• Tank – 40-75 Gallon
• Substrate – 36qt+
• Digital Thermometer
• Heat Lamp and Bulb
• UVB Lighting – linear tube or combined with heating in a
mercury vapor bulb
• Shallow Dish for Vegetables
• Ceramic Bowl for Insects
• 2 Hides
• Basking Perch – large
branch, rock or a combination
of décor items to allow the
skink to get closer to its
basking light
• Calcium SupplementBlue-tongued skinks will reach 18-24 inches within their first year of life. Juveniles are best started in a 40 gallon terrarium, and then moved into at least a 75 gallon for adults. They prefer a lot of floor space to explore, rather than height.
Substrate should be moisture retentive, loose, and be 3-4 inches deep to allow for digging. Coconut fiber, Sphagnum Moss, and leaf litter work as a great blend for these reptiles. Other options includes, forest floor, biodude terra firma, reptisoil, and jungle mix.
A basking spot of 90-95 degrees should be established in the enclosure. There should also be a cool side of 75-80 degrees.
Humidity requirements vary depending on which species you obtain, but generally 50-60% is preferred.
While these lizards may have a large appetite, it is important not to overfeed your skink. They can eat a variety of live insects (see feeder brochure). It is also important to provide fresh vegetables daily to your skink.
Blue-tongued Skinks prefer hiding under bark, logs, and leaf litter rather than climbing on branches. Some artificial foliage can also go a long way in providing attractive cover for your lizard.
Blue Tongue Skink
There are actually several species and subspecies of blue-tongued skinks, including the Northern, Western, Eastern, Merauke, Tanimbar, Irian Jaya, Centralian, Indonesian, Shingleback, Kei Island, Blotched, and Pygmy. These skinks are widespread in many different habitats throughout Australia and Indonesia and may inhabit tropical or desert habitats depending on the species. These large, slow moving lizards are true omnivores, and will eat a wide variety of plant and animal matter in the wild. Their flat, blunt teeth are adapted to crushing snails, a favorite food item. However, they may also feed on eggs, insects, flowers, fruits, vegetation, berries, and small vertebrates. These lizards are often fossorial in nature, meaning that they will dig and bury themselves beneath the ground layer. When exposed and threatened, they will puff up and inflate their bodies and display their vibrant tongues to appear larger and more threatening. If their bluff fails, they may also drop their tail to escape danger.
Size: 18-24 inches
Lifespan: 15-30 years
Diet: Omnivorous
Activity: Diurnal