All species are found on mainland Australia with the exception of Tiliqua gigas, which occurs in New Guinea and various islands of Indonesia. Check the humidity levels and open up the top of the tank to let some of that humid air out! Blue tongue skinks love to eat, and since they are omnivores, they leave nothing behind. What You Should Do if Blue Tongue Skinks Pees on You? In fact, its easy to mistake skinks for snakes when they are buried or partially hidden! Remember, within the captive diet it's vital we replicate the need for dietary variety. The Australian species do not need high humidity. Their drab colours are relieved by darker bands. Skinks can be found in 47 states although are more widespread in the Southeastern United States with the warmer climates. Some more appearance signs may warn you about weight loss. Featured Image Credit: Tiliqua scincoides scincoides (Image Credit: JJ Harrison, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 3.0 Unported). PEPET'S SUGGY A Basic Diet for Marsupial Pepets Suggy is a nutritionally fortified diet. Keeping Bluetongue Lizards. Younger and still developing Blue Tongued Skinks should eat plenty of insects to build strong muscle, but once they are fully grown, you can feed them a diet that consists of as much as 40% fruits and vegetables. Its belly is normally brown. Blue-tongues are omnivorous and should be fed a combination of proteins, vegetables/greens, and fruits. The fact that they are ready for a life without their parents right after they are born directly relates to their ability to learn. When youre choosing an enclosure, its important to consider how these animals act in the wild. In general, the droppings of the common house lizards are pellet-shaped . There are several varieties of the Blue Tongue Skink, and they all have slightly different appearances. You should consider feeding legumes, leafy greens, and other vegetables with a small amount of protein in moderation as an enhancement. Their first line of defense is to simply remain undetected by hiding or relying on their cryptic body coloration. Here are some good options for proteins: Here are some fruits and vegetables you can try in their diet as well: Adult blue tongue skinks will need to be fed every two or three days. It usually gets the parasites by eating food that contains them. 600K views 5 years ago Blue-tongue skinks (Tiliqua spp.) Some skinks such as the Tanimbar Island Blue-tongue (Tiliqua scincoides chimaera), or the Indonesian Blue tongue (Tiliqua gigas) do not generally appreciate handling, and males will often evert their henipenes right before they defecate and/or urinate on you. Blue Tongue skinks pee; however, it is neither as liquid as mammals, neither the process is same. Classic Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink. Although this happens regularly, sometimes the weight reduces suddenly, which is a matter of grave concern. The table below gives a better idea about the humidity requirements for various types of blue tongue skinks. The centralian species is found in New South Wales, Australia. This stocky reptile becomes fairly large, and is one of the most beloved pet retiles in the world due to their docile nature and unique appearance. read our article on how to get it to eat again here! If you are wondering if your BTS is acting normally or might be sick, this is where you can get help with that. The impact of tick parasites on the behaviour of the lizard Tiliqua rugosa, Adding burrows to enhance a population of the endangered pygmy blue tongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Omnivorous; invertebrates, flowers, berries, Adelaide pygmy blue-tongue skink (T. adelaidensis). This basking area should be on for about 12 hours a day. This is another way they are able to thrive in such urban environments. As long as you follow the care guidelines we listed in the sheet above, youll be all set! Inbreeding in dense populations is a common issue, as bad genes can be combined to make unhealthy offspring. But today, they are bred across the globe. Easy to care for with an abundance of personality, Blue Tongue Skinks can ease a novice reptile owner into caring for a unique pet, or they can pose a breeding challenge for more experienced owners. You can expect your Blue Tongued Skink to live between 15 and 18 years if you are able to maintain the proper habitat. The findings showed that once theyve found a garden they like, they spend about 70% of their time there, returning to safe spaces at night. Aptly named for their vibrant blue mouths, the blue tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides) is a favorite among reptile enthusiasts. If caught early, they can live with it but the curved bones will stay that way. When kept as pets, theyre easy to hand-feed. Still, providing a large water dish is essential. This shows they are aware of a certain danger and go out of their way to mitigate it. If your blue tongue skink is sneezing a lot, it can mean that the substrate is dusty or too fine, and is getting in the nose. Not only that, but its one of the few reptile species that actually enjoy being handled! If a blue tongue has peed or pooped on you, don't panic or throw the skink. They also use burrows