New here and questions on sexing set up diet and more

[xkillmeowx]

Hello everyone I’m new here and I have just purchased my first blue tongue skink! I was wondering if anyone had some advice on pretty much everything! I have a lot of questions that I have seen mixed responses on. I will list questions I am curious about and I hope you can help. Thank you
-kill meow

1. What heat source is best? (Lamps, heat mats, heat rocks, etc.)
2. What age is it easiest to sex a blue tongue skink?
3. What is the best feeding schedule? (Proteins x amount of times per week veggies x amount, or all for every feeding)
4. What substrate is best to use?
5. Is there anything I should look for in the first bit of time to be sure he (I think) is healthy?
Again thank you for your time!

[splashy07]

Before I answer all questions I need to know what type of BT you have. Different locales have different requirements. As far as lighting, overhead lighting on one side is best. If temps do not go below 65 degrees give or take you will not need nighttime heat. Just be sure he does not eat for at least three hours before lights out. The age of your skink would determine feeding schedule, more frequent for the juveniles (under one year). A good grade dog food mixed with vegetables (experiment to see what he eats readily) is a fine staple. You can also refer to the feeding chart on this forum.
Could you post a picture or tell us what kind you have?

[mb606587]

1. I would recommend lamps with incandescent bulbs. I would not recommend heat mats as your only source of heat and definitely do not recommend heat rocks. What I do recommend highly is a flat rock directly under your heat lamp, which should be on the end of either side of your enclosure. You can pick these up for a few bucks from your garden section at most hardware stores. Use an infrared heat gun (which you can pick up reasonably priced at Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) and make sure the temperature on your rock is between 100 and 110 degrees. Adjust your light bulbs accordingly to ensure this. Just make sure that the temperatures on the other side of the enclosure stay in the 70-80 degree range.

2. There is no age that sexing a BTS is easy at. If you don't intend to breed your skink, then you shouldn't really worry about it. Despite what people may tell you, there is no method to determine complete accuracy by merely visually examining it.

3. app.php/page/food-chart

Sprinkle your skink's food with calcium w/ d3 powder and reptile multivitamin once a week, especially if you are not providing uvb light, which has not been proven to be necessary but many still utilize it.

4. Your species of Blue Tongue will dictate which substrate is appropriate. Indonesian species need a higher humidity so DO NOT use an aspen bedding for these guys. You can't go wrong with good old fashioned ORGANIC potting soil or garden soil for pretty much any BTS. Make sure it does not have any of the additives, color dyes, or insecticides that some tend to have. Spaghnum moss is great to throw in there also as it holds humidity well and they love to burrow into it. Cypress mulch, eco earth, and zoo med forest floor are also excellent choice for any BTS. If you have an Indonesian species, mist your enclosure and keep the humidity over 60% as a good baseline. If you have an Australian Northern, they don't need it quite that high. I'd say a good baseline is 40%-50%. They can handle a higher humidity but avoid overspraying and sending the humidity super high like you can do with an Indonesian. Do not use a walnut or cedar bedding for any BTS. Make sure your substrate is deep enough that they can burrow into it completely.

5. Many skinks will not eat the first week or so that you have them. Some will on the first day. Its not a big deal if they will not eat right away but if your skink is not eating for a few weeks, a vet visit might be necessary to rule out common parasites and illnesses. Most Indonesian skinks are imports. If you buy your skink from a pet store, pay less than $350, or buy him from a vendor at an expo, who is not reputable or is unsure what kind of skink it is, its almost certainly an import. Become familiar with the visual differences in various types of BTS. Imported skinks commonly have parasites and all types of nasty diseases. It would be a good idea to have it checked out by a good reptile vet to rule these out or get the antibiotics it will require. Avoid overhandling your skink the first few days so as not to stress it out. Especially important for the imported skinks who may already be in fragile health. Lastly read these forums religiously. All of this information and more can be found here. Never stop reading and researching.

[xkillmeowx]

Thank you for your replies they were very helpful. I posted some pictures of my BT

[mb606587]

You have a Merauke Blue Tongue Skink. Tiliqua gigas evanescens. I would refer to the care sheet on this site. I have added the link below for you.

viewtopic.php?f=74&t=29529