Please help new owner

[poopsy83]

I would like to purchase a 4 month old northern blue tongue skink. But I have a few concerns and questions.

1. I hear that they like low humidity. The tank will be in my basement where it's humid at times. After all its a basement. Is this ok?

2. Do they need handled on a daily basis? I ask because I have a new born baby,I work full time and go to school full time. But I would give fresh water, food, and spot clean everyday. I wouldn't be able to spend hours with the skink everyday.

3. What's the best way to prevent respiratory infections? My basement temps are 63. I'd have a ceramic heat emitter on at night.

I got food covered. Pedigree dog food, and frozen veggies. I know breeders that uses this and have great results. This is what I'll use.

[Rani-May]

Hi there

Firstly i wont comment on e first question simply because i do know too much about northerns.

2 - skinks do not need the attention like cats and dogs do, they spends majority of their time asleep and buried. However, i personally spend a couple hours every day with mine. but i do not think it is necessary, as long as they get some exercise of course

3 - I really don't think humidity should be above 50%, like i said, i don't know too much about northerns, but i dont think its a good idea to have any blueys in a moist environment. And heating is different for each type of bluey and location too, but for me personally, 63 is a good tempt for night time. daytime cool end around 68 and hot end/bask spot can be anywhere between 86-105. for me its on about 95. But id wait until others comment that know more specifically about northerns And if you keep the humidity and temps right along with cleaning the enclosure thoroughly and keeping it tidy and clean. It should be fine

So do you know all about how often to feed, calcium supplement with D3, what substrate you will using etc?

[poopsy83]

I wish I could spend hours with it everyday. It will be more like 30 min a day. I was told to feed everyday until 6 months then every other day until a year. Then once it twice a week when adult. I was going to supplement every feeding with calcium with D3, and a multivitamin. I was going to use aspen shavings.

[AnnaMonroe]

Poopsy83, supplementation with multivitamin should not be everyday. That puts the bluey at risk of a vitamin overdose which can be very harmful. Also, supplement the Calcium D3 every two-three feedings instead of everyday.

[poopsy83]

Oh boy! Ok. Then how much should I supplement with calcium and vitamins? For a 5 month old and an adult.

[poopsy83]

Like a good feeding/supplementation schedule

[AnnaMonroe]

Since my BTS is only a little over 2 months old, I wouldn't be able to provide the most accurate answer for you regarding older skinks.
A more experienced member of the site will definitely be able to help you out :]

[Rani-May]

while its a baby i'd supplement every couple days but only a tiny amount. When older supplement every 2nd meal maybe. everyone does it differently but thats what i do. But ive been told less amount, often is better. Just really dont over do it. a tiny pinch every couple or few days is fine. when its an adult, every second meal

[Richard.C]

Northerns can handle humidity,in your enclosure temps will be higher than back ground temp except the cool area,so they can choose what they want,some may brumate down cool end,some may stay active,if u want it to stay active make sure basking spot stays hot and try keeping twmps up over nite

Northerns are