Blue-tongued skinks are relatively inexpensive compared to other reptiles, averaging between $50-$200 depending on the species and the age of the animal. Juveniles tend to be cheaper than adults. Different species can vary greatly in price, and rare morphs, ‘designer’ lines, and captive-bred animals can cost significantly more.
In addition, in addition to the purchase price for the animal itself, there may be additional costs associated with keeping a skink, such as the cost of caging, heating, lighting, and dietary needs.
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Are blue-tongued skinks good pets?
Yes, blue-tongued skinks make good pets! They are a medium-sized skink with a large head, long body, and a bright blue tongue. They are an animal with a docile personality and a nature that makes them relatively easy to handle and tame, making them good for both adult and child keepers.
Blue-tongued skinks are omnivorous which makes them easy to feed and for their diet, and they require minimal space for their housing requirements. They are also generally quite healthy, long-lived animals and due to their curious and friendly personalities, they enjoy interacting with their handlers.
Overall, blue-tongued skinks make great family pets who can provide companionship and bring plenty of entertainment into your life.
Can a skink bite you?
Yes, skinks can bite. In fact, skinks have quite powerful jaws and sharp teeth, which they use to grip onto the objects they are climbing, as well as to attack or defend themselves from predators. Although skink bites may be painful, they are typically not strong enough to break the skin or cause serious harm.
However, depending on the species, the bite of certain larger skinks may be severe enough to require medical attention. Additionally, most skinks secrete a foul-smelling musk when threatened, which can cause skin irritation if not washed off thoroughly.
Even though skinks are generally not known to be aggressive animals, they may become aggressive and bite if they feel threatened, so it is best to leave them alone and not try to handle them.
Can I hold my blue tongue skink?
Yes, you can hold your blue tongue skink, but you should be aware of a few things before you do. First and foremost, it is important to note that blue tongue skinks are a naturally timid and shy species and do not necessarily enjoy being handled or held.
Additionally, due to their being prey animals in the wild, they may become stressed if they are handled too often or for extended periods of time. Therefore, if you do decide to handle your blue tongue skink, you should do so gently, making sure to support the full body length of your pet, avoiding sudden movements and handling for no longer than five or so minutes at a time.
It is also important to wash your hands before and after handling your skink, as the oils on our hands can be detrimental to its health. If you follow these guidelines you will be able to safely and gently bond with your blue tongue skink, while reducing its stress levels.
What is a disadvantage of a blue tongue skink?
A disadvantage of a blue tongue skink is that they require lots of space, time, and money to care for. A blue tongue skink needs a large enclosure to live in, and special lighting, heating and cooling requirements within the enclosure.
A diet of vegetables, fruits, and insects must be provided, and they might be scared of handling and require special bonding time with their owners. They also require regular vet visits to ensure they are eating a healthy diet, and they are treated for any parasites or infections.
All of these ongoing requirements can be quite expensive, time consuming and labor intensive. In addition, they can have a short lifespan of up to 15 years, so owners must be prepared for the responsibility of caring for them for many years.
Do blue tongue lizards like being handled?
Since blue tongue lizards have evolved in captivity, they generally tolerate handling better than many other animals. Additionally, they have docile personalities, which makes them great pets. Although it is not recommended to hold a wild blue tongue lizard due to stress and risk of injury, it is possible to tame your pet with regular and gentle handling.
When taming your pet, always give the lizard some time to get used to your touch and be sure to be very gentle and calm. With consistent and gentle handling, your lizard will become ever more comfortable until eventually it will tolerate being held for short bursts of time.
Never try to handle a sick, injured, or stressed blue tongue lizard. This can cause further stress and damage to the animal. It is important to be mindful of your pet’s needs, and not to rush the process of taming.
With patience, your pet can become comfortable with handling and may even enjoy some cuddling from its human companion.
Is it cruel to keep a blue tongue lizard?
The short answer to this question is yes, it can potentially be cruel to keep a blue tongue lizard. Although blue tongue lizards are hardy species, they require special care and housing in order to thrive.
In order to ensure a blue tongue lizard’s health and welfare, they need to be kept in a terrarium or vivarium and set up with the appropriate UV lighting, temperature, humidity, and an enclosure size suitable for them.
The terrarium should also be outfitted with a few hiding spots and other fixtures that provides the lizard with a sense of security and stimulation. Additionally, it is important to provide them with a diet of fruits and vegetables that supports a balanced nutritional profile.
If a blue tongue lizard’s care requirements are not met, it can cause them significant distress and create a poor living situation that can have long-term effects on their health. Without the proper environmental and behavioral needs being met, they can suffer ailments including mites, eye problems, respiratory infections, and more.
Additionally, it is cruel to keep blue tongue lizards alone; they need company of their own kind with a minimum of two per enclosure. It is also important to keep in mind that they live between 10-15 years, so keeping one requires a large commitment of time and money.
In conclusion, while blue tongue lizards can make rewarding pets, they do need special care in order to provide them with the healthiest and happiest life possible. If you are willing to commit to the needs of a blue tongue lizard, then they can be kept happily and humanely.
Where can I buy a Blue Tongue Skink?
The best place to buy a Blue Tongue Skink is from a reputable reptile breeder with a good reputation in the industry. Many online reptile stores may also offer a variety of skinks for sale. The most important thing when choosing a breeder is to ensure they have good genetics and a healthy stock of skinks.
