Origin

Australia, Tasmania

Habitat

Forests

Average Size

15-24 inches

Lifespan

18-20 years

Diet

Young blue tongues will eat crickets and other insects. On average they will eat 5 - 7 crickets every other day. You may feed daily with half the quantity. This will vary from lizard to lizard. Observe their appetite and feed according to how much they eat. You may feed adults once or twice a week. As your skink grows larger you can start it on pinkies and slowly progress to larger sizes of mice. Skinks will also eat fruits and vegetables. Romaine lettuce and kale, topped with apples, green beans, squash, carrots, bananas or other similar fruits and vegetables is a good meal. Fruit and vegetable feeding should be a little less than half of their diet. If you think your lizard is hungry you should feed it! They will stare at you in an attempt to tell you they are hungry. A multi-vitamin supplement that is high in calcium can be provided to insure the health of your skink, but only use them once a week.

Housing

A large enclosure is needed for blue tongue skinks because they will grow to be 1-2 feet long. The smallest cage recommended for adults is 50 gallons. For younger skinks you can use a 10-20 gallon tank.

Blue tongue skinks are from Australia and Indonesia and can inhabit the forest or desert in the wild. The best cage design is between the two areas with many branches and plants for the skink to climb on. You can use soil or bark as bedding. Sticks, plants and moss are recommended cage furniture. Also provide hiding places for a sense of security.

Heating & Lighting Requirements

The daytime temperature for blue tongue skinks is 75- 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Have only one heated side, so that your skink can choose its perfect temperature. You can achieve this with heat lights and under tank heaters. The nighttime temperature should drop about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. It is VERY important to have the required temperature for skinks. To insure your temperature is correct, use a thermometer. This will create the cycle of day and night for your skink. A full spectrum fluorescent bulb with 5.0% UVB is required. If this light is not used your skink will develop a calcium deficiency and if left undetected it will be fatal to your pet.

Handling

Handling should be avoided the first few days to allow the skink to adjust to its new home. Regular handling after this time will allow the animal to get to know you and become tame over time. Skinks can be very docile pets. Although they have very strong jaws and may bite hard. Keep your fingers in the clear, especially when you first purchase one. Always wash your hands before and after handling.