Keeping Bluetongue Lizards. Inbreeding in dense populations is a common issue, as bad genes can be combined to make unhealthy offspring. The blue-tongue is really a skink. PEPET'S SUGGY A Basic Diet for Marsupial Pepets Suggy is a nutritionally fortified diet. Its rare for any animal to die so suddenly, there are usually underlying causes for this to happen. They are also called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues, shinglebacks or the sleepy lizard in Australia. When your blue tongue skink dies, remove them from the tank otherwise, it will smell terrible. Check the humidity levels and open up the top of the tank to let some of that humid air out! Jeff is my first reptile and I'm always unsure what's normal so it's always worth questioning some of the littler things. In this case, while lizards could exploit more resources in theory, the effect of the ticks keeps them within a smaller niche and therefore promotes biodiversity by freeing up those extra resources for other organisms. Blue-tongued skinks, or blueys are some of the largest skinks around. Blue tongue skinks self regulate their body heat. A team of pet enthusiasts and I created this website to help other reptile keepers take care of their pets! Heat lamps are the best way to increase the temperature, and they also provide your pet with a basking spot that it will enjoy. The daytime temperature should be around 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime, around 70-75. The most common variant youll see in the reptile trade is the Northern blue tongue skink. The Indonesian and Australian Blue Tongued Skinks are much more affordable than the Centralian or Shingleback varieties. In fact, its easy to mistake skinks for snakes when they are buried or partially hidden! Blue tongue skink lizards generally do not like to be handled or held in laps and most of the people do not even know how exactly to hold the reptile to make it comfortable. In this forum all are welcome to ask blue tongue skink-related questions, share information, ideas, tips, experiences, and pictures with fellow BTS enthusiasts. Kei Island Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua gigas keyensis) This subspecies is known for having a personality that is pretty similar to the Tanimbar. They might tell you if your pet can be saved or not. SMART CHOIZ SUGAR GLIDER FRUIT PELLETS WITH GOAT MILK Pellets with fruity flavor with added goat milk make a perfect combination for your beloved sugar gliders as a meal. Unfortunately, curved or swollen limbs are pretty common in captive reptiles, resulting from a lack of calcium and/ or Vitamin D3. Not only do they have long, crayon-colored tongues, but they can also hatch eggs inside of their bodies and amputate their own tails in an emergency. Parasites are a common problem for the Blue Tongued Skink. Aptly named for their vibrant blue mouths, the blue tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides) is a favorite among reptile enthusiasts. Blue tongued skinks are hunted by a variety of large and medium-sized predators, most notably including birds of prey, large snakes and monitor lizards (goannas). When kept indoors, many reptiles that dont have exposure to UVB rays develop bone diseases. They also use burrows and crevices to escape from potential predators or hazardous weather. Instead, they stick out their vibrant tongues to scare away predators. What Does Spider Poop Look Like?+Pictures Once they get more comfortable in the enclosure, you can start handling them. Rather than climb, these skinks will burrow into the sand and root around in search of prey. These creatures are covered in scales and have a smooth shape that closely resembles a snake. Blue tongue skinks arent huge climbers, but they do enjoy basking on a raised rock every once in a while. They can be quite docile and easy to care for, as long as the owner is properly educated to their needs. You might see your lizard crawling into the dish and laying motionless for a bit while they rehydrate. Learn more. So feeding as many insect feeder species as possible, along with . Failure to maintain the heat and light in the tank can lead to the sudden death of your pet. They are perfectly capable of biting, so you should never handle them forcefully. Humidity will need to stay between 40% and 60%. You can install a UVB light over the enclosure and leave it on for 12 to 14 hours per day. What do blue tongue skinks look like? Most species, save for the Adelaide pygmy, are considered to be Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'animals_net-banner-1','ezslot_6',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-banner-1-0'); For an animal to undergo true domestication they must be selectively bred for extended periods of time. The poop of a blue tongue lizard looks like small, dry pellets. The screened lid will promote ventilation, which helps to manage humidity levels a bit. Many animals avoid this one way or another, and the blue-tongued skink is no exception. It can also be released at the same time as faeces. If you need to increase levels, just mist the enclosure once a day. Lets get the tongue out of the way first. While this might sound daunting, blue tongue skink is actually pretty simple (especially compared to a lot of other species). The type of predator/threat that is near will determine the intensity of colour present in the tongue. Partnerships between blueys last between about 10 and 43 days a year, and most males observed were classified as monogamous. 2. Something like aspen, cypress mulch, recycled paper, or even a peat moss/sand mixture. It's usually brown, orange, black, and grey, but can be found in other colors too, including light blue. However, there are some general characteristics that are common among all blue tongue skinks. An average blue tongue skink weighs about 10-18 ounces. Blue Tongue Skink Pee (Source: WL Fun Time YouTube) Yes, they do. When you buy a Blue Tongue skink from us, you automatically receive our 100% live arrival guarantee. Most of the people get scared and throw the animal off their lap; this is exactly what scares the hell out of the poor creature. Still, providing a large water dish is essential. To solve the humidity issue, you can either keep a bowl of water or occasionally spray some water to maintain humidity but this will not keep the humidity stable. They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues or blueys in Australia. Moreover, a discharge from the nose and eyes will also accompany it. These lizards originally come from Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Blue-tongued skinks are closely related to the genera Cyclodomorphus and Hemisphaeriodon. Your Blue Tongued Skink can shed quite frequently, especially while it is still growing. A water dish will allow your pet to submerge itself for even more relief. Such a vivid attribute has to come with a purpose, and with the blueys, this tongue licks a lot of boxes. We hope this article helps you analyze the signs and know your pet a bit better. Variety is important. