Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My BTS is roughly 9 months old right now, around 14 inches long. I currently have it in a 40gallon breeder with aspen shavings for bedding. Do you think it would be fine if I got reptile carpeting for the tank and just had a large hide box with the aspen in it? That way my skink will still be able to burrow when it wants, but I can make a nicer looking habitat.

Also, how long does it take for BTS' to reach full size? Thanks alot!
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1.1.0-Tokay Geckos
1.0.0- Leopard Gecko
0.1.0-Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1-Armadillo Lizard
0.0.1-Pyxie Frog
0.0.2-Pacman Frogs
1.0.0- Fire Salamander
1.2.0-African Giant Millipedes
2.0.0-Madagasgar Hissing Cockroaches
0.0.1-Desert Hairy Scorpion
0.0.4-Florida Bark Scorpions
Grunngg@yahoo.com

I think it's better to stick with the aspen shavings or cypress mulch than reptile carpet.

I beleive it takes about two years for a blue tongue to reach full growth and maturity. Mine are about 14-6 months old now and 18" in length and still growing, shedding about three times every two months.
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PHLdyPayne

Why would you want to use carpet?
You'd have to sterilize the "crap" out of it every time he defecates. Stick with the Aspen and spot cleaning.

Plus, he'd just find a way to get under it anyways. Let him burrow
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1 Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
2 Tarahumara Mountain Kingsnakes - Knoblochi
1 Thayer's Kingsnake - Thayeri
2 Golden Greek Tortoises
1 Pyxie Frog - 14 years old

Grunngg,

We use carpet for all of our shinks over 7-8 months of age. Since we have over 30 adults, I soon got tired of vacuuming aspen chips from every nook & cranny. We tried several things before going with the carpet.

We bought heavy berber carpet and fastened it to the enclosure floor (wood). We have 2 pieces for each cage. I spot clean daily, using an enzyme cleaner, then the carpets get changed & washed (hubby takes them outside on the cement and cleans them with his power sprayer machine).

In your case, you could use double-sided carpet tape. I would still recommend two carpets for convenience. You can also use Healthy Habitat.

Each of our skinks has a large cardboard tube (carpet core), or a wooden hide. To answer the need for burying themselves - we give them a blanket. I cut squares of fleece for each one (they have 2 also). When they want to hide - they go under the fleece. Those can easily be tossed in the washer. I use hypo-alergenic soap.

For younger skinks, we use the small alfafa pellets, or the aspen pellets. We won't go back to using aspen chips again. We don't miss the sneezing either....

Morgana
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I like that idea. I would like to carpet the cage so I could see my BTS more. And instead of pieces of fleese, I think I may just use a small rubbermaid container full of either Aspen shavings or Carefesh for my skink to burrow in. I don't really like Carefresh, but it is easier to clean up. Do you have any pictures of your settups?

Also, If I use the tray of shavings, should I cover it, and just leave an opening for the skink to get in? That way it'll be more of a hide.

And do you think I should cover two or three sides of the tank? I've read that, that is a good idea with some reptiles. It helps relax them. But I havent read that about BTS. Just curious if you thought it may be worth doing.

Thanks for your help!
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1.1.0-Tokay Geckos
1.0.0- Leopard Gecko
0.1.0-Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1-Armadillo Lizard
0.0.1-Pyxie Frog
0.0.2-Pacman Frogs
1.0.0- Fire Salamander
1.2.0-African Giant Millipedes
2.0.0-Madagasgar Hissing Cockroaches
0.0.1-Desert Hairy Scorpion
0.0.4-Florida Bark Scorpions
Grunngg@yahoo.com

Mine with Aspen shavings. Though lately ive been surrounding water area with orchid bark.

one that shows his humid-hide box filled with moistened carefresh

...tried many things...

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1 Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
2 Tarahumara Mountain Kingsnakes - Knoblochi
1 Thayer's Kingsnake - Thayeri
2 Golden Greek Tortoises
1 Pyxie Frog - 14 years old

Grunngg,

We don't use glass tanks for the adults, so they only see out of their door. The units are like stacked ones - except hubby made them out of wood. Just the cardboard tube or wood hide - their blanket and dish of water are the cage essentials. Some get sponge balls to play with for toys.

Morgana
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