Guide to Blue Tongue Skink

Yo! How's it going on for you?

I've been tied up with things lately but I managed to keep up with blogging once a week. You'll be seeing more this week that's for sure. Well, if you haven't already know, I'm an animal lover. That includes reptiles (exotic animals). I've posted a few guides on Bearded Dragon and Sulcata Tortoise. If you haven't check it out, please do. This is my third guide on reptiles keeping and still running. 

Just so you know, the reptiles I chose to make a guides on are highly recommended for beginner or amateur reptile keepers/breeders. 

The blue tongued skinks are some of the largest members of the skink family also commonly known as the blue tongued lizards. But why the name? That is because of the prominent characteristic, the large blue tongue that is used as bluff warning to potential enemies. Fear not the snake like body and blue tongue because they can barely put a scratch on you as they are harmless and poisonous. Blue tongued skinks are commonly bred in captivity and sold as house pets.

There are various species and subspecies for the blue tongue skinks and they can be kept using these guidelines.

Blue Tongue Skink (Cover Photo)

The first thing to do in choosing your blue tongue skink is to observe the blue tongue skink's appearance, toe nails and health. You do not want to get a dying blue tongue skink as your first pet that's for sure. Secondly, make sure you choose the right seller by checking their company's background and customers' testimonial. Third, make sure you're ready.

A blue tongue skink has a life span of 15-20 years if well taken care of. They can grow up to 24 inches in length. They will consistently reward and surprise their keepers with their friendly and curious personalities. Also, they are very curious, which is a mark of intelligence.

Having an enclosure with the right environment for your blue tongued skink is essential. You can always use any resources possible to lower your expenditure on the enclosure but I always recommend Exo Terra. Below are the list of items needed to build a descent enclosure or as I like to call it Home for you blue tongued skink. 

1. Glass Aquarium (40-120 gallons) depending on the size of your bearded dragon. The bigger they get, the more space they need and they'll definitely be much happier :)
2. A heating and UVB/UVA bulb. Lightings should be turned on 8-12 hours a day. Do make sure you have a hotter side and an end with a cooler side so your skink could switch spots to regulate their temperature.
3. Substrate (floor bedding) such as paper, artificial grass mat, wood chips and more. 
4. Rocks/Stumps/Hides for them to hangout on while basking. They love having plenty of open space for them to run around. They might climb over stumps and rocks but make sure it is not too high so they won't fall. They are not agile climbers so no need for polystyrene walls, unlike bearded dragons. 
5. Water and Food Bowl.  Blue tongued skinks are not good swimmers, water bowls should be shallow so they can exit with ease.

Enclosure/Housing

Worry not about feeding them, nothing complicated. Blue tongued skinks are hardy lizards and will thrive just about any diet. To have a more active and healthier skink, a balanced diet is required. 

• Blue tongued skinks are omnivores
• 50% green, 40% meat for protein, 10% fruits
• Green vegetables such as Choy Sum and Sawi (Mustard greens)
• Canned super premium dog/cat food (strictly without bones), mealworms and superworms
• Fruits such as papayas, strawberries, carrots (I recommend slicing it into smaller pieces)

I use Exo Terra's Multi Vitamin / Calcium +D3 / Liquid Calcium

Do not forget to add vitamin/calcium supplement and Vitamin D3 into their food. Uneaten food should be removed once the skink is done eating.

If you wanna handle/play with your blue tongue skink, make it 20 minutes or less per session. You can play with it several times each day. Do make sure that you're holding your blue tongued skink close to the ground, sofa or bed just in case you accidentally drop the lizard. 

Do not handle your blue tongued skink by its tail and be sure to fully support your skink's body to help it feel secure. They love being scratched on the head and chin. 

Blue Tongued Skink's blue tongue.  Credit : Wikipedia

That's all you need to know. If you have any difficulties on this guide or require further information, you can always drop us a message on our Facebook or e-mail. Don't forget to check out our guides on Bearded Dragon and Sulcata Tortoise too! 

Oh, check out the latest video I did with my lil' brother Samuel about a tortoise's point of view. Do check out and subscribe to Nasty Happy's Youtube channel and also my lil brother's channel Short Adventures.

Share this guide to your friends! As always, thanks for supporting you awesome peeps! You guys are awesome. 

Don't forget, be nasty and stay happy! Cheers.