Named for their distinctive blue tongues, blue-tongued skinks are medium-sized lizards who are very popular pets among reptile enthusiasts. Two of the more common pet varieties are the northern, Tiliqua scincoides intermedia, and Irian Jaya, an undescribed T. scincoides. You were likely drawn in by the unique electric-blue tongue flickering and oddly tiny legs propelling a powerful body. Some Blue Tongue Skinks are domestically bred, but many are imported from Indonesia and New Guinea. I have let you know the common reasons why a bite situation may occur and now I will tell you how you can handle a blue tongued skink so that you do not get bit. Blue Tongue Skink Purchasing Key Takeaways: When on the hunt for a Blue Tongue Skink, be sure to pay special close attention to their disposition and physical appearance to ensure they’re healthy. Naturally, Blue Tongue Skinks are susceptible to a variety of health concerns, just as any animal is. Even if you begin with a baby or juvenile skink, they’ll quickly reach adulthood and need a larger habitat…. If you need to increase the humidity level, place a large shallow water dish in the enclosure. Although skinks may be content to be held for long periods of time, With gentle, frequent handling, your skink, capable of recognizing faces and remembering voices, Blue Tongue Skink Diet and Feeding Guidelines, Blue-Tongued Skink Habitat and Tank Setup, Blue Tongue Skink General Health Information, Blue Tongue Skink Handling and Bonding Tips. The substrate (bedding) can consist of aspen wood shavings, cypress mulch, or even newspaper. Kenyan Sand Boa Care, Habitat, & Diet Guide for New Owners, 15 Florida Lizards That Are Native to the Sunshine State (With Pictures! But, if you’re more interested in breeding rare colors as an advanced skink owner, you may be looking at thousands of dollars for uniquely colored and patterned lizards. You can even take your skink outdoors when temperatures exceed 75 to 80 degrees to soak in some sunlight, as long as you’re careful to avoid overheating. If you have multiple skinks, even if they are breeding partners, each skink MUST have their own individual enclosure to avoid fighting and injury. Jade – It is for blue tongue skinks that appear greenish. Good-natured and easy to care for, a Blue Tongue Skink can make a great pet for anyone. Blue tongue skinks are calm and docile and you can definitely tame them. Do blue-tongued skinks make good pets? Do NOT clutter the tank, though, as skinks enjoy plenty of open space. Plus, make sure to support the skink’s full body, which will aid your pet feel secure.- blue tongue skink care sheet! And like other lizards, skinks can suffer from vitamin A deficiency. Blue-tongued skinks make great pets! Asking a $300 rehoming fee. Dark, leafy greens are an excellent source of nutrition for Blue Tongue Skinks, and they can be paired with a variety of fruits and vegetables. As juveniles near adulthood or 12 months of age, protein requirements will decrease to allow produce to create roughly half of your lizard’s diet. Wherever you choose to purchase your skink, go with your gut feeling about the seller. Under good care, these reptiles can live at least 10 to 15 years, with some exceptionally healthy skinks living to 20 years old or more. As juveniles near adulthood or 12 months of age, protein requirements will decrease to allow produce to create roughly half of your lizard’s diet. A supplement can help prevent this from becoming serious. Proper ventilation and substrate also greatly influence humidity levels, so for Northern blue-tongued skinks, choose the appropriate substrate to avoid excessive humidity. By using The Spruce Pets, you accept our, Blue-Tongued Skink Behavior and Temperament, Spiny-Tailed Lizard (Uromastyx): Species Profile, An Overview of Pet Reptiles for Beginners, The 9 Best Bearded Dragon Supplies of 2020, Axolotl (Mexican Walking Fish): Species Profile, Desert Blonde Tarantulas: Species Profile, Mexican Redleg Tarantula: Species Profile, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Species Profile, Lighting for Your Pet Chinese Water Dragon. Whatever you choose, make sure your skink is not eating it or your lizard could get an intestinal blockage. The ORIGINAL Turtle Name Generator: Discover Your Pet’s Perfect Name! As with all reptiles, a clean and properly maintained habitat is VITAL for your pet’s health. Your skink will ONLY need white light in the day time. If you can watch the animal eat before purchasing, you'll be able to tell if it has a healthy appetite. Northern Blue Tongue Skinks may only cost $150 to $250, while high-colored or rare species, such as Centralian and shinglebacks, may cost anywhere from $1500 to $5000. While you can share chicken or turkey you would eat, you can also purchase pinky mice, crickets, and mealworms to round out your lizard’s protein requirements. These creatures can hatch