Frank - The Blue Tongue Skink

[dakski]

Frank with my reptile loving niece, Meghan.

[Jus1More]

Frank!!! You stole my heart... what a cutie!

[dakski]

Frank went outside today, essentially for the first time ever!

He seemed to enjoy the sounds, warmth, and smells. He had his tongue going a lot, especially when I held him. Very curious.

Got some good pics! He's doing great. He's maintaining his weight and I've been working with him more (handling and feeding). He was never aggressive, but sometimes shy. A lot of that has dissipated. Katie loves holding him and feeding him. So we, collectively, have been handling him more, and I, in particular, have worked on hand feeing with him. He will happily eat in front of me now and will come over from the other side of the enclosure to eat wet dog food or, his favorite, a snail, right out of my hand!

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[dakski]

Frank did the cutest thing today! First, he ate his big meal for the week with plenty of protein, veggies, fruit, and vitamins! He also ate dog food out of Katie's hand again! It's becoming a regular occurrence. He's really chill now.

Secondly, he decided to bask on the cool side after eating, where there are two hides. He likes to push things around so they are how he likes it! He managed to get on top of the two hides, head on one, body on the other, and arm hanging in between. Freaking adorable!

My apologies for the poor picture quality. iPhone through acrylic with lots of light in cage. Not ideal. However, I didn't want to open it and risk him moving. He's already giving me the evil eye .


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[AnnieHeart]

What a sweet little guy! Than you for sharing!!!

[Bogertophis]

I can't stand any more of this reptilian CUTENESS! Stop already, you're making me want a BTS! I miss cuddling a bearded dragon & noticed that Frank
does that with Katie in your photos...I can't look any more...help!

[dakski]

I can't stand any more of this reptilian CUTENESS! Stop already, you're making me want a BTS! I miss cuddling a bearded dragon & noticed that Frank
does that with Katie in your photos...I can't look any more...help!

I am sorry, but I can't stop! Frank is awesome! Plus, in case you didn't notice, I like to post pictures of my reptile buddies!

Seriously, I had an awesome Beardie, George, for over ten years before he got really sick and I had to put him down. I loved him and he had a great personality.

I wanted something a little different with my next medium sized lizard. Plus, Katie has enough issues with the Geckos eating medium mealworms and Dubai roaches. She especially hates the roaches, . I almost wasn't able to move in because of the "bugs." With all the live protein Bearded Dragons need, that was going to a be a no go!

Frank eats veggies and ferret pellets and canned dog food with an occasional canned snail as a treat. He's a scavenger. Katie loves that about him and even feeds him from her hand. I gave him a Dubai roach once. He chased it around the tank, ate it, and then has refused every one I've offered since. I believe he thinks it's too much work to hunt for food!

His personality is awesome and he's very expressive and docile. His care is easier than a Beardie temp wise (hot spot 95-100F under basking and UVB light, 90F hot side, 85F ambient, and 80F cool spot - all can drop at night), food wise (scavenger so eats everything but doesn't need live food and he only eats 2-3X a week as an adult - although he does poop almost daily ), and he's a ground dweller, so he doesn't need elaborate climbing wood pieces (he does need hides and likes to burrow though).

Not as many morphs of BTS, to say the least, but he's a normal and he's awesome and beautiful, with the cool blue tongue of course!

If you have the space, I highly recommend BTS!

[Bogertophis]

Alas, my bearded dragon used to like to burrow too! I guess they do burrow for sleep & safety in the wild, and I accidentally discovered that
whenever 'Spike' was out of his cage that I could put a shirt or towel over him temporarily (like if my phone rang...) and he'd instantly take a nap
under that blankie! I don't know if all dragons will do that, but I thought it was adorable & hilarious that mine did. When I uncovered him, he went
right back to full-awake "play time", lol...

But I chose this house partly because it was smaller...if I have more space, I do tend to fill it up & right now I have 2 dogs & 16 snakes, so I really
DON'T have space right now. (-unless...do I really need that stupid couch? I always sit in my recliner...SEE what YOU DID!?)

Until reading your posts, I've never known much about BTS....you've totally made me want one now. Thank you though, seriously!

[dakski]

Alas, my bearded dragon used to like to burrow too! I guess they do burrow for sleep & safety in the wild, and I accidentally discovered that
whenever 'Spike' was out of his cage that I could put a shirt or towel over him temporarily (like if my phone rang...) and he'd instantly take a nap
under that blankie! I don't know if all dragons will do that, but I thought it was adorable & hilarious that mine did. When I uncovered him, he went
right back to full-awake "play time", lol...

But I chose this house partly because it was smaller...if I have more space, I do tend to fill it up & right now I have 2 dogs & 16 snakes, so I really
DON'T have space right now. (-unless...do I really need that stupid couch? I always sit in my recliner...SEE what YOU DID!?)

Until reading your posts, I've never known much about BTS....you've totally made me want one now. Thank you though, seriously!

Your beardie sounds like he was awesome.

FYI, BTS use very inch of their enclosures and need a lot of space.

Frank is in a 6x2’ enclosure. He uses all of it. I think 5x2’ would work and bigger than 6x2’ is probably a waste. However, a 4x2 would probably be too small.

[Bogertophis]

I'm all for giving animals space for normal active behaviors, so I'm glad you encourage that too. I hope that anyone you've "inspired" to get a BTS
will take your advice on cage size. (I guarantee that I will..."if & when...") This whole thread is very helpful & enticing with all your info & descriptions.