Blue Tongue Skink Care Sheet

This care page for Northern Blue Tongue Skinks is designed to give the new potential owner a general idea of the basic care involved in keeping blue tongues.

Scientific Name *Tiliqua scincoides intermedia

Common Name *Northern Blue Tongue Skink

Natural Habitat *Savannah or arid grasslands in Northern Australia

Life Expectancy *commonly over 20 years

Caging Requirements *Newborn blue tongues can be kept singly in a 10 gallon aquarium for a short time. But since they grow amazingly fast it's best to go ahead and obtain a minimum of a 40 gallon aquarium so you don't have to upgrade once your blue tongue reaches full size of 18 to 20 inches.

Ambient Temperatures *Daytime= high 80's to mid 90's Nighttime= high 60's to low 70's

Basking Temperatures *100 to 110 degrees

Substrates *Aspen bedding is the prefered bedding for blue tongues since they enjoy the chance to burrow and hide. Also, aspen bedding is the only wood product bedding that isn't harmful to your skinks. You can also use newspaper, but you MUST provide a hide box for your blue tongue to feel secure.

Feeding Percentages *75% live/meat foods 25% plant foods

Live/Meat foods * High quality canned dog food, crickets, mealworms, pinky mice (for adults only). Make sure that if you use dog food that the protien level is low and don't use any foods that contain fish.

Plant foods *Collard greens, mustard greens, kale, dandelion greens, frozen thawed mixed vegetables....Avoid spinach and iceberg lettuce

Lighting *As with most reptiles, there has been little or no proof that UVB has any effect on reptiles. I personally use UV flourescent tubes for my blue tongues, but only because I always have extras from my bearded dragon enclosures. Try and take your blue tongue outside occasionally to get some sun, and you should be OK with using standard flourescent or incandescent bulbs as long as they get the warmth they need.

Don't forget your blue tongue shirts, hats, and more! CLICK HERE


	About Me \| News and Events \| Contact Me \| Babies and Supplies \| My Breeders \| Bearded Dragon Care Sheet \| Blue Tongue Skink Care Sheet \| Uromastyx Care Sheet \| Links \| Shirts, hats, and more \| Reptile Posters \| Breeder Index \| Caresheet Links Blue Tongue Skink Care Sheet This care page for Northern Blue Tongue Skinks is designed to give the new potential owner a general idea of the basic care involved in keeping blue tongues. Scientific Name Tiliqua scincoides intermedia Common Name Northern Blue Tongue Skink Natural Habitat Savannah or arid grasslands in Northern Australia Life Expectancy* commonly over 20 years Caging Requirements Newborn blue tongues can be kept singly in a 10 gallon aquarium for a short time. But since they grow amazingly fast it's best to go ahead and obtain a minimum of a 40 gallon aquarium so you don't have to upgrade once your blue tongue reaches full size of 18 to 20 inches. Ambient Temperatures Daytime= high 80's to mid 90's Nighttime= high 60's to low 70's Basking Temperatures 100 to 110 degrees Substrates Aspen bedding is the prefered bedding for blue tongues since they enjoy the chance to burrow and hide. Also, aspen bedding is the only wood product bedding that isn't harmful to your skinks. You can also use newspaper, but you MUST provide a hide box for your blue tongue to feel secure. Feeding Percentages 75% live/meat foods 25% plant foods Live/Meat foods * High quality canned dog food, crickets, mealworms, pinky mice (for adults only). Make sure that if you use dog food that the protien level is low and don't use any foods that contain fish. Plant foods Collard greens, mustard greens, kale, dandelion greens, frozen thawed mixed vegetables....Avoid spinach and iceberg lettuce Lighting* As with most reptiles, there has been little or no proof that UVB has any effect on reptiles. I personally use UV flourescent tubes for my blue tongues, but only because I always have extras from my bearded dragon enclosures. Try and take your blue tongue outside occasionally to get some sun, and you should be OK with using standard flourescent or incandescent bulbs as long as they get the warmth they need. Don't forget your blue tongue shirts, hats, and more!* CLICK HERE