Blue-tongued skinks are known for their unique blue tongues, which they use as a defense mechanism to deter predators. They are also known for their docile and friendly nature, making them great pets for first-time reptile owners. They are relatively low maintenance and can be kept in a simple enclosure with a heat lamp and UVB light to provide them with the warmth and light they need. Blue-tongued skinks are also known for their intelligence and can be trained to do simple tricks such as coming when called or taking food from their owners.
They are also known to be quite social and can be kept with other skinks or even other friendly species. Overall, blue-tongued skinks are great pets for those looking for a unique and gentle companion.
Blue-tongued skinks are known for their unique blue tongues, which they use as a defense mechanism to deter predators. This is because in the wild, they are found in the warm, sandy areas or grassy, savannah-like regions of Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia. They will often dig a burrow with their snouts or legs, or find an abandoned one to live in.
They look very much like snakes with stubby legs, and their blue tongue is a way to pretend to be something a little scarier to the predators, like a snake. They also have a parietal eye, a light sensing organ on the top of their head that can tell when a shadow passes over and sense the presence of a predator. Blue-tongued skinks are known for their docile and friendly nature, making them great pets for first-time reptile owners.
Why the Blue Tongue?
The blue-tongued skink is a unique and fascinating creature known for its bright blue tongue which it uses as a defense mechanism to deter predators. This is because in the wild, they are found in the warm, sandy areas or grassy, savannah-like regions of Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia.
They look very much like snakes with stubby legs, and their blue tongue is a way to pretend to be something a little scarier to the predators, like a snake. Blue-tongued skinks are known for their docile and friendly nature, making them great pets for first-time reptile owners. They have the ability to lose their tails and regrow them, a defense mechanism against predators.
They are also ovoviviparous, which means the eggs are carried and hatched inside the female, then the live offspring are birthed, this is an efficient way to give birth to their offspring and eliminate waste. They give the illusion of looking slimy, but their scales feel like a human's fingernails, as they are made out of the same material, keratin.
What Do Blue-tongued Skinks Eat?
Blue-tongued skinks are known for their unique blue tongues, which they use as a defense mechanism to deter predators. They are also known for their docile and friendly nature, making them great pets for first-time reptile owners.
They are omnivorous, so they eat a variety of foods including vegetables and meat. In captivity, they are often fed a diet of salads, insects like crickets, and specially formulated food such as Reptilink which is a mix of vegetables and meat. Blue-tongued skinks can live up to 20 years or longer in captivity and can be kept as pets.
They are also used in educational programs at zoos like the Elmwood Park Zoo where they are used to educate the public about pet care, research on their habitat and other related topics.
Do They Make Good Pets?
Blue-tongued skinks are unique and fascinating creatures that can make great pets, but they are not suitable for first-time pet owners. According to Nagele, they have specific lighting and heating requirements and need a large terrarium to live in, as they can grow to 2 feet long.
They also require UV lighting to help them metabolize calcium and prevent metabolic bone disease. They have to be kept in a very large terrarium. In terms of temperament, blue-tongued skinks are known to be friendly and easy-going. They have unique personalities and can be trained to do simple tricks such as coming when called or taking food from their owners.
They are also known to be quite social and can be kept with other skinks or even other friendly species. They are a real joy to work with and have a certain intelligence to them.