and crevices to escape from potential predators or hazardous weather. So feeding as many insect feeder species as possible, along with . They like scratches on their head or under their chin. They would move about their tank, eat regularly, and always be alert and responsive to a slight movement. But just like any reptile, this species has some fairly strict dietary and environmental needs. But when a bluey gets used to associating your hands with lunch, you might find that they become hard to handle. Its best to keep blue tongue skinks in solitary tanks. For instance, the tail where they store the most fat starts thinning. They have an unmistakable shape thats very different from what youd see with other lizard species in the trade. They are large skinks and can grow to a length of 20 to 50 cm. Youre not going to see blue tongue skinks drinking very often. Adult blue tongue skinks can live very healthy lives in a tank size of 40 or 50-gallon. There are a lot of skinks in the world. Due to their preference for burrows, conservationists have discovered that by creating more burrows, they can improve the population of some of the more endangered species of blue tongued skink. What Do Blue Tailed Skinks Eat in the Wild and as Pets? Sometimes, brumating skinks do not wake up even after you hold them. Lethargic Restless Behaviour Irregular Shedding Loss Of Appetite Random Wounds You Are Not Cleaning Their Urine. 10 Signs That Show That Your Snake is Happy! This is the place! If the humidity and temperature in the tank are not optimal, then the blue tongue skink can suffer from dysecdysis. When bluetongue skinks are attacked, they don't curl up or run for cover. Since I was a child, I have had an enormous interest in reptiles. Reptiles are becoming more and more popular in America because they have long lifespans and are relatively easy to raise. Most Blue Tongued Skinks have a similar diet to other reptiles. Kei Island Blue Tongue Skink. Adults reach lengths between 18 and 24 inches. Younger lizards may need more frequent feedings every other day. The Blue Tongued Skink is an amazing animal that, as you might have guessed, has a bright blue tongue, but there are plenty of other interesting facts you might not know. As earlier stated, their pee is the whitish part of their excretion. However, there are some general characteristics that are common among all blue tongue skinks. This problem is most common after the shedding period. They are also called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues, shinglebacks or the sleepy lizard in Australia. Most of the, the lizards suffer from problems of over ingestion, which if not controlled for in time can result in the blue tongue skinks health. Yes, the Blue Tongue Skink will make a great pet and is suitable for children. The best vegetables for blue tongue skinks are collard greens, dandelion greens, green beans, arugula, mustard greens, and endive. The video below shows you how a form of breathing problems in blue tongue skinks looks like. Avoid onion, avocado, rhubarb, and tomato greens! Some species, the Australian blue-tongued skink in particular, are popular as pets. So, its easy to spot any irregularities and signs that you may think are worrisome. Those UVB rays are necessary for metabolizing calcium. An adult blue tongue skink requires a minimum of 8 sq ft of floor space or 120-gallon or a 48x24x18 enclosure. Blue tongued skinks are hunted by a variety of large and medium-sized predators, most notably including birds of prey, large snakes and monitor lizards (goannas). The Adelaide pygmy species is found exclusively in a small portion of south Australia. The pellets included up to 8 varieties of dried fruit blended to achieve rich fruity flavor. Hence, if it does not respond to you, move around, seem heavy, and is not breathing, then it is dead. blue tongue skink is breathing with their mouth open, Indonesian blue tongue skinks are the most popular varieties that are kept as pets, Why Your Uromastyx Wiggles & How To Stop That, 13 Reasons Why Your Bearded Dragon Is Hiding All Day. WE HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST SELECTIONS YOU WILL FIND INCLUDING BLUE TONGUE SKINKS, RED SIDED SKINKS, CROCODILE SKINKS, TREE SKINKS AND MORE. Blue tongue skinks have no separate excretory system organs for digestive waste material and urine. . If there is even a slight difference in the humidity or temperature levels of the tank, then your pet can die suddenly. They are not climbers, so surface area of the ground is more important than vertical climbing space. Blotched Blue Tongue Skink 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. So, if you find any such sign, you should first check the humidity and temperature of the tank and then give them water. Their thick bodies with short legs make them better adapted to burrowing and digging on the ground. This issue mostly arises in wild blue tongue skinks because of their environment. It can grow to 15 or 20 inches and is slow-moving. If you need to increase levels, just mist the enclosure once a day. Those that have adapted to urbanized living will have more common interactions, but are generally left to their own devices as they prey on pesky insects in