Description:
Scientific name: Tiliqua gigas gigas
Life span: 18 to 20 years
When fully grown, blue-tongued skinks can measure 18 to 20 inches in length. They have relatively short legs, triangular heads, and long, robust bodies. The tail tapers to a point and is just marginally longer than the length of the body. Individual Indonesian blue-tongued skinks vary in color, but they are often gray or light brown with sporadic dark brown or black bands running down its back and tail. Their legs primarily have black surfaces with a few white flecks. Moreover, they have a blue tongue.
Native Region/Habitat
Australia, New Guinea, and the Indonesian islands are the native habitats of blue tongue skinks. The Tiliqua gigas and Tiliqua scincoides species from Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia make up the majority of the species kept as pets.
Behavior:
They are diurnal (active during the day), and at night they typically seek shelter to sleep. Skinks can release their tails like certain other lizard species can, despite the fact that they have very strong, solid tails. When necessary, this is employed as a defense mechanism.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
Terrarium Size: You require an enclosure that is at least 4’L x 2’W x 2’H in size and ideally greater to house one Traditional Indonesian blue tongue skink. Blue tongue skinks will happily occupy as much area as you can offer them since bigger is always better.
Choose an enclosure that opens from the front rather than the top for the most convenience. In order to fit all of the dirt you need for a practical bioactive setup, there should also be a substrate dam that is around 6″ high.
Heating: Blue tongue skinks are poikilothermic, like other reptiles, which means they require a range of temperatures in their habitat so they can adjust their body temperature as necessary. Heat places quicken their metabolism and support processes like mending and digesting. Cold environments decrease metabolism and encourage relaxation and energy-saving behaviors.
- Temperature variation of the traditional blue tongue skink of Indonesia:
- Temperature of the basking surface: 100–105°F
- 75-85°F on the cool side
Let the room cool down at night by turning off the heat, but don’t let the temperature fall below 70°F.
Humidity: Traditional Indonesian blue tongue skinks require a climate with a moderate amount of humidity, while they can tolerate brief periods of higher humidity. The ideal ambient humidity range is between 60 and 80 percent, with daytime levels falling and nighttime levels rising.
Feeding Your Classic Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink: Because they are omnivores, blue-tongued skinks require a nutritious diet that includes both animal and plant-based items. As they mature, blue tongue skinks’ food requirements alter, just like in humans. In contrast to humans, they require less food as they age rather than more:
- Infants (birth to three months): daily, 70–80% protein with 20–30% vegetables
- 3-5 times per week, 70-80% protein and 20-30% vegetables for infants (3 to 8 months).
- Subadults and adults (older than 8 months): 1-2 times per week, 50-60% protein plus 40-50% vegetables
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