Yes, the Blue Tongue Skink will make a great pet and is suitable for children. Why Chocolate Is Toxic To Dogs (Vet Answer), Goldfish Aquaponics 101: Feeding, Stocking, & Care Guide, Cute Frogs: 9 Pictures That Will Make You Happy, How to Hold a Guinea Pig Correctly (with Pictures & Videos). Support the skinks entire body when you hold it. Larger lizards, occupying the most resource-rich area are also the ones most heavily burdened by tick infestations. Blue Tongue Skink Pee (Source: WL Fun Time YouTube) Yes, they do. More often than not, these problems are directly caused by high humidity levels in the enclosure. Most Skinks like to dig, so you will want to make sure the substrate is several inches thick. Partnerships between blueys last between about 10 and 43 days a year, and most males observed were classified as monogamous. If you notice your pet rubbing on branches or rough surfaces, its likely about ready to start shedding. The blue tonged (or tongue) skink, also called blue-tongued lizards, are a kind of skink that's a common pet reptile. The poop of a blue tongue lizard looks like small, dry pellets. Since I was a child, I have had an enormous interest in reptiles. Although they are not aggressive, they have strong jaws and teeth, meaning that a bite from a skink can be painful. You can expect to pay between $150 and $2,000 for your Blue Tongued Skink, depending on the breed you choose. Give the lizard some time to acclimate to its new environment. You can expect your Blue Tongued Skink to live between 15 and 18 years if you are able to maintain the proper habitat. Youll notice a movement in their neck area in the former and the front and behind the leg area in the latter. Once you get the habitat going, its inexpensive and easy to raise these pets. In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts. They may even have internal parasites such as tapeworm, roundworm, or lungworm. Its rare for any animal to die so suddenly, there are usually underlying causes for this to happen. You might see specimens that have dark brown and black stripes, those with light-colored skin, and those with large spots. You might see your lizard crawling into the dish and laying motionless for a bit while they rehydrate. If the urine has landed on your hands and arms, then there is nothing to worry about. The head of the blue tongue skink is large and triangular. We recommend a brand that will provide your pet with important UVB light, which will give your pet the important nutrients it usually gets from the sun. Blue Tongue Skinks make for a great pet because they are low maintenance and friendly. This design makes it easy to handle your reptile and gain access to the interior. The variation within the species has put the blue tongue skink in a very unique position. Classic Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink. Adults reach lengths between 18 and 24 inches. Tip: If your blue tongue skink is not eating at all, read our article on how to get it to eat again here! If you detect any issue early, it is still treatable. Blue-tongued skinks[2] comprise the Australasian genus Tiliqua, which contains some of the largest members of the skink family (Scincidae). It has a light-colored body with wide bands of brown. They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues or blueys in Australia. But not as dogs or humans do. Blue Tongued Skink Care - Caring for Reptile Pet Blue Tongue Skinks. Plus, if you move closer to them, they will become startled. Aptly named for their vibrant blue mouths, the blue tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides) is a favorite among reptile enthusiasts. When you buy a Blue Tongue skink from us, you automatically receive our 100% live arrival guarantee. Maybe the blue tongue skink was not showing you the signs of weakness or you did not have enough knowledge about this. However, breeders are getting much better at creating captive bred reptiles, and these pieces are likely to fall in the next few years. If you see something like that, get your skink to the vet immediately. Either way, this box should be big enough for the lizard to get into when theyre feeling a bit overwhelmed. In this, the shed sticks to their feet or eyes and causes them harm. You should consider feeding legumes, leafy greens, and other vegetables with a small amount of protein in moderation as an enhancement. We know that they recognise relatedness in one another, as they are able to pick mates with the most distant genetic similarities, but how they can tell remains a mystery. The Blotched Blue Tongued Skink is usually a lighter color with darker spots, but the pattern can reverse, causing the body to be dark with light spots. You can ask the vet for the grounds to bury them because you have to get permission for that. Too many decorations will only make the skink uncomfortable. What Are the Signs of a Blue Tongue Skink Dying? This should give you a good idea of what to expect of a brumating blue tongue skink. Give them some time to heal. This daily staple diet contains the mixture of fresh fruits, honey and excellent source of animal protein for balanced nutrition - no additional supplements required. Sneezing is natural and helps your blue tongue skink clean its nose. Such a vivid attribute has to come with a purpose, and with the blueys, this tongue licks a lot of boxes. The fact that they are ready for a life without their parents right after they are born directly relates to their ability to learn. Many people find themselves confused between dead, brumating, and sleeping blue tongue skink. Blue tongue skinks are largely terrestrial which means they dont spend too much time climbing in the trees. Taking care of your pet is your responsibility, so do not run away from it instead be extra careful about it. However, if you feel