Which BTS subspecies makes the best pet in Australia?

[Kimba]

G'day,

I have spent an hour enjoying reading through the threads on here and searching relevant topics. I hope my topic is okay to post here?

I live in Australia and am planning to get my first pet BTS later this year. I am keen for the perspective of the members on here with regard to the differences in temperament among the various BTS subspecies in Australia. Which subspecies of BTS make the best, most docile pets here in Australia, and which make the least docile pets?

I learned from reading threads on here that northerns are largely considered the most docile pets in America but not so much in Australia. What is the general temperament of northerns like in Australia? What about Shinglebacks? Easterns? Any other subspecies I should consider or know about?

Thanks in advance. xx

Kimberly

[Richard.C]

australias northerns are just like americas,what u have to remember is northerns are the only really readilly available species over there,easterns are about to but are way less common and the rest arent super common at all so northerns are mostly being compared to wild caught imported indos

being u are in victoria its would be hard to go past an eastern or a blotch,as both are found here.easterns as a rule are a calmer species,there a more timid species though ,blotchies can be equally as tame,but are a more outgoing species,and to me anyways seem to have alot more tude,in a good way though,if annoyed they will let you know,easterns will just sit there in comparison and half tolerate it

with northerns,and shingle backs,blotchies and eastern as well,all are very capable of excellet pet qualities,but in saying that,all are individuals and any can be fiesty to,but yeah,any of those 4 are great

[NickBrahz]

I would look at the above species excluding a Northern, being that for a Northern Bluie you need to have a class 2 licence instead of a basic licence(Maybe it is different and only needs a class 1 in Victoria im not sure you would have to check).
And pick one which you like to look at, remember that you will be see the fellow day to day so get one you find pleasing to see.

[Richard.C]

in victoria northerns are listed with easterns under scincoides,and a licence is not required to keep them,nor is it with blotched bluetongues,shinglebacks,western and centralian bluetongues,a licence is required to keep them

[NickBrahz]

Ah ok i knew in Vic they didn't need a licence for certain thing didn't know that included Northerens.

[Richard.C]

yeah being a subspecies of easterns,they dse have just labled both under scincoides

[alichamp]

i recently went through the same thinking. We have only had our baby alpine blotched a few weeks. I say in the end, aside from your preferences of temperament that others have answered in their posts, it comes down to a couple of main things.

(1) availability of BTS at the time you are looking and in your area will influence how easy/hard it might be for you to get one as well as the cost. Easterns give birth to larger numbers of babies, tend to be more available and least expensive, blotchies next at often double or so the cost of an Eastern and shinglebacks are hardest to come by. At least that's what it is like in our area. But each area can be different.

(2) I absolutely agree with Nick, you should get what you like the look of and are most interested in, balancing the cost/availability issue that you are happiest with. If you really want one that is harder to come by and are willing to spend the bigger cost then be prepared to wait for the right one!! (Whether you are after a baby or not)

[RoryBreaker]

As your name is Kimberly, there is really only one choice to be made here.

A Kimberley Northern

[Richard.C]

20150329_191417-1.jpg

these are kimberley northerns

[Kimba]

Oh wow, thank you so much for all of that fantastic information and excellent perspective, Richard, Nick and Alichamp...xo.

Richard, your insight especially is tremendously helpful and exactly what I was looking for.

And Rory...I can easily follow your logic, especially since the photo of the Kimberley Northerns look rather nice, lol!

What a seriously great forum this is.

[NickBrahz]

We are all here to help each other, feel free to ask a million questions if thats how many questions you have, no question is ever to common/basic to ask or to "silly" we don't bite (Hopefully your bluie won't either )

Heres a couple great threads with images of different spcies, just be mindful of where the poster is from as some are not avaliable in Aus.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28025
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22942

[alichamp]

And remember to let us know when you decide or get one! We love pictures too

[freeloader]

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Northern are the best hands down. They look good as babies and as adults. In vic you don't need a license for them, I know you don't need a licence for eastern and blotches, but northerns are the best.

[BlackTea13]

Which one is the best for handling do they sell northern in Victoria ?
Please help, I was recommended by a friend to get either a shingle,Eastern or blotched for handling and taming but now I hear northern?? Doh!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks so much. Ps. Feel free to private message me or email me

[Scotts1au]

in my biased opinion Alpine Blotchies win hands down. Easterns and Northerns have issues with humidity (raised tummy scales, shedding problems) if kept indoors and are far more prone to ailments including respiratory infections. Blotchies are also easier to feed on a wide variety of foods and less prone to being "picky". Lowland blotchies are slightly less robust but generally similar. That being said all scincoides are fairly bullet proof if kept indoors with access to heat 24/7 (apart from my nitpicking) - however if you plan on keeping outdoors and a relative beginner - forget scincoides. :-)

BTW I'm in Central Vic :-)

[BlackTea13]

in my biased opinion Alpine Blotchies win hands down. Easterns and Northerns have issues with humidity (raised tummy scales, shedding problems) if kept indoors and are far more prone to ailments including respiratory infections. Blotchies are also easier to feed on a wide variety of foods and less prone to being "picky". Lowland blotchies are slightly less robust but generally similar. That being said all scincoides are fairly bullet proof if kept indoors with access to heat 24/7 (apart from my nitpicking) - however if you plan on keeping outdoors and a relative beginner - forget scincoides. :-)

BTW I'm in Central Vic :-)

Hi Scott is scincoides term for skinks ?, thanks very much for all your info.
I was planning on having one outside but I'm fairly experienced with bearded dragons, if it counts which it prob doesn't

My uncle used to have a bluetongue out in the back yard in a guineapig enclosure it seemed to do well, is there any reason why they can't be kept outside? Also one of the books I am going to buy covers outside enclosure, what could I do to go from beginner to knowing a bit about this marvellous creatures? I might just get a tank inside, but I'm interested to know why you think I should forget about having them unless I misread, where in central vic are you can you send me a private message? I'd like to buy of you as I heard your the best breeder in Victoria.

