Blue Tongues [The Addiction Begins!]

[chairman]

I house my BTS in a 2'x3' concrete mixing tub whose height is increased by 8". The cage you listed should be fine.

I use cypress mulch for substrate and it has to be deep enough for the skink to completely bury itself in. Others use aspen but BTS love to spill their water and don't mind a little humidity. I try to keep isopods in the enclosure with my skinks as they help keep the tank clean and the skinks love to hunt them.

On feeding, only juveniles get fed every couple days. As adults they only eat once a week or they'll get obese but I will give mine small snacks throughout the week, some berries here and there. They really like blueberries, blackberries, and sliced strawberries. If you go the wet dog food route for food then you have to get a premium food like blue buffalo because 95% of wet dog foods contain a preservative that is harmful to reptiles. Don't feed wet cat food, there's too much protein and not enough vegetable matter.

I am able to supply all my required heat with a single 45watt flood bulb... basking spot around 90, temperature gradient down to the low 80s.


Personality-wise, they prefer interaction on their own terms. Reach in to grab a skink and you're going to get an all-out defensive display and maybe a bite. Wait till they notice you and they'll pretty much walk out into your hand. Once out they're more cornsnake than ball python activity-wise but it isn't too distracting to hang out and watch tv with them.

If you get one, get an Australian one. You're guaranteed to get a captive bred animal that way. If you get an IJ skink then know that it is wild or "farmed". If someone claims to have a CBB IJ skink do a lot of research on the seller before paying a premium price for a misrepresented animal.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by chairman

I house my BTS in a 2'x3' concrete mixing tub whose height is increased by 8". The cage you listed should be fine.

Hi, a 3 x 2 feet enclosure is NOT big enough to house an adult Blue tongue skink on a permanent basis, even though they may not be the most energetic of lizards, then the fact they may live for 15+ years in that tiny, tiny space. Neither is a basking surface temp of 32c (90f) high enough, I would recommend it`s around 38c (100f).
The size the OP is asking about would be acceptable for a hatchling only temporarily.
I`d like to ask why eggs should never be fed?