Can I Take Care Of A Blue-Tongued Skink?

Do you have small children that may come in contact with this animal?

Can you provide a large (40- to 55-gallon) glass tank with a secure lid?

Can you maintain a temperature of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and provide a basking spot of 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the enclosure?

Can you provide an incandescent basking light and a full spectrum UVA/UVB light for 10 to 12 hours per day?

Can you provide a varied diet that consists of about 60 percent vegetable/fruits and 40 percent meat items?

Do you have an exotics veterinarian that specializes in reptilians?

Despite their generally docile nature, blue-tongued skinks will bite if they feel threatened. They have strong jaws and teeth, and a bite from a skink can be quite painful. Try to avoid provoking or startling them, and don't let small children interact with a skink without proper supervision.

Blue-tongued skinks require a large enclosure, such as a 40- to 55-gallon tank, with a secure lid. Since blue-tongued skinks are ground dwellers with a flattened and elongated body, the tank does not need to be very high, but the ground level should be as large and wide as possible. The enclosure should also have a couple of sturdy hiding spots since blue-tongued skinks like to burrow and hide.

Since blue-tongued skinks are native to Australia, the temperature in their enclosure should be warm with a thermal gradient of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and a basking spot of 95 degrees Fahrenheit should be provided. A combination of under-tank heating and a basking light on one side of the tank works well. Ensure the appropriate temperature gradient is provided by measuring temperatures in various spots around the tank, not just one. Nighttime temperatures can drop to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition to the incandescent basking light, a full spectrum UVA/UVB light should be provided for 10 to 12 hours per day.? UVA/UVB light bulb will have specific instructions on how far away to keep it from your skink but typically it is about 10 to 12 inches.

Skinks are true omnivores so they should eat a varied and nutritious diet. A calcium/vitamin D supplement should be added to the food regularly to help prevent metabolic bone disease. Owners should strive for a balance of about 60 percent vegetable/fruits and 40 percent meat items.

You can take care of a blue-tongued skink!

Before you purchase your blue-tongued skink, be sure there's a veterinarian in your area who specializes in exotic pets such as lizards. The most common health problem among skinks (as well as other reptiles) in captivity is a metabolic bone disease. This condition occurs when the animal's phosphorous-to-calcium ratio is out of balance and is usually due to poor UV lighting and sometimes poor diet. Skinks can also suffer from vitamin A deficiency. A supplement can help prevent this from becoming serious.