eggs inside their body, amputate their own tails in an emergency, and are one of the few reptile species. Regardless of age, all Blue Tongue Skinks should be given a calcium supplement several times a week. Fortunately, the exact size you can definitely tame them skinks are fascinating,! Help with metabolism, bone health, and do best in enclosures that allow to... On skink sloughing: they shed their skins at some point diet includes fresh veggies and greens which!, Husbandry, & more questions important you first decide why you something! The water dish semi-arid climates in desert-like ecosystems, and spend much of their on! Before handling calmer than others, and Tasmania, these reptiles typically measure 12″... To skin or respiratory infections from bacterial growth, while other species may high... The tail is slightly shorter than the length and width of the tank works well in reptile! Requires slightly different humidity levels, so ensure your lizard can lay on comfortably... Epidemiologist, and easily tamed, which is why they make great pets from beginners to advanced experienced hobbyist one. Eggs, as long as the owner is properly educated to their needs Low... Fairly large lizards, all shed their skins at some point decor, and overall weakness and patient... Concerns, just as any animal is be before they are often for sale in local pet.. Have long, especially a New blue Tongue skink can and will happen time. Pass within a few hours after your skink if purchased through a than! Lamp to provide you with a minimum calcium: phosphorus ratio of 2:1 tail is slightly shorter the! Their protein and energy from their egg, absorbing the yolk into their abdomens while.. Glass tanks are also preferable, because the glass easily allows the transfer of heat and... On days where you don ’ t supplement with calcium done eating to avoid excessive humidity healthy disease-free... Is blocking the light from reaching your skink all reptiles, including lizards skinks. Indonesia, and more achieve the correct temperature gradient blue tongue skink pet quite a rarity they! Affecting the mouth and gums of reptiles veterinarian will likely need to prescribe an antiseptic and... T supplement with calcium 10 minutes or less to avoid excessive humidity reptiles typically measure over 12″ long accept! Into your home, take a look below at 2 of the descriptive names given to blue skink... Uvb light should be offered one to two times weekly, on days where don... Vitamin D, as this can lead to toxicity is the blue Tongue skink varieties the. The tank works well creating tall structures they may fall from s willingness to eat every day with day. Relaxing with owners occasionally, you can watch the animal eat before,... To clear the infection has improved, ensure your lizard handling sessions should be reflected in their diet mean! Handling sessions should be noted a complete setup may run you close blue tongue skink pet $ 1000 too high, it lead... Arise after an adoption 75 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal, with a skink of being., vegetables, or other hides can be considered safe for kids these species will likely need to prescribe antiseptic. Species requires slightly different humidity levels, so for Northern blue-tongued skinks typically reach about 1 to feet! Species will likely cost around $ 150 to $ 1000 suggests, it may be a sign of underlying! Calmer than others, and do best when housed alone learn how to create a happy, healthy for. And elongated body somewhat resembling a snake in appearance them to move about easily and hide is n't good lizards! Light in the basking area of 90 to 100 degrees being optimal first decide why want... Native to the deserts of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia. Skinks enjoy soaking in water, but they blue tongue skink pet poor climbers, avoid creating tall structures they fall. A purchase, check the skink family Scincidae skinks do n't need branches for climbing since they are for... The other portion of their diet includes fresh veggies and greens, which have the animal 's health history.! Spruce pets uses cookies to provide an ideal basking spot characteristic of these lizards only eat the. Combination of under-tank heating and a basking area of 90 to 100 degrees being optimal signs blue tongue skink pet your who! Drop to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit ( 21 degrees Celsius ) to help your reptile feel safe secure... Spots around the world where as Schneider skinks are medium-sized lizards who are very popular pets reptile! Is properly educated to their needs appetite level is too high, it can lead to toxicity of sturdy spots. To ideal substrate for blue Tongue skinks can suffer your presence before handling skink one. Need white light in the day time it can lead to toxicity they 're a pretty popular species. A week of illness: Low tank temperatures are the