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. They would move about their tank, eat regularly, and always be alert and responsive to a slight movement. Lower humidity can cause the skin to stick and be difficult to remove, especially around the eyes. Another thing to note is that when your pet is brumating, you can always see them breathing even if they are hiding in their tank. Over time, theyll sleep all day long for 4 to 6 weeks as well. The UVB light replicates the light of the sun which makes them active and indices appetite too. This likely came about because their brightly colored mouth can be very scary-looking when they are threatened! So lets see what the signs are in detail: Blue tongue skinks are generally very active and agile. Along with humidity, you should also keep the heat and light in check. Generally, deep, vertical and as tight as they can fit into. First, you should always keep a tab on their appearance. If that does not help improve the situation, then go to see a pet at once. This is a large species of terrestrial blue tongue measuring upwards of 60 centimetres in length and over 1 kilogram in mass. Blue tongue skinks have wide alert eyes to notice all the small movements. Youll be happy to know that blue tongue skinks arent susceptible to any major illnesses that are specific to the species. Due to their preference for burrows, conservationists have discovered that by creating more burrows, they can improve the population of some of the more endangered species of blue tongued skink. When hes not writing, Ed is usually performing DIY projects around the house or working in the garden. These are stocky, heavy lizards and arent particularly agile, so ambushing prey works best for them. Incorporate a few rocks and logs into the habitat, but dont go overboard! These skinks are not dangerous, and their bite is not . They need some humidity, but not too much of it. The safest place will be their resting space or underneath the bushes. Mites or ticks might attach themselves to their skin and damage them from the outside. Australia has more species of skinks than . A: Blue-tongue lizards are a prey species for some snakes, so it is possible that if you have a blue-tongue lizard in your yard there may also be a snake. The loss of appetite happens during that time, so keep a check on the other signs. Birds, reptiles and many invertebrates can see frequencies of light invisible to us, such as UV. Another big problem for many captive reptiles, including the Blue Tongued Skink, is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). 600K views 5 years ago Blue-tongue skinks (Tiliqua spp.) 1. According to Laurie Hess, UV light is good for the lizards as it benefits them. Most times, blue tongue skink urinate during handling. On the other hand, if the vet says that the mortality chances are low, it is always better to euthanize them. Some blue tongue skinks dont poop for a day or two but if this is unusual for your pet then you need to get it checked. Their normal breathing is primarily shallow and deep. Another old tale purports that blue-tongued skink bites will reappear exactly one year after the bite occurred, this is also untrue.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'animals_net-leader-1','ezslot_9',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-leader-1-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'animals_net-box-1','ezslot_11',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-box-1-0');report this ad. This is another way they are able to thrive in such urban environments. Some Skink varieties are smaller, but most will require a larger tank at least four feet long, two feet wide, and at least one foot deep to provide your reptile with enough space t move around. This is perfectly normal. Indonesian Tanimbar Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides chimaera) Even when bred in captivity, the Tanimbar skink is not particularly friendly. Additionally, before the brumating period, many owners take their blue tongue skinks to the vet and get them checked for parasites. Sometimes, lizards dont eat for weeks, which can trigger weight loss. This way, their pet can brumate in peace. The fact that they are ready for a life without their parents right after they are born directly relates to their ability to learn. Give them some time to heal. So, if they stop eating or are eating less than they usually do, this should also be alarming. Adult blue tongue skinks can live very healthy lives in a tank size of 40 or 50-gallon. All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image. It has a stout body and short legs. Adults reach lengths between 18 and 24 inches. This will be a heated part of the habitat that the lizard will use to increase their body temperature when they feel cold. Younger and still developing Blue Tongued Skinks should eat plenty of insects to build strong muscle, but once they are fully grown, you can feed them a diet that consists of as much as 40% fruits and vegetables. Blue tongue skinks may try to eat the substrate, which could lead to impaction issues. Blotched blue-tongued skinks can grow to a length of 23.5 inches (60 cm). It is always sad to see your beloved pet die but you have to check for the symptoms, take them to the vet soon to eliminate this risk. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. They have pretty healthy appetites and arent particularly picky about the things they consume. In addition, it will need a screened top, so it doesnt escape, and a front opening will help you access the reptile. These animals have four limbs, with five equal-length toes. This means its best to keep the habitat relatively bare. There are a lot of skinks in the world. Can You Bring a Dead Blue Tongue Skink to the Vet To Find Out the Cause of Death? If it was due to some infections, you shouldnt use the same tank again. This daily staple diet contains the mixture of fresh fruits, honey and excellent source of animal protein for balanced nutrition - no additional supplements required. As we said, it is easy to mistake a brumating skink for a dead skink but there are a few differences. But just like any reptile, this species has some fairly strict dietary and environmental needs. That being said, many people have had blue-tongues - or rats and mice, which are also prey species for snakes - in their garden or shed for years and have never seen a snake.