Blue Tongue skinks....
- Thread starter Stitchex
- Start date
Srt14292
Est; 1992
- Messages
- 1,294
- Location
- London, UK
If you get them from hatchlings they are faster to tame, however they are still a quite friendly lizard, you can feed them many things:
•Skinks are true omnivores, which should be reflected in their diet.
•Variety is the key to providing a nutritious diet, and a calcium/vitamin D supplement should be added to the food.
•Melissa Kaplan recommends a balance of about 60% vegetable/fruits and 40% meat items.
•Vegetables/fruits: beans, summer or winter squash, carrots, parsnips, leafy greens. Can be shredded or pureed and added to meat portion of diet. Fruits can include strawberries, bananas, melon, etc.
•Meats: low fat canned dog food is a good staple in the diet. This should be supplemented with other items such as superworms and pinkie mice (larger for adults).
The size of the viv they would be comfortable in I have for a sub adult or baby would be one of the exo terra glass terrariums, i would suggest the 90cm long for an adult as a minimum.
•Need a large enclosure such as a 40-55 gallon tank.
•Being ground dwellers they don't need branches for climbing, but still need a secure lid.
•Substrate: aspen wood shavings, cypress mulch, or even newspaper. Make sure they are not ingesting wood substrates. I would make the substrate around 4 - 6 inches thick, as they are burrowers.( i think thats how you spell it)
•Temperature: gradient from 75-85 F (24-29 C) with a basking spot of 95 F (35 C). A combination of undertank heating and a basking light on one side of the tank works well. Make sure the appropriate temperature gradient is provided by measuring temperatures in various spots around the tank. Night temperature can drop to about 70 F (21 C).
•Light: in addition to the incandescent basking light, provide a full spectrum UVA/UVB light for 10-12 hours per day.
•Water: provide a large shallow sturdy water dish. Skinks like to bathe in their water but often defecate there so frequent cleaning is required for the water dish.
•Hides: a couple of sturdy hiding spots should be provided for skinks, which like to burrow and hide. Cork bark, wood, rocks, PVC pipes, or other hides can be used. Make sure wood pieces or rocks are firmly places so they will not fall on the lizard. A humidity hide (e.g. a plastic storage box with moss or cypress mulch to holds moisture) will help with sheds.
•Skinks are true omnivores, which should be reflected in their diet.
•Variety is the key to providing a nutritious diet, and a calcium/vitamin D supplement should be added to the food.
•Melissa Kaplan recommends a balance of about 60% vegetable/fruits and 40% meat items.
•Vegetables/fruits: beans, summer or winter squash, carrots, parsnips, leafy greens. Can be shredded or pureed and added to meat portion of diet. Fruits can include strawberries, bananas, melon, etc.
•Meats: low fat canned dog food is a good staple in the diet. This should be supplemented with other items such as superworms and pinkie mice (larger for adults).
The size of the viv they would be comfortable in I have for a sub adult or baby would be one of the exo terra glass terrariums, i would suggest the 90cm long for an adult as a minimum.
•Need a large enclosure such as a 40-55 gallon tank.
•Being ground dwellers they don't need branches for climbing, but still need a secure lid.
•Substrate: aspen wood shavings, cypress mulch, or even newspaper. Make sure they are not ingesting wood substrates. I would make the substrate around 4 - 6 inches thick, as they are burrowers.( i think thats how you spell it)
•Temperature: gradient from 75-85 F (24-29 C) with a basking spot of 95 F (35 C). A combination of undertank heating and a basking light on one side of the tank works well. Make sure the appropriate temperature gradient is provided by measuring temperatures in various spots around the tank. Night temperature can drop to about 70 F (21 C).
•Light: in addition to the incandescent basking light, provide a full spectrum UVA/UVB light for 10-12 hours per day.
•Water: provide a large shallow sturdy water dish. Skinks like to bathe in their water but often defecate there so frequent cleaning is required for the water dish.
•Hides: a couple of sturdy hiding spots should be provided for skinks, which like to burrow and hide. Cork bark, wood, rocks, PVC pipes, or other hides can be used. Make sure wood pieces or rocks are firmly places so they will not fall on the lizard. A humidity hide (e.g. a plastic storage box with moss or cypress mulch to holds moisture) will help with sheds.
Not to start a huge debate, but I strongly disagree with a lot of the above statements as far as their care is concerned. A lot of information out there is inaccurate and I would suggest thorough research and discussion with BTS breeders/keepers to determine the best care.
red-ink
New Member
- Messages
- 34
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
The care of BTS depends on the sub-species you get, some require more humidity some less. If you are in the States then you pretty much don't have much of a choice. You are restricted to Northerns (T.S.intermedia) if your lucky and get it from a reputable breeder it would be a "true" northern. Most likely you will find a lot of the indonesean species which will be almost all wild caught specimens.
There are shinglebacks and centralians in the US but they come with pretty hefty price tags if you do find them available.
I suggest visiting www.bluetongueskinks.net for info on species and care.
There are shinglebacks and centralians in the US but they come with pretty hefty price tags if you do find them available.
I suggest visiting www.bluetongueskinks.net for info on species and care.
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