Are blue tongue skinks easy to take care of?
Are blue tongue skinks easy to take care of?
Blue-Tongued Skink Health. Blue-tongued skinks as a whole are a relatively hardy, easy-to-care for lizard. Since they live in a completely different environment than humans and other mammals, keeping them as healthy pets requires close observation, proper hygiene, and devotion.
Do blue tongue skinks like to be held?
They’re generally happy to be handled. Blue tongues tend to be gentle, intelligent, inquisitive, easily tamed lizards that often like to be handled. Many even enjoy being petted or having their heads scratched. Children should be supervised when handling them, as the reptiles can become startled and jump.
How do you take care of a blue tongue skink?
Adult blue-tongued skinks should be fed every two to three days. Young blue-tongues do best when fed every other day. Feed them as much as they will eat in one sitting. After your skink has stopped eating, uneaten food should be removed immediately.
Do blue tongue skinks need a heat lamp?
Blue tongued skinks also require UVB lighting to thrive and be healthy. Using a Zilla Heat & UVB Basking Fixture with a Zilla 50W Mini Halogen bulb and a Zilla Desert Series 50 UVB Bulb will provide the correct heat and UVB needed for your blue tongue skink to thrive.
Does a blue tongue skink bite hurt?
Due to their size and the crushing power of their jaws, yes, it does hurt when Blue Tongue Skinks bite. Their jaws aren’t designed to slice and tear, so they rarely break the skin much with a bite. However, they are designed to crush up food items such as snail shells, so they’re very strong!
Are skinks high maintenance?
Due to being low-maintenance lizards and easy to care for, they are considered to be good pets for both children and beginners. Skinks are native to Australia and got their name from their distinct blue tongues.
Do blue-tongue lizards get lonely?
They live alone for most of the year Blue-tongue lizards are known as solitary creatures, and only hang out in pairs for the few months when it’s time to make little blue-tongue babies.
How do I know if my skink is happy?
If you’re not sure whether your skink likes being held, check its breathing, movements, and tongue flicks. A happy skink will breathe calmly and have smooth inquisitive movements. If you notice heavy breathing or any rapid movements and tongue flicks, you should put the animal back in its enclosure.
How often should I handle my blue tongue skink?
It should not be handled until it is comfortable in its new environment. Once your new skink is eating regularly, then handling can begin. Initial handling sessions should be limited to ten minutes or less per session. This can be done a couple times each day during the acclimation process.
How often should I mist my blue tongue skink?
Misting the enclosure once a day will usually provide enough moisture for your blue tongue, but a nice humidity gauge can help you in this area.
What do skinks need in their tank?
Damp substrate should keep the tank humid, but you also need to provide your skink with a water bowl. Get a shallow water bowl for the tank big enough for your skink to lie down in. Give your skink plenty of space to dig and hide. Skinks will get bored or anxious if they don’t have hiding spaces in their tank.
Can I bathe my blue tongue skink?
Provide a large, shallow, and sturdy water dish inside—skinks like to bathe in their water but also often defecate there, so frequent cleaning will be required. Blue-tongued skinks don’t need branches for climbing since they are strictly ground dwellers.
How much does a blue tongue skink cost?
$150–$5,000 Since Blue Tongue Skinks aren’t the most popular pet, you might have to go to a breeder anyways. This is especially true if you want a rare morph. For example, some of the cheaper Blue Tongue Skinks can cost as little as $150. However, rarer Skinks can cost up to $5,000.
Which is better bearded dragon or blue tongue skink?
Verdict: Both blue tongue skink and bearded dragon are friendly pet lizards. Blue tongue skinks tend to be more intelligent and even recognize the owner, while bearded dragons tend to be friendly even with strangers. Also, blue tongues tend to be more laid back, while bearded dragons – more active.
Do blue tongue lizards get lonely?
How do you bond with a skink?
One of the best ways to bond with your blue tongue skink is spending time together. Let your blue tongue skink sit with you, and handle it frequently after the first 2-3 weeks of acclimatization.
What do blue tongue lizards need in their enclosure?
The enclosure can be furnished with a low basking log (blue-tongues are not great climbers) or rock, background, artificial plants and a water and feed dish. An absorbent substrate is also important such as coconut fibre or artificial grass repti-mat.
Do blue tongue skinks like baths?
What is the best bedding for a skink?
Aspen wood bedding is one of the best choices for any species of blue tongue skinks. It’s light, absorbs the waste and smell, and is perfect for burrowing. It also helps create a naturalistic terrarium. Your skink’s waste will be absorbed, and you will need to clean the clumps with a scoop like this.