-3 days or even up to once a week.
Larger meals often make blue tongue skinks poop more frequently. Once you learn your skink’s normal pooping schedules, you will know what is normal for it.
What does blue tongue skink poop look like?
Blue tongue skink poop should consist of a brownish part, and a white part. Both should be rather solid, round or elongated, and not too hard.
Brown part of the poop is digested matter – so everything that your blue tongue skink ate. Sometimes, it can consist of undigested matter such as bug shells or legs, or veg/fruit peel.
Make sure to feed appropriate sized bugs that have softer shells and appropriately chopped vegetables and greens.
White part of the poop is urate, a waste product that is a result of protein breakdown. It is also excreted in a solid form to save as much water as possible.
If your blue tongue skink is well hydrated, it’s likely to urinate a little bit too. In case urates are hard, that can mean that your blue tongue is a little dehydrated.
What are signs of constipation in blue tongue skinks?
- Unwilling to eat
- Drinking more
- Hard belly
- Not pooping normally (longer than week, unless these are due to activity levels, shedding, temperatures and more)
- Rubbing the belly against the ground or other objects
- Unwilling to move around
Why is a blue tongue skink not pooping?
Reason 1: The tank is too cold
If your blue tongue skink’s tank is too cold, it won’t be able to digest food. Indigestion will cause rotting of food inside of the digestive system. Along with this, your blue tongue will start eating less, as it can’t digest food properly.
Ideal temperatures are 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit (35-40.5 C) under a basking light, with ambient temperatures of 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit (29.5-35 C). Cool side temperatures should be reaching 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (21.1-26.6 Celsius).
Ideal night time temperatures should range from 70 to 75 degrees F (21-24 Celsius). If temperatures fall below 64 F (around 18 C), make sure to have a low wattage ceramic heat emitter like this (25-50 watt depending on how low the temperatures are). An under tank heater is not the best choice, because your blue tongue can burrow and burn itself. Or, you can place it under something that your blue tongue can’t burrow under.
During the day, make sure to use bright light for heating (household, incandescent, halogen flood, reptile bulbs are all suitable options) along with a UVB tube.
To make sure you have ideal temperatures in the tank, make sure to use digital thermometers with probes and a handheld infrared thermometer like this for more accuracy. Review the temperatures to see if you need to change anything.
You can read a full heating and lighting guide for blue tongue skinks here.
Reason 2: Your blue tongue skink is not eating
If your blue tongue skink is not eating much or at all, it won’t be pooping either. Has your blue tongue skink been missing meals and refusing food?
There can be a lot of different reasons why blue tongue skinks don’t eat much or start refusing food. This can be due to shedding, parasites or other issues, stress and more. Some factors might be only temporary, but some need to cause concerns.
You can read a full guide on why blue tongue skinks stop eating here.
Reason 3: Impaction or constipation
If your blue tongue skink has not pooped for more than a week, it could be impacted or constipated. Most blue tongue skinks poop once a day, but some will poop once 2-3 days.
However, sometimes it can be normal if your blue tongue has pooped once a week. If your blue tongue has not pooped for over 7-10 days, it could be impacted or constipated. Signs that your blue tongue is impacted or constipated are full belly, lethargy, anxiety, rubbing the belly against objects.
While you should keep your blue tongue skink on loose substrate so it can burrow, not all substrates are suitable. Aspen shavings or chips, mix of coco fiber or cypress mulch are the best options, along with paper towels for babies under 5 months old. Bad substrates include sand, small rocks and wooden shavings.
If you suspect that your blue tongue skink is impacted or constipated, you can give it few drops or vegetable or mineral oil. You can also offer some foods that have a laxative effect, such as pumpkin, applesauce, egg or banana. After feeding these foods, your blue tongue should poop in 2-3 days. If it doesn’t, there is a big chance of a problem.
If nothing helps, you will need to take your blue tongue to the vet, who can perform a physical test and an X-Ray to see if there is any mass that is impacting the intestines. Impaction can be deadly if untreated, so please take care of it as soon as you can.
Reason 4: No activity
If your blue tongue skink doesn’t move around very much, it can affect digestion and moving of fecal masses in the guts. This can be caused when there are no accessories or other pieces of furniture for enrichment.
Blue tongue skinks also like to burrow, so you should include loose substrate such as aspen shaving on at least one side of the tank. Also include rocks and a platform that are not too high for your blue tongue to climb on. Active blue tongue skinks definitely poop more often than inactive ones.
Reason 5: Your blue tongue skink hides its poop
Many owners don’t find their blue tongue skink’s poop or simply don’t see it pooping, and start assuming that it doesn’t poop at all. Blue tongue skinks tend to burrow their poop, and sometimes it might also dry and get to the bottom of the cage without you noticing it.
If your blue tongue skink is eating normally and is not lethargic, then it could be the case. Its belly also shouldn’t feel hard or swollen. Please check under the substrate for any unnoticed poop.
Reason 6: Shedding
Blue tongue skinks that are preparing for shedding can stop eating and/or pooping for quite some time. While it depends on a skink, some are likely not to poop for a week, or generally for the duration of shedding. It doesn’t apply to all blue tongue skink though. Shedding signs are pale skin and sometimes agitation.
Reason 7: Diet mistakes
Various mistakes in the diet might cause constipation. Don’t feed too many foods high in fiber, because it attracts water and hardens the stool, as blue tongue skinks don’t drink much water. However, fiber is very important in digestion of foods, and movement of any undigested matter, so make sure to always include fibrous foods.
While you shouldn’t offer too many fruits and berries, don’t forget to offer some, once a week. Fruits offer essential nutrients, water and fiber. Don’t cut off fiber completely, it’s crucial to promote digestion and bowel movements. Lack of fiber will also cause constipation.
Also, never feed your blue tongue skink in the evening, because they need a whole day to digest the food. If you feed your blue tongue skink in the evening, then the lights go out shortly after that and tank becomes much colder, digestion will not go smoothly.
Reason 8: Stress or illness
Stress and illness can also cause issues with digestion and pooping. Stress, especially long-term, will lead to poor appetite, digestive upsets and even suppression of immune system.
Various health issues with digestive system, even with the mouth, can make it hard and painful to eat, causing a whole chain of issues. If you suspect any serious issues, please take your blue tongue to the vet for an examination.
What can you do to treat constipation?
If you suspect constipation, prepare some foods that will have a laxative effect. These include applesauce, some banana, cooked egg, pumpkin. Limit how much banana you offer, because it’s high in phosphorus and sugar.
You can also make a warm bath for your blue tongue for 15-20 minutes, to encourage movement and hydration. You might also then offer few drops of vegetable oil (olive, sunflower).
If none of this helps your blue tongue poop after few more days, then it could be other issues, such as impaction or lumps in the digestive system. In this case, please take your blue tongue to the vet immediately.