Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am interested in getting a juv. BTS. Just wondering the normal time of year for BTS babies and if you know of some decent breeders to compare prices.

Time of year? Well, if the parents are wild-caught adults, they have their young (live) during our winter months (their summer). If the young are from established breeding pairs here in the states, then anytime of the year - but mostly summer months.

The Australian BTS species are no longer imported (since the 80's), so if you want one of those (i.e.: Northern, Eastern, Centralian; Western), you will need to find a breeder to get an offspring.

You can get Irian Jayas, Indonesians (gigas), or Meraukes at almost any time of year, as they are still imported. Some gravid females come in and the young are sold too.

Prices for the imported varieties - generally $75-100 for small young (allowing for pet store prices). Older ones are $85-150.

For the non-imports, you can spend from $100 to $5,000.
If you don't set your sights on a shingleback or centralian, you can expect to pay on an average of $100-150 for a young northern or eastern. Naturally, the price goes up as they get older.

If you watch the ads here on KS, you should see offers for new baby northerns or easterns starting in early summer, and continuing through late summer. We are expecting some in May, and we know a couple of breeders who will have some too. We will have newborn IJ's sooner.

If you want an older juvenile, there are a few of those around as well - you just have to watch the ads.

When buying an CB northern or other BTS, the seller should be able to provide pictures of the parents. Just be careful - a lady recently posted in the skink forum that she got an IJ and the seller told her it was something else.

Oh - and if you want a TAME skink, make sure they have been handled by the breeder.

Morgana