🧭 Introduction
Blue-Tongue Skinks (BTS) are one of the best pet lizards for beginners. They’re:
- Calm and hardy
- Easy to handle
- Relatively low-maintenance
- Famous for their bright blue tongue 🌀
But like any reptile, they need the right care to stay healthy and happy.
This guide covers everything you need to know as a first-time BTS owner, including:
- Ideal habitat setup
- Proper heating and lighting
- Feeding schedule
- Handling tips
📏 Enclosure Requirements
📦 Tank Size
- Juvenile: 20–40 gallons
- Adult: Minimum 40–55 gallons (horizontal space!)
- Ideal: 4 ft x 2 ft x 1.5 ft (120cm x 60cm x 45cm)
🧱 Enclosure Type
- Glass tanks
- PVC reptile enclosures (hold heat better)
- Front-opening is preferred for easy access
🧠 Blue-tongue skinks are ground-dwelling — they need more floor space, not height.
🌡️ Heating & Lighting
🔥 Temperature Zones
| Area | Day Temp | Night Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Basking Spot | 95–100°F (35–38°C) | — |
| Cool Side | 75–82°F (24–28°C) | 70–75°F (21–24°C) |
- Use ceramic heat emitter (CHE) or infrared heat bulb for warmth
- Add 2 digital thermometers (basking + cool end)
💡 UVB Light
- Essential for calcium absorption and bone health
- Use T5 HO 10.0 or Arcadia 12% UVB, cover 2/3 of tank length
- Replace UVB bulb every 6–12 months
🌵 Substrate & Humidity
✅ Best Substrates
- Cypress mulch
- Reptisoil + coco fiber mix
- Orchid bark
- Bioactive substrates (advanced)
Avoid: Sand, gravel, walnut shell, or anything dusty
💧 Humidity
- Keep humidity at 40–60%
- Indonesian & Irian Jaya skinks prefer higher (up to 70%)
- Mist occasionally + use a humid hide with damp sphagnum moss
🥗 Feeding Guide
Blue-tongue skinks are omnivores. Their diet should include:
- 🥩 Protein (40%)
- Lean cooked meat, canned dog food (high quality), insects
- 🥦 Veggies (50%)
- Collard greens, squash, green beans, carrots
- 🍓 Fruits (10%)
- Berries, mango, banana (treat only)
| Age | Feeding Frequency |
|---|---|
| Baby | Daily |
| Juvenile | Every 1–2 days |
| Adult | 3–4 times per week |
Always dust food with calcium powder 2–3x/week and multivitamin 1x/week
🤝 Handling Tips
- Wait 7–10 days after bringing home before handling
- Start with short 5-minute sessions near ground
- Support their entire body — don’t grab the tail!
- Never force interaction; let them crawl onto your hand
- Handle regularly to build trust
🧼 Cleaning & Maintenance
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Spot clean poop | Daily or as needed |
| Water bowl refill | Daily |
| Mist humid hide | Every 2–3 days |
| Full substrate change | Monthly (or bioactive: spot clean) |
| Deep clean decor | Monthly |
❓ FAQ: Common New Owner Questions
Q: Can blue-tongue skinks live together?
No. They’re solitary and may fight — house alone.
Q: Do they bite?
Rarely. When stressed or mishandled, they may open their mouth, hiss, or lunge.
Q: Can I use heat rocks?
Avoid! They can cause thermal burns. Use overhead heat instead.
🛒 Starter Kit Checklist
✅ 40–55 gal enclosure
✅ Heat lamp + thermostat
✅ UVB light (T5 HO)
✅ Cypress mulch or Reptisoil
✅ Food & water bowls
✅ Hides (cool + humid side)
✅ Digital thermometer/hygrometer
✅ Calcium powder + multivitamin