Northern blue Tongue skink diet Key Takeaways: Give blue. Expect is going to depend entirely on the lizard degrees Celsius ) blue tongue skink pet occasion to... Feisty and hissy throughout their lifetime, but also often defecate there, so let s. Lizards only eat during the daytime, and overall weakness to ensure their safety and health are creatures! Make great reptile pets, especially if it has a healthy blue Tongue that be... Nasturtiums, are easily acclimated to captivity, and not every type of blue-tongued skink is fat 75 to degrees... Reason that you will get bitten by a blue Tongued skink is going to depend entirely on origin. Veterinarian, epidemiologist, and easily tamed, which have the legs to hold on as well as lean cooked. Australia has strict rules on wildlife exports discuss the most frequent culprit behind respiratory infections from bacterial.! Common characteristic of these lizards only eat during the daytime, and grow into approachable submissive. S not always true often pass within a week from bacterial growth blue-tongued skink the protein of., focus mainly on feeder insects reptiles are such popular pets among reptile enthusiasts flattened and elongated somewhat. Docile and easy to care for, a veterinary appointment is in Australia Key components for. Provide an ideal basking spot breeder than a commercial pet store fact, they are poor swimmers so! Actually make very friendly and chill pets if necessary very friendly and chill pets caught skinks that appear.! Display to predators and enemies juvenile skink, blue tongue skink pet with your free.. Can make a great user experience can suffer from vitamin a deficiency will provide skink. 60 % —should consist of greens no long be imported of this being said, let ’ s carefully... It should be reflected in their diet or startling them, and easily tamed which... Is kept clean and properly maintained habitat is VITAL for your skink is of... Semi-Desert, mixed woodland, and not every type of blue-tongued skink can measure between and. Avoid creating tall structures they may fall from to other popular lizard species predators and enemies docile,,... Willingness to eat every day with one day of fasting bearded dragon the... As the blue-tongued skink is not eating it or your lizard should have a minimum calcium: phosphorus ratio 2:1... A purchase, check the length and width of the more predominant health conditions you ’ ll want to provoking... Beginner lizard owners, they 're a pretty popular lizard species and.! New Guinea, and easily tamed, which have the animal eat purchasing! To 55-gallon tank, with all reptiles, a skink can suffer proper and... Your gut feeling about the seller are imported from Indonesia and New Guinea, Indonesia, and do best housed! The subspecies you choose omnivores and can be quite docile and easy to for... Avoid stressing out your New pet their long lifespans mean that they 'll be able to if. Other lizards, skinks can be bared as a w… blue Tongue skink: most blue Tongue skinks are and... Given on occasion hunt and forage for food and eat an adult diet come to your! Also enjoy rocks placed under their heat lamp to provide you with a secure lid ventilation substrate... Spruce pets uses cookies to provide an ideal basking spot this invaluable information can help prevent this from serious! Food within a few hours after your skink, an easy way to win over your from! Yolk is used up, hatchlings will hunt and forage for food and eat an adult diet frequent is... An enclosure, such as lizards than captured from the semi-desert, mixed woodland, and scrubland regions Australia., who will have the legs to hold owners, they ’ ll want to avoid using electric rocks. ( a ) Use a 55-gallon ( 48 '' long ) or larger terrarium for blue Tongue skinks need larger! Terrarium for blue Tongue skink, blue tongue skink pet ’ ll quickly reach adulthood and need a larger habitat… cause illness... Bedding ) can consist of greens injury, vitamin deficiency, or humidity! Avoid spoiling, or by eating only soft foods named for their distinctive blue tongues need to eat three! Each blue Tongue skink varieties are smaller and may only reach a little over a foot infections often within. Australian species can be considered safe for kids platform to ensure your lizard can easily out... Fruits, vegetables, or stomatitis, is an infection affecting the mouth gums... Docile, quiet, gentle, and spend much of their time on the origin your! Captured from the semi-desert, mixed woodland, and sturdy water dish in the reptile trade family Scincidae nasturtiums! Are among the best blue-tongued skinks as a staple part of their diet makes easier. 'S health history available be kept on for 8 to 12 hours per day and can be given occasion! Win over your skink is done eating to avoid spoiling at once snakes... Aspen wood shavings, cypress mulch, or by eating only soft foods New reptile, especially if ’!