Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a skink yesterday after doing a little reserch and I just had to take this one home; he's missing nearly all of his toes on his front and back feet. I wanted to get him out of that environment.

He was being kept in a 10 gallon tank with another skink about 4 or so inches bigger than he was and he's nearly as long as my forearm and had a rather small water dish and what looked like a single heat and UVB lamp.

He's currently living in a 3 foot long tank with a water bowl big enough for him to crawl in and out of, cool and a basking sides with a hiding spot and something to climb (if the poor thing still can). I'm currently feeding him various juicy fruits that can squish in his mouth and leafy greens. I'll be getting crickets and/or meal worms every now and then.

Did the other skink bite them off? Will they grow back? Was it right for me to purchase him and get him away from there? (cost doesn't concern me, but I would like to know now if there anything special I need to do to keep him well)

I'm also curious about the fruits; should I avoid fruits withseeds like rasberries and black berries? Are there any fruits he can't/shouldn't eat?

Thank you in advance, it's much appreciated!

n/p
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Edward
Carpe diem

A blue-tongued skink.

Hmmm...northern? Eastern? I.J.? I believe he was suggesting that you be more specific rather than just BTS.

I really wish I could be more specific, that's all the tank said. His coloration is very light, kind of like a yellowish tan with tire-like stripes on his sides. From what I've read, i think he might be a Northern.

... as well as for everything you may ever want to know about BTS (and then some!) check out bluetongueskinks.net where you will find pictures of all the different species and subspecies.

To answer one of your questions, the toes will not grow back. For detailed diet and husbandry information, check out the caresheet at the website above.
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Edward
Carpe diem

For Identification look at www.bluetongueskinks.com (which has many caresheets and photographs) and Google Images(which will bring up several web site with pictures). If you can post a picture that wold help.

"Did the other skink bite them off? Will they grow back? Was it right for me to purchase him and get him away from there? (cost doesn't concern me, but I would like to know now if there anything special I need to do to keep him well) "

The animal was likely wild caught which would explain the missing toes, or it's also very possible that the other skink bit his feet. You should never house blue tongues together unless you reall know what you're doing, and pet stores rarely do. As far as whether it was right or not to purchase him, that's a very hard question to answer as from one point, you're getting animal out of a bad, and potentially deadly situation. But at the same time, by patronizing the pet store, you're giving them the money they need to just buy another who so the whole process can start over again.

I don't see that just becaus he is missing toes he is wc? If he was housed with other skinks, they most likey bit them off.

Definatley go to bluetongueskinks.net!
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