Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am thinking about getting a blue tongue skink. Exact type I don't know, but I do know I want a baby so I can watch it grow up. I have read a few caresheets about their basic care and read some of the posts here about foods. Now for the questions... Are babies better than adults when it comes to handling if you raise it yourself? I knew someone who had one so I do know they can get a little hissy if you wake them up. I am looking for a lizard that won't mind the occasional handling to clean the cage or take outside for some sunlight. Would two babies be okay in a 20-gallon tank to start and then upgraded to a 40-gallon tank? or do they need larger for 2 as adults? Do they prefer to be solitary? If so I would need to plan in advance keeping them caged sepereately. Also, can they be sexed as babies? I want to get two females... Do the temperaments vary amount the types of blue tongue skinks, and if so, which are the tamer and smaller side ones? Like I have mentioned, I have done some reading, but some information like what I asked I have not found answers to. If there are any site caresheets you would like to point me to for additional reading, please post. I intend to educate myself before making a purchase/commitment to them. If you know any other lizards (not snakes) that are easily handled but not a vegan or requires a cage over 40-gallons as an adult, let me know. Thanks.
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~ Juli ~
www.Polliwog-Design.com

BTS are, with little competition, the best pet lizards out there. Here are some links to sites with lots of information on their husbandry. If any of your questions are still unanswered, post them and we'll do our best to answer them.

http://users.vianet.ca/~sully/bluet.html

http://members.shaw.ca/cloose/

http://bluetongueskinks.net/blue.htm
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Edward
Carpe diem

Thanks for the links. One of them I have already read. I still have a few questions unanswered...

1. Are babies easily handled? Do they become tamer if you raise it as a baby to adulthood?

2. Are they nocturnal or dirunal?

3. From the reading it seems sexing is impossible until they are fully developed adults. So if I get two, I won't know the gender until mature. Also it seems rasing babies together is okay...but as adults they seem best kept alone in about a 40 gallon tank. What about 2 in a 150-gallon fishy tank (obviously with no water or fish.)?

4. I also read about the different species and I like the Common/Eastern and the Northern. The Nothern is the tamer of the two right? Both about the same size it seems. Exactly how long are the babies? How much do adults weight?

I am still considering between the blue tongue skink and the red-eye crocodile skink, but am afraid of how fragile the later might be.
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~ Juli ~
www.Polliwog-Design.com

>>1. Are babies easily handled? Do they become tamer if you raise it as a baby to adulthood?
The more you handle them, the tamer they get. And they are not hard to handle if done properly. Naturally, as babies they are skittish initially, but regular handling gets them used to it in a short time. So, yes, it is a better idea to start with CAPTIVE-BRED babies.
>>2. Are they nocturnal or dirunal?
Definitely diurnal.
>>3. From the reading it seems sexing is impossible until they are fully developed adults. So if I get two, I won't know the gender until mature. Also it seems rasing babies together is okay...but as adults they seem best kept alone in about a 40 gallon tank. What about 2 in a 150-gallon fishy tank (obviously with no water or fish.)?
Sexing is difficult at any age, nearly impossible when very young. Actually, babies can be nippy to each other, so I don't recommend it. In a large tank with plenty of hiding spots, two babies may tolerate each other. Floor space is what's important, so a 150-gallon tank may be okay, but pay more attention to floor area than height. Ultimately, though, depending on individual "personalities," two adults may not get along regardless of space.
>>4. I also read about the different species and I like the Common/Eastern and the Northern. The Nothern is the tamer of the two right? Both about the same size it seems. Exactly how long are the babies? How much do adults weight?
Of all the species/subspecies, Northerns are generally the tamest. In the US, they are also readily available. Babies are about 6 inches, and adults weigh 600-800 g, but there is a great range of deviation. By the way, Northerns and Easterns are two subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides.
>>I am still considering between the blue tongue skink and the red-eye crocodile skink, but am afraid of how fragile the later might be.
BTS are by far easier to keep than red-eye crocodile skinks and, if it's a factor for you, the latter are not handleable pets generally. They require humid setups and are nowhere as inquisitive as BTS. Also, there is a big size difference between the two species. Just some factors to consider.
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Edward
Carpe diem

Altogether I've looked after 8 eastern BTS (some as pets, some that I was looking after because they were injured or unwell) and I can honestly say that they are excellent pets! The ones I kept as pets were babies when I got them and they were shorter than the box I'm typing this in. Only one of the babies was a bit nippy and after about 3 days he didn't try again and didn't mind me cleaning his cage or holding food out for him to take out of my hand or holding him. I had them in inside enclosures but I took them outside to lay in the sun and they were quiet happy to bask while I was sitting near them. The ones I got as adults never tried to bite. All of them hissed at some time but overall they were very easily tamed and very friendly.