Western
New York Herpetological Society
www.wnyherp.org
©
2001 - 2003 by Western New York Herpetological Society
This
document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of
information. New information is being developed daily. It is recommended that a
concerted effort be made to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the animals of
interest.
Common
Name:
Blue-Tongue Skink
Latin
name:
Tiliqua spp.
Native
to:
Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania
Size:
Can be anywhere from seven to 24 inches in length
depending on specific species. Please see below for more information.
Life
span:
Most specimens can reach ages of 20 years or more in
captivity
General
appearance:
All blue-tongue skinks tend to have a heavy build
with small legs and toes. They also exhibit the typical triangular blunt head
of most skins. All species get their name from a bright blue tongue in their
pink or red mouths. Specific differences among various species are found below:
T. adelaidensis
- Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink
- Typically found in Southern Australia and
Tasmania. This species will generally only reach lengths of seven inches or
less. They are a highly endangers species with an estimated wild population of
only 5,500. They vary in color from light grey to very dark brown with
irregular black spots along the back.
T. gigas
- New Guinea Blue Tongue Skink
- This species is generally grey or grey-brown with
narrow dark bands of irregular shape across the back. T. gigas is one of the largest species of blue-tongue skink and
can reach lengths of 24 inches. They can be found in Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea, Jobi, Admiralty Islands, New Britain and the Bismarck Archipelago. This
species is omnivorous and will feed on wildflowers, fruit, small animals and
insects.
T. gerrardii
- Australian Pink Tongued Skink
- Typically found in New South Wales, Eastern
Australia and is generally 15 to 18 inches in length. This species generally
nocturnal in the warmer weather and becomes diurnal in colder weather. Their
natural environment is generally wetter than most other species. It feeds
almost exclusively on snails and slugs. The classification of this species is
still being debated. The WNYHS uses ISIS as a standard for all scientific names
and it is still classified in Tiliqua at the time of this writing.
T. mustifaciata
- Central Blue-Tongued Skink
- Can be found in both desert and tropical
environments in North Territory, Queensland, South Australia and West
Australia. They will grow to 15 to 18 inches in length and will feed on
wildflowers, small animals and insects.
T. nigrolutea
- Blotched Blue Tongued Skink or Black and Yellow
Blue-Tongued Skink
-Generally found in Southern Australia and
Tasmania. This species is typically brownblack with a yellow colored irregular
spotted or striped pattern. One of the larger species it can reach sizes of 24
inches in length. Like most skinks this species is omnivorous. This species is
often crosses with T. scincoides in the
pet trade and the offspring are not sterile and still viable for breeding.
T. occipitalis
- Western Blue Tongued Skink
- This is a short tailed, compact species reaching
lengths of about 20 inches. They are generally reddish brown with lighter tan
cross banding and a tan belly. This species is also omnivorous and likes
various berries, spidersand other insects and arthropods. The Western Blue
Tongued Skink can generally be found in New South Wales, North Territory,
Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and West Australia.
T. rugosa
- Shingleback Skink
- Generally found in New South Wales, Queensland,
South Australia, Victoria and West Australia. They can reach sizes of up to 15
inches in length. They get their name from their large keeled scales. They are
generally brown-black in color with lighter bands across the back. Recent
research also suggests that this species is monogamous.
T. scincoides scincoides
- Common or Eastern Blue-Tongued Skink
- Can often be found in semidesert to agricultural
areas of most of eastern Australia and the upper third of the Northern
Territory, far northern Western Australia, and southeastern South Australia. They
can reach sizes of up to 24 inches in length but generally reach lengths of
only 18 inches. This species is generally tan with darker uniform or
semi-broken bands or blotches across the body that becomes more blotched on the
tail. Some specimens have a dark stripe from the back of the head to the eye.
Legs are usually grey and unmarked. The most distinguishable feature, and the
easiest way to separate this subspecies from the Northern, or Irian Jaya
localities, is the presence of thin dark stripes lengthwise along the body.
This species is also omnivorous feeding on small animals, insects and plant material.
This is one of the hardier and popular species found in the pet trade.
T. s. intermedia
- Northern Blue Tongued Skink
- This subspecies prefers tropical or savannah
woodlands of Northern Australia. Often considered the largest of the
blue-tongued skinks it can reach lengths of 24 to 27 inches. It generally as
uniform vertical bands which are usually chestnut colored, with orange shaded
off-centered markings on the sides. As with the Eastern, the legs are gray and
unmarked. Because of their gentler demeanor this subspecies generally makes for
the best choice f you want a handleable pet.
Housing
requirements:
Enclosure:
Most hatchlings can be kept in a 10-gallon aquarium.
Full sized adults should be kept in 40 to 55-gallon aquariums or similar
enclosures.
Temperature:
A temperature gradient of 75° – 85° F should be established
with a basking area of 90° – 95° F
during the day. Temperatures should not fall below 70° F at night.
Heat/Light:
Temperatures can be maintained with basking bulbs,
infrared heat bulbs, and ceramic emitters or under tank heaters and panels. Hot
rocks should never be used due to the high risk of burns that can be inflicted
on the animal from malfunctioning heat rocks. As with most diurnal species full
spectrum light is required. This can be achieved by using special fluorescent
bulbs or newer Active UV bulbs. Active UV bulbs also provide heat which may
allow you to not have to provide additional heat sources.
Substrate:
Wood shavings (avoid cedar or pine as these may cause
long term health issues), newspaper or indoor/outdoor carpeting can all be used
as substrates.
Environment:
Most species available in the pet trade are ground
dwellers and do not require many rocks or braches for climbing. A hide box
should be provided for the animal as well as a portion of the enclosure
maintained with slightly damp substrate such as sphagnum moss to provide a
humidity chamber to help with shedding.
Diet:
Most species are omnivorous (eating both plant and
animal matter). Generally a diet consisting of 60% plant and 40% animal will
provide a healthy mix for your animal. Frozen mixed vegetables, various greens,
small amounts of high quality dog food, crickets, mealworms, and thawed
prekilled frozen mice can all be fed to your skink. Fresh water should be
provided daily.
Maintenance:
The enclosure should be spot cleaned daily. A
thorough cleaning should be performed on a regular basis. A 5% bleach solution
is an excellent disinfectant. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the enclosure before
replacing the substrate and placing the lizard back in the enclosure
Other
references or recommended reading:
Loose,
Craig. “The Blue Tongue Pages.” Updated December 8, 2002. Retrieved March 7,
2003.
<http://members.shaw.ca/cloose/>
Kaplan,
Melissa. “Blue-Tongue Skinks.” 2000. Retrieved March 7, 2003.
<http://www.anapsid.org/bluetong.html>
“Blue-Tongue
Skinks.” Retrieved March 7, 2003.
<http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/5463/blueto1.html>
Weis,
Peter. “The Care of Blue-Tongued Skinks.” Retrieved March 7, 2003
<http://www.homestead.com/PSReptiles/BluetonguedSkinks~main.html>