BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I remember seeing one at a petstore a few years back and it was the cutest and silliest looking little lizard ever. I wasn't really interested in keeping lizards back then, but I've been enjoying my two so much I've considered getting some more!

I think most people I've seen keep them on sand. I'm assuming this is okay for these sinks, but I also know that sand is not a good substrate for other reptiles (like sand boas, leopard geckos, etc.) Does the sand put them at risk for impaction?

Does anyone know if these guys have to be kept in pairs or if a male/male pair or female/female pair will fight with each other?

I know they are insectivores, any idea how much/often they eat? They seem like active little buggers.

I'm also curious about enclosure size, temps., UVB, etc.

Im not sure that there are any documented cases that I'm aware of basic sand causing impaction in large reptiles. It is different for substrates such as calci sand, but certainly species that survive in sand in the wild, if attention is paid to not feeding on the substrate shouldn't be an issue. I recall others posting about their sandfish on this site, might require a little digging but I'm sure you'll find some old threads about them.

A friend of mine has some of these and I have been looking after them whilst he is away. He has 3 (I think) in a glass aquarium around 45cm x 30cm x 30cm or similar with deep sand around 15cm deep. Then a hot bright basking light at one end. This encourages them to come out and bask rather than using heat mats etc. To feed them you throw in a handful of mealworms now and then. There's probably more to it than that, but not much more!

Mark.

I do have some of these. A deep sand substrate (at least 5 inches) is essential to them. They really do "swim" through the sand. They like it very hot. My viv ranges from 110 F at one end to 85 F at the other and they are never found on the cool side. I have temperature gunned the skinks themselves basking under the heat lamp at 135F! I provide a high UV output bulb to mimic the desert sun. They obtain their necessary fluid from their food and do not drink. I make a depression in the sand at the cool end and pour water into in once a week so it percolates down to the lower level. This seems to help with their shedding. Other people describe putting a PVC tube upright into the sand and pouring water into it. They are not visible much of the time but very fun to watch when they suddenly pop up out of the sand. My kids love to watch the little "shark feeding frenzy" when a handful of mealworms is tossed into their enclosure.