Care Sheet Information: | Blue Tongue Skink Care 101
What to look for in a healthy bluey:
Bright clear eyes
Alert
Nice clean mouth
No bubbles coming from mouth or nose
Where to buy from:
I bought my bluey at a local pet store. He had mouth rot and his eyes were closed shut with nasty gunk. I advise that you DON’T buy from a pet store. Buy from a online breeder or a local breeder that you know. Reptile expos are also a good place to find healthy blueys.
Feeding:
I feed my BTS three times a week.
Mustard greens
Collard greens
Dandelion greens
Kale
Swiss chard
Butternut squash
Sweet potato
Green beans
Frozen vegetables
Carrots
Broccoli
Kiwi
Bananas (my bluey LOVES these)
Strawberries
Melon
Red meat
Boiled eggs
Baby foods
Apples
Pears
Blackberries
The list goes on, but that is all I can think of at the moment.
Dusting/Calcium Supplements:
I dust my BTS food twice a week with calcium D3. I just sprinkle a small amount on, and he gobbles it down.
Handling:
You can handle your bluey as much as you want. Baby blueys may not like and want to be held as much. You can wear gloves if you don’t feel safe with your BTS. Make sure not hold your skink after he eats.
Cage Setup:
The smallest size cage for a bluey is a 40 gallon breeder tank. My skinker is in a 55 gallon tall glass tank. You will need a tight and secure lid. Blueys can be strong, and will try to get out if they are bored or just want to have time out of their cage.
Bedding:
I use aspen.You may use aspen, care fresh, reptile carpet, news paper, tile and ever plain paper towels. You can not use any type of mulch or any wooden substrate.
Water:
You should change your blueys water every day, you can go a few days longer with out changing it. I use spring fresh water from the bottle that you buy at the store. That is best.
As far as the water dish size goes. You have to have a large enough water dish so your skinker can soak some or all his body in. Keep the water dish at the cool end of the cage.
Basking Lights:
Blueys need UVB lighting. Without this, they can get MBD (a very serious bone problem) and get ill. For the wattage, it all depends on what size cage your skinker is in.
On warm sunny days, you can even take your BTS out side for a little while. They love to scurry through the long grass and bushes. Just make sure you keep a close eye on them, they are fast in the grass.
Basking Area:
For my skinker, I have a large flat rock I found outside. You can use a piece of slat or thick tile. They need this for belly warmth. Any size will do, just make sure it fits the size of your BTS. Put the basking stone/slat under the UVB light.
Hiding Places:
Your bluey will need at least two hides to hide in. Be careful, if a bluey feels scared, it may and will hiss at you. It may even try to lunge at you if you get to close when it in it’s fav spot. So watch out!
Shedding:
Bluey’s will shed at least once a month. Baby BTS shed more often. Each bluey is different. I mist down my skinks cage a lot when he is shedding or about to shed. You can tell when they are about shed because their stomachs will turn very pale white, and their color on their backs will get very dark. If their is still some shed stuck on after you bluey is done shedding, you can give him a luke warm bath. Let him soak for 30 minutes, or until the shed comes off. Don’t force the shed off either, you can hurt your blue tongue skink.
Over all:
Blue Tongue Skinks are wonderful reptiles to have and own. They can be very loving and love to cuddle. Their temper can be very calm if you hold them all the time and they get used to your scent. I wish the best of luck with your bluey!
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