gardens. Kept properly, blue-tongued skinks can live for 15 to 20 years, and possibly longer. On one hand, its considered a good pet for novice reptile owners. Overall, blue tongue skinks are quite docile with humans. This is how you can differentiate between the three distinct situations. My male skinks can not open his mouth can someone help me with that. The Surprising Answer, Do Bearded Dragons Eat Their Shed? However, those lizards are more of an exception rather than the rule. Something like aspen, cypress mulch, recycled paper, or even a peat moss/sand mixture. It has a yellow, orange body with black markings that can be bands or spots. It will need to remain on the higher side when shedding the skin. These creatures are covered in scales and have a smooth shape that closely resembles a snake. Lizards do not urinate in the conventional sense of the word. This can be achieved if the room their tank is placed in is kept between these temperatures. You will need to use heat lamps to increase the temperature in your terrarium to more than 70 degrees. The skin after shedding is delicate, and if rubbed hard, it could lead to an injury. Of course, we cant forget about the blue mouths! Moreover, if you spot them, they will look slouched instead of an alert posture. However, two males should never be kept together! They do very well with 30%-50% relative humidity. The mating ritual can appear violent, and the male can claw and bite the female to help get into position. Also, keep an eye on this dish and refill it frequently. Humidity will need to stay between 40% and 60%. They would eat plants, insects, animals, etc., to satisfy their hunger. As such, they displace wolf spiders and tarantulas and other burrowing spiders in their area to make space for themselves. So lets see what the signs are in detail: Blue tongue skinks are generally very active and agile. Not only do they have a very interesting look, but theyre super low-maintenance! Give them some time to heal. This condition takes place because your pet has ingested some substrate particles that are blocking the digestive tract. Capture for the pet trade has some impact on species, but they will reproduce readily in captivity, which decreases the pressure on wild specimens. Blue tongue skinks sneeze because they need to clear their noses from any particles and dust that gets into nostrils. As a good rule of thumb, 40 percent of their diet should consist of protein-based foods. So thats why we made this guide. Give the lizard some time to acclimate to its new environment. Parasites can infect the skin and internal organs to the point that it will take only a few hours to kill your pet. What To Do With an Old Blue Tongue Skink Tank if Youre Getting a New Blue Tongue Skink? It's always best to keep track of their weight weekly and if you see a drop, then inform the vet. They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues or blueys in Australia. Whereas, for abnormal Blue tongue skink poop keep an eye for any of the following: Runny poop Green or yellow poop Bloody poop All White Excretes Excess uric acid Strong unpleasant smell Chalky and hard urate 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. If you notice your pet rubbing on branches or rough surfaces, its likely about ready to start shedding. But should anything irritate or scare them, they hiss and puff themselves up. Remember, crawling floor space is the most important thing. Some of the common signs that may signify a dying blue tongue skink are: If you doubt that something may be wrong with your pet, read on to know about the signs and what you can do in detail. The type of predator/threat that is near will determine the intensity of colour present in the tongue. Hello Im new to blue tongue skinks and am wondering how much pee us too much pee for a baby BTS. Reflectance of lingual surface and its consequences for visual perception by conspecifics and predators. A healthy stool looks brown and has no odor at all. Besides its attractive blue tongue, its great because it doesnt mind when you handle them, so you wont have to teach your children to stay away. Are Blue Tongued Skinks Friendly? These reptiles should be housed separately from one another rather than in groups. Most of the time, the issues lie in the vivarium temperature and humidity levels which may cause your skink to die suddenly. Therefore, if you hold your pet lizard too hard or too loosely, chances are that it will end up peeing on you. However, in some cases lethargy is due to natural processes and nothing to worry about. They all have that iconic blue tongue and a relatively similar shape. Turner, G. 2001. The breathing becomes labored and rapid with crackling sounds. Its always good to go for a new tank because a new reptile will not feel comfortable with the smell around him. Sometimes, lizards dont eat for weeks, which can trigger weight loss. If it died due to natural circumstances, then clean it properly. Bodies of these animals appear to be silvery gray, brown, or tan with overlapping glossy scales. The Australian Blue Tongued Skink can grow to reach 15 inches. It may be possible to keep two females together or a bonded male and female pair. When hes not writing, Ed is usually performing DIY projects around the house or working in the garden. As one of the most versatile pet reptiles, Blue Tongue Skinks make excellent pets (opens in a new tab) for beginners and advanced herpetologists alike. Its also low maintenance once you have the habitat set up, and it will only require food and heat lamp replacements to live a long life. Instead of moving about in the tank, they would remain stationary for hours. 