Sorry if I seem like I'm questioning your knowledge I'm not , I'm just curious and really wanting to get a bluetongue.

[Scotts1au]

Easterns and Northerns are both of the species Tiliqua scincoides. Northerns are a sub subspecies from Tropical Northern Australia known as Tiliqua scincoides sp. intermedia, so both are T.scincoides.

Easterns don't do as well outdoors as blotchies in captivity, although they are common in Central Vic in the wild (in my yard as well). They need to find their exact habitat preferences -which are difficult to provide in an outdoor enclosure. They easily to succumb to ailments - mostly respiratory infections. Richard C. successfully keeps them outdoors, but has studied them for many years.

Indoors they are all good, for my 2 cents worth - blotchies only. My personal preference is blotchies because I find them more engaging and easier to care for.

Best breeder ?mmm one of a very few so I suppose that makes me one of the best

[BlackTea13]

Easterns and Northerns are both of the species Tiliqua scincoides. Northerns are a sub subspecies from Tropical Northern Australia known as Tiliqua scincoides sp. intermedia, so both are T.scincoides.

Easterns don't do as well outdoors as blotchies in captivity, although they are common in Central Vic in the wild (in my yard as well). They need to find their exact habitat preferences -which are difficult to provide in an outdoor enclosure. They easily to succumb to ailments - mostly respiratory infections. Richard C. successfully keeps them outdoors, but has studied them for many years.

Indoors they are all good, for my 2 cents worth - blotchies only. My personal preference is blotchies because I find them more engaging and easier to care for.

Best breeder ?mmm one of a very few so I suppose that makes me one of the best

I would like to buy of you do blotchies handle well?, as I previously mentioned I'm only new so don't know a thing about blue tongues, my experience is in bearded dragons, I'm still trying to decide between getting another dragon or a bluetongue , I want something that handles well and doesn't mind being stroked or patted , I know reptiles don't really like this but my beardies don't seem to mind, don't show symptoms of stress and I would like the same in a bluetongue something that licks me would be cool, yep I already have a dog lol but I love the feeling of reptiles lizards,snakes tasting to see if my skin is food, I always wash before and after handling any reptiles too so as not to make them sick if they do lick me. Are bluetongues easier to look after then a bearded dragon are they as affectionate?

Please help me with this strange queries .

[NickBrahz]

I own 2 Easterns and a Blotchie so hopefully i can offer an opinion between the two of those ones and stay unbiased.
What Scott said is true, they are little piggies and defiantly not picky eaters, as soon as i put the food bowl in my Blotchies enclosure it drops everything runs to it and chomps it down and does not stop until every last bit is gone.
My easterns also eat the food within a couple hours of putting it in there, they are not so gung ho about it as the Blotchie is, though they rarely miss a meal and they are slightly picky but not to much.
When it comes to handling i find that my Blotchie is gung ho wants to run around and if i take my eye of it, it will dive off my bed or my lap or couch to the floor to explore he prefers to do his own thing for the most part, he mainly only stays still if he is under my pillow where he likes to curl up to sleep.
My Eastern is a lot more calmer and will sit there and i can pat it for ages and it won't move much, it does explore but to a lesser extent and they don't dive off to the ground they look for a safe way down or they give up.
Now for which one is a better pet, thats personal opinion make sure you get one you also like the look off because you will be seeing it for the next 20 odd years or so, do your research into the different breeds and looks and make sure everything is set up and tested before you buy your little lizard

[BlackTea13]

I own 2 Easterns and a Blotchie so hopefully i can offer an opinion between the two of those ones and stay unbiased.
What Scott said is true, they are little piggies and defiantly not picky eaters, as soon as i put the food bowl in my Blotchies enclosure it drops everything runs to it and chomps it down and does not stop until every last bit is gone.
My easterns also eat the food within a couple hours of putting it in there, they are not so gung ho about it as the Blotchie is, though they rarely miss a meal and they are slightly picky but not to much.
When it comes to handling i find that my Blotchie is gung ho wants to run around and if i take my eye of it, it will dive off my bed or my lap or couch to the floor to explore he prefers to do his own thing for the most part, he mainly only stays still if he is under my pillow where he likes to curl up to sleep.
My Eastern is a lot more calmer and will sit there and i can pat it for ages and it won't move much, it does explore but to a lesser extent and they don't dive off to the ground they look for a safe way down or they give up.
Now for which one is a better pet, thats personal opinion make sure you get one you also like the look off because you will be seeing it for the next 20 odd years or so, do your research into the different breeds and looks and make sure everything is set up and tested before you buy your little lizard

Great advice, can you recommend any links or books or videos to watch that might help me find the right breed for a good handling pet maybe a poll lol also do you feel bluetongues are easier to handle and care for than beardies and cheaper?

I might even think about breeding them if theirs a interest, don't worry I'm useless competition lol
Thanks for all your help , both of you.