blue tongue skink

RTBoaChick · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2004, 11:23 PM

do blue tongue skinks need arboreal inclosures? i have a friend who is intrested in getting one...anything important that i should have him get?

Amurtigermaster · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-2004, 12:21 AM

Most blue tongues could careless about climbing up high I mean they do like to bask on log and rocks but they are not a species that needs an arboreal enclosure. There are exceptions but in general skinks a terresterial.

Erica_Ann · #3 (**permalink**) 08-31-2004, 06:55 PM

I don't know about the big tropical skink you are talking about but I can tell ya I have a 7 inch (from head to tail) skink native to California (caught it in Sacramento, CA) and it spends most of its time basking under the heat lamp halfway up or almost at the top of the 10 gallon I have it in. Its small enough to bask on the pots that hold fake plants in there and the fake plants leaves that reach the top of the cage. I saw a blue tongued skink at my local PetCo in this enclosure that was barely longer or wider than the length of its body. For the months it was there, its health got noticeably worse and it wasn't eating. I don't think it was happy with its habitat. So I think they maybe are tough reptiles to keep healthy unless you get them in a habitat that makes them feel at home. In all my lizard and snakes cages I always string fake plants (at Dollar Tree or Walmart) across the top of the cage so they feel more hidden. With such a big skink it would trample the fake plants so thats okay for the bottom but you could tape the string of fake plants along the top of the enclosure to give it a covering, plus you can look in from the side and see it moving it around like its hidden! Just make sure it can't get the tape stuck on it and that the fake plants don't get in the water cos then its dye could come off. Anyways I would reccomend a cage length that allows it to be on either side of the cage without its body extending into the middle of the cage at the same time. Good luck with the skink! I wish I could have one of those. I bet its bites and tail whips

actually feel like something compared to my small skinks mouth and tail LOL.

irishsnakes · #4 (**permalink**) 08-31-2004, 07:04 PM

my bts is about 3yrs old and 18". with his fat body and comparatively skinny legs i cant imagine him doing any climbing. he occasionally will get on top of his hide(big shoebox) but thats about it.

Erica_Ann · #5 (**permalink**) 09-04-2004, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishsnakes

my bts is about 3yrs old and 18". with his fat body and comparatively skinny legs i cant imagine him doing any climbing. he occasionally will get on top of his hide(big shoebox) but thats about it.

Thats funny

Erica_Ann · #6 (**permalink**) 09-04-2004, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishsnakes

my bts is about 3yrs old and 18". with his fat body and comparatively skinny legs i cant imagine him doing any climbing. he occasionally will get on top of his hide(big shoebox) but thats about it.

Does your BTS ever bite you and how does it feel if it has? Does it whip its tail when frightened?
Love, EA

irishsnakes · #7 (**permalink**) 09-05-2004, 06:21 PM

my bts has never shown any type of agression at all. no biting or tail whip ever. he did hiss a little after i first got him. he's quite the mellow fellow.

jabberwock486 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-14-2004, 03:14 AM

blue tongues need open space. they are not at all able to climb very high. infact, ever see a cow in a tree? so i don't think you would find a blue tongue in a tree, unless it is fallen over and is rotten. these animals have fat bodies and short limbs, has to drags its belly. so climbing much of anything is out for these guys. skinks have a varied body pattern compared to other lizards. some have very good legs and are expert climbers, some have no leggs

in which case they like ground cover, tunnels and other such stuff. it is recommended you have big cage, 50 gallons. for bedding you can use dirt, sand, coconut shreddings or a combination.

as for food they eat almost anything. however mine at times will get very picky about food. she never turns down roaches. i tend to make a batch of food for the week. usally has carrots, corn, collard greens, some meat, cooked eggs, some reptile vitamins and calcium and dog or cat food. i add or give her different fruits as a treat as well as roaches.

Stormyva · #9 (**permalink**) 09-14-2004, 01:37 PM

We have a BTS and I have some issues with it.... we have tried all kinds of veggies and fruit and it wont touch it. It will only eat about 10 crix a week, a small portion of apples, but it will eat as many night crawlers, mouse pinks, and dog food that I can throw at it. Any suggestions on getting it going on veggies and fruit?

untsmurf · #10 (**permalink**) 02-18-2006, 05:40 AM

any questions you could have can be found on www.bluetongueskinks.net... for now:
baby skinks can be kept in 10 gallons but only for a short time, as soon as they start growing they need to be put in at least at minimum a 55 gallon tank, its cheaper to build your own. they need a basking lamp and exposure to uv rays. they are omnivorous they eat 60% veggies/fruit and 40%meat. you shouldnt just feed them crickets and mice, its not good for them, they dont get a lot of nutrition from crickets and the mice are fattening, they are good as treats though. their tank should range from 75-100 degrees during the day and down to about 60 at night. the basking spot should be around 100 degrees and the other end of the tank should be around 75, but no lower. they should not, absolutly not be kept in sand, they can infest it and its bad for their digestive tracts. most will keep them in aspen shavings, they cannot be kept in cedar, and i dont think pine either, but im not sure on pine. dont feed them dairy. they need to have some sort of a rock or tile to bask on, dont use the heating rocks it can burn their bellies. also put something like a log or a pot that has been cut in half so they can go in there and hide or sleep. if you have fake plants (dont use real ones) make sure theyre plastic no metal and that they dont have any sort of glitter or anything on them. they also need a bowl of water that needs to be changed daily, use something like a saucer that is large enough for them to fit their entire bodies in and clean it everyday they will deficate in it. you want to spot clean the cage every day and completely clean the cage about once a month. you have to maintain their nail length so their toes dont get screwed up. and you might have to assist in their sheds. there is also a list of common diseases they can get. look at the site.

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