2. All eight of the species are viviparous, which means that they give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs or developing eggs within their bodies. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. That is the white portion of a lizards poop. These reptiles are easily bred in captivity, but have not been formally domesticated in any way. They are shy at first, but overall they're very friendly. Approximately half of their meal should be greens, a small amount of fruit, and the rest should be some type of protein. If they are slithering like snakes, they cannot get up, or their strength has waned, something is wrong. The best type of enclosure for a blue tongue skink is a glass reptile tank with a screened lid. They will prey on a wide variety of small invertebrates and creatures, including worms, snails, beetles, spiders, and various insects. Their urate (pee) comes along with their poop. Breeding your Blue Tongued Skink is as easy as placing the male and female in the terrarium during the spring. If you have any other questions about how to take care of this reptile, dont hesitate to reach out. We understand that their appetite can become a bit less some days, but if its happening for a couple of days, you need to contact your vet. The same goes for potentially toxic substrate materials like cedar chips or cat litter! They will also feed on fruits, flowers, and berries, if they come across them. If it does, the first thing is to not panic. Skinks are extremely active reptiles and love to explore, so bigger is better. Expert Tip: Most are going to be on the larger end, so its best to plan accordingly and make sure that you have plenty of space. This means they will readily accept most foods without any issues. Any of the above-mentioned is a sign of an issue in their stomach. Blue-tongued skinks [2] comprise the Australasian genus Tiliqua, which contains some of the largest members of the skink family (Scincidae). There are eight different species in the genus, with various colors and patterns. Blue tongue skinks have a gentle personality and do well with both beginners and experienced hobbyists. Variety is very important when it comes to the diet of a blue tongue skink. The blue tonged (or tongue) skink, also called blue-tongued lizards, are a kind of skink that's a common pet reptile. The best fruits are berries, squash, apple, and papaya. It has a stout body and short legs. Amazon Rainforest is a dream location to visit for many nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. Hes also a musician and spends a lot of time helping people fix their guitars and composing music for independent films. Yes, the Blue Tongued Skink is quite friendly and doesnt mind when you handle them. Blue-tongued skinks are solitary creatures that spend their days searching for food and basking in the sun. Blue-tongues will get bedding in their water and new fresh water should be provided often. Over time, theyll sleep all day long for 4 to 6 weeks as well. Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. The popular Northern blue tongue skink has a light brown base color. Dusting the insects and other food you serve your pet with a calcium and Vitamin D3 supplement will help prevent the onset of this disease. A team of pet enthusiasts and I created this website to help other reptile keepers take care of their pets! The average blue tongue skink size is pretty big compared to other popular lizard species in the reptile trade. Each needs a relatively large enclosure, no smaller than a 20-gallon aquarium. In the wild, blue tongue skinks live in semi-dry environments. That being said, many people have had blue-tongues - or rats and mice, which are also prey species for snakes - in their garden or shed for years and have never seen a snake. It may look like your pet is dead but keep a check on their breathing. might just be the best pet lizard on planet earth. The daytime temperature should be around 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime, around 70-75. Didn't find what you need? 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. 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). 10 Signs That Your Snake Is Dying + How To Help, 11 Things That Will Stress Your Leopard Gecko. Most Skinks like to dig, so you will want to make sure the substrate is several inches thick. Blue-tongue lizards have developed a resistance to the venom of the red-bellied black snake, according to new research. Its a hardy animal that stores fat in its tail, so it cant detach it like the other varieties. Another big problem for many captive reptiles, including the Blue Tongued Skink, is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). These reptiles are quite hardy and have few health problems as long as you provide plenty of calcium.