Blue Tongue Skink Shopping List

[PastelPython]

After deciding between getting a Ball Python, Corn Snake, Leopard Gecko or Crested Gecko, I've decided to get a Blue Tongue Skink. I am currently doing loads of research on them and their care. I'm not buying my future Skink out of impulse. I probably won't be getting my BTS until around July or August of this year so that gives me more than enough time to do a lot of research.

Could someone make a list of everything I will need for my BTS? Also, would a 36 x 18 x 18 enclosure be ok for a BTS? I read on bluetongueskinks.net that its best to get an adult sized enclosure so that way, you won't have to switch tanks as the Skink grows.

[Argentra]

Great to hear you want to join the ranks of BTS owners. They're the best lizards ever.

Caging - As big as you can get! I made the cage for my big guy at 42x22x16 (made to fit a certain space in an old apt.) and I wish I had a larger one. I would say a minimum of 48L, 24w, and 18h. These guys are mostly burrowers, yes, but they do love to 'rear up'. For a little one, you can start them in a basic 20g long tank and move them into the adult cage once they get older.

Light/Heat - You will need a good basking bulb to get their basking rock up to 95-100. That is the most important spot in the cage heat wise. You can add a UVA/UVB bulb, especially if they don't get too much natural sun time, but it's not as important as a properly regulated basking spot. And always make sure the lamps are OUTside the cage!

Basking rock - It's important to have a decently flat, heat absorbing surface they can climb onto to bask - such as a rock or tile. I use natural slate tile for mine and it's great. Easy to clean as well.
Whatever you use, it will need to be raised up so it's close enough to the basking lamp to get the temps right.

Bedding - These guys burrow, so make sure you give them at least half the cage with bedding just a bit deeper than the thickness of their body.
Also, because they burrow, make sure that any furniture in the cage won't hurt them if it gets knocked over.

Water - A nice wide dish is the thing here. I use a pyrex pie dish for my fella and it works nicely. Too heavy and wide for him to tip over when he climbs through it.

Hiding spots - Skinks like a nice spot to chill out and hide now and then. Not as much as snakes...but still. You want to give them something they can get under totally.

This is my cage for a visual. Don't mind the cat...she was always fascinated with my big guy.



That's all I can think of at the moment. For a more complete supply list, I would go to Bluetongueskinks.net as that is the best site for BTS care ever.

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

^ Excellent post. Pretty helpful-- I held a half grown BTS the other day, and I can't get the experience out of my head.

[jmugleston]

The post above covers nearly how we keep our blueys. We keep ours a little differently, but the basic care aspects are the same. I keep a baking spot a bit warmer (up to 110) with an ambient temp in the 80s during the day and dropping to the 70s at night. Our cages measure 48"X24"X18". I used to use the shallow pyrex dish, but I grew tired of it getting filled with bedding so I switched to a deeper dish. I know use the 6-7" diameter crock dishes. The blueys don't seem to have any trouble accessing the water but I set the dishes into the substrate to make the rims relatively lower.

With diet there are numerous reports out there on what they eat. Everything from steak rolled in calcium and vitamin powder to dog food, to mostly plant matter. For us it seems a good mix of greens, fruit, insects, and a small amount of high quality dog food works well.

For bedding we use a mix of mulch and dead leaves. Each fall I go to the canyons and bag up a bunch of leaves for their cages. Instant burrow and ground cover. Seems to work well.

Its Winter now so mine are still brumating. I miss them. They'll be warmed up in a couple weeks. My biggest male seems to like coming out about 2 weeks before they warm up, sits upon his basking platform, and stares out the cage. I think he knows it is time! Anthropomorphisms aside, these are some of my favorite lizards. My oldest girl is going on 13 or 14 years old now. (I'd have to check pics to see which year I bought her). Probably the best pet lizard to buy in my opinion.

[DMTWI]

As you know already bluetongueskinks.net is the place to go for info. they have the best (correct) information out there. We also purchased our Northern bluey from them and have been very happy their support and the quality of the skink. We keep our little bugger in a 30 gal breeder tank, with a sliding/latching built in screen cover. Like other posters have said, they need a basking spot with a flat rock directly under the heat lamp, we use a combo heat/UV bulb and that seems to work well. Aspen shavings also work nicely for us and our bluey loves to burrow in them. Other than that, just follow the advice on bluetongueskinks.net and you'll be good to go....

[PastelPython]

Thanks for the help you guys . Bluetongueskinks.net has been a lot of help for me and I'm going to continue to do my research so that I will know how to care for my future BTS. Thanks again guys ^-^.

[BPelizabeth]

After deciding between getting a Ball Python, Corn Snake, Leopard Gecko or Crested Gecko, I've decided to get a Blue Tongue Skink. .

Too funny! Love it!

Aspen seems to be a favorite with BTS however be sure that the bedding doesn't have any small pieces as they will poke their eyes and get into their ears. There is a thread about this on bts. Personally we use tile for our skink and then on the bed side of things we make all types of blankets and leaves for her to crawl in and out of. She seems to do well in it. For food a good idea is to cook some chicken breasts and ground turkey. I then make little bags of it and freeze it. I typically do a months worth. I feed her every other day to keep her appetite up (which with mine is interesting) Anyways...I can take out a bag and defrost it...mix it with greens and your good. They also seem to love love love hard boil and scrambled eggs. I do not do any insects for a diet with mine. It is all meat, eggs, beans, and veggies.

Edit...forgot to tell you ...they LOVE to go into their water dish so I use a a litter box cut down a bit. This way they can get their whole body in but still easily get out.

Also...(sorry keep remembering things) they lickey lickey and eat everything. So if it is on the floor be assured it will be in their mouth. Just keep that in mind. You also want to get down on your tummy and check under your cabinets for any holes. Yes this happened to us....she was between the wall and the cabinets...had to take the baseboards off and half of a side of a cabinet off to get her out. Little terd bird!! If there is a small opening....they will find it and get into it. lol

Favorite BTS game....put her in the bed under the covers while you are watching tv and just let her make tunnels. Loads of fun for her if and no problem for you unless you are tickelish...lol