Talk to the breeder and make sure they have experience in Blue Tongue Skink care and have been breeding them for at least a few years. Additionally, make sure that the breeder provides a full health guarantee for the skink and any pertinent paperwork, such as a health certificate, for the skink you are purchasing.
Finally, inspect the skink before making the purchase, checking for any external parasites, issues with the eyes or nostrils, or sore spots on the skin.
Can you keep blue-tongues as pets?
Yes, it is possible to keep blue-tongues as pets. Blue-tongued skinks, also known as blue-tongued lizards, come from the genus Tiliqua and are a moderately-sized lizard native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea.
They are typically very gentle and docile animals and make great pets for those who are willing to take the time to care for them properly.
When housing a blue-tongued skink, a vivarium or terrarium should be at least 30 gallons in size and require a basking area with temperatures between 84-88 °F, a cooler portion of the enclosure set to 75-80 °F, and spots of higher and lower humidity.
Lighting is also necessary and can be provided with a fluorescent UVB light and/or a basking bulb. A substrate, such as bark or sand, should line the bottom of the enclosure, and a variety of items, such as logs, rocks, vines, and artificial plants, should be included to create a naturalistic environment.
In order to feed your blue-tongued skink appropriately, a mix of nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a commercial brand of skink food should be provided. Protein should be provided in the form of live insects or invertebrates, frozen pinky mice, and/or reptile supplements.
Blue-tongued skinks are also very social animals and should live in groups, so have at least two per enclosure. Lastly, they require regular veterinarian care and should be regularly monitored for any signs of health problems or parasites.
Can blue tongue lizards hurt you?
No, blue tongue lizards usually won’t hurt you. While it is possible for a blue tongue lizard to bite if it feels threatened, they are generally not an aggressive species and will try to avoid confrontation with humans.
Most bites from blue tongue lizards are not serious, so resulting in no more than minor bleeding. If you do get bitten, clean the wound with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection. Generally, the best way to avoid getting bitten is to handle your blue tongue lizard with care and respect, as this will reduce the chances of them becoming scared and more likely to bite.
What happens if a Blue Tongue Skink bites you?
When a Blue Tongue Skink bites you, it generally won’t be a severe bite since they have small mouths with small teeth. In most cases, if a Blue Tongue Skink does bite you, it will cause minor skin irritation, which can be resolved by washing the area with soap and warm water.
However, it’s important to take proper safety precautions if you are handling a Blue Tongue Skink. Unlike other reptiles, their bites can introduce bacteria and other pathogens into your blood stream, which can be dangerous.
To avoid any risks, ensure to always handle them gently, wash your hands after handling, and be alert to any signs of aggression that indicate they may bite. Additionally, be sure to speak with a veterinarian if you notice any unusual behavior or symptoms in the reptile.
Can you keep a Blue Tongue Skink in a 20 gallon tank?
Keeping a Blue Tongue Skink in a 20 gallon tank is possible, however it is not recommended. Blue Tongue Skinks need to have a large enclosure since they are active animals, and a 20 gallon tank is too small for them to hold up to their full potential.
A tank should have a minimum size of around 40 gallons for one adult Blue Tongue Skink to keep them healthy and happy. The tank should have a secure lid and enough room for a warm basking area, as well as hiding spaces, a water dish, and enrichment items.
Blue Tongue Skinks also need five to six hours of direct UVB lighting and a 12-hour light and dark cycle for optimal health. Keeping more than one Blue Tongue Skink can also be an option, however multiple skinks need a larger enclosure to prevent territorial issues.
It is important to do research on these terrarium requirements prior to purchasing a Blue Tongue Skink to give them an ample living space.
How big should a skink enclosure be?
The ideal size for a skink enclosure will depend on what species of skink you are keeping and the type of enclosure you use. Generally speaking, most skinks should have an enclosure that is at least 3 to 6 times their body length and twice as wide as their body length.
Therefore, if you have a skink that is 10 inches long, the ideal enclosure should be 30-60 inches long and 20 inches wide. If you are keeping multiple skinks in the same enclosure, use the same ratio and add extra space for each additional skink.
It is also important to provide your skink with ample vertical space to allow your skink to climb and explore. When choosing an enclosure, look for an enclosure with plenty of height, either by using a tall-style aquarium setup or terrarium enclosure.
Additionally, skinks love to hide and feel secure, so provide plenty of hiding areas and hide boxes.
Lastly, it is important to provide your skink with the proper temperature and humidity levels which can be achieved by using the correct heat and humidifier systems. When choosing a skink enclosure, make sure there is enough room to not only accommodate the correct temperature and humidifier systems but also to provide adequate ventilation.
Is a blue tongue skink a good first reptile?
A Blue Tongue Skink can make a great first reptile pet. They are relatively easy to care for, they have a friendly and docile demeanor, and they can live up to 20 years. Blue Tongue Skinks require a captive environment that replicates their natural habitat which includes a basking spot, areas for hiding and a secure enclosure.
They need a diet that consists of both insects (such as crickets, mealworms, and waxworms) and vegetables as well as a variety of other nutrient sources. It is important to consider their size before purchasing an enclosure, as they can grow up to 13 inches in length.
Furthermore, providing your Blue Tongue Skink with exposure to ultraviolet light is essential for its health.
Blue Tongue Skinks are active and interested in their surroundings, so they need plenty of enrichment activities to keep them stimulated. If you are willing and able to provide the ideal environment and diet, a Blue Tongue Skink can make a wonderful and rewarding pet.