like there could be an injury, its best to separate them and try again with a different mate. Being the largest member of the skink family, the blue-tongued skink appears as a long lizard with short and stubby legs. When kept indoors, many reptiles that dont have exposure to UVB rays develop bone diseases. A hot basking area is required and should be kept between 95 and 100. It seems that the increase in centipedes is outweighed by the inprovements in lizard accommodation, which is great news for the species success! One genus of this skink family is particularly large and has immensely powerful jaws. It may be possible to keep two females together or a bonded male and female pair. They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues or blueys in Australia. Clint looks at the these incredible lizards to help you determine if the. In addition, it will need a screened top, so it doesnt escape, and a front opening will help you access the reptile. You can also dust food with calcium powder for good measure. This means its best to keep the habitat relatively bare. This condition takes place because your pet has ingested some substrate particles that are blocking the digestive tract. That is the white portion of a lizards poop. Most species are diurnal, ground-foraging omnivores, feeding on a wide variety of insects, gastropods, flowers, fruits and berries. A series of small, boney, overlapping scales create a light brownish grey coloring with patterns of darker browns to reds that . Blue-Tongue Skinks can be located in both New Guinea and in Australia. BLUE TONGUE SKINKS New skink started peeing on me Forum rules In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts. But the major issues usually arise from their habitat. Its essential to get one done for the reptiles if you want to adopt more reptiles in the future. Preferably, you should get a new tank if you have not gone for necropsy because you dont know the reason for their death. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Kept properly, blue-tongued skinks can live for 15 to 20 years, and possibly longer. You can make one yourself out of wood or purchase a premade box thats crafted out of plastic. Moreover, you can bury or cremate them. Blue-tongued skinks [2] comprise the Australasian genus Tiliqua, which contains some of the largest members of the skink family (Scincidae). Overall, blue tongue skinks are quite docile with humans. The bowl should be heavy or at least difficult to spill as Tiliqua will tip over any lightweight or unstable water bowls. They might tell you if your pet can be saved or not. To avoid this, make sure that youre providing those 12 to 14 hours of UVB exposure per day. However, there are some general characteristics that are common among all blue tongue skinks. Instead of moving about in the tank, they would remain stationary for hours. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. These animals are known to show some aggression towards other creatures. . Moreover, if you spot them, they will look slouched instead of an alert posture. Variety is very important when it comes to the diet of a blue tongue skink. There are a number of different species, but they mostly utilize the same types of habitats. Some skinks will even show signs that they enjoy head rubs! PEPET'S SUGGY A Basic Diet for Marsupial Pepets Suggy is a nutritionally fortified diet. You will need 20-40 gallons for baby blue tongue skinks. Blue tongue skinks have wide alert eyes to notice all the small movements. When youre choosing an enclosure, its important to consider how these animals act in the wild. However, in some cases lethargy is due to natural processes and nothing to worry about. The substrate you use will depend on the type of Skink you have. The Blue Tongued Skink is a fascinating animal that makes a great pet for anyone interested in raising reptiles. This will be a heated part of the habitat that the lizard will use to increase their body temperature when they feel cold. They both have different humidity requirements for the tanks and if they are not met, then things can take an ugly turn. the Tanimbar blue-tongued skink, a subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides, is also found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea. But when a bluey gets used to associating your hands with lunch, you might find that they become hard to handle. So, if they stop eating or are eating less than they usually do, this should also be alarming. There are 7 species of blue-tongue in Australia. Skinks are capable of releasing water in a liquid stream, but its generally only done due to stress or because they have retained too much water. This brightness also allows the tongue to function as a long-distance communication between other lizards of the same family, as its so easy to spot from afar, which can provide territorial or mating benefits to the skink with the brightest tongue. These animals have very strong jaws. This is actually the lizard's urine. Learn more. Their normal breathing is primarily shallow and deep. There are several varieties of the Blue Tongue Skink, and they all have slightly different appearances. Blue tongue skinks self regulate their body heat. Another big problem for many captive reptiles, including the Blue Tongued Skink, is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). Their needs are relatively easy to manage and they dont require any intense husbandry. In it, youll learn everything you need to know about blue tongue skink care so you can help your pet live a happy and healthy life! The mating ritual can appear violent, and the male can claw and bite the female to help get into position. On average, a Blue Tongue Skink costs from $150 to a few hundred USD. It will need to remain on the higher side when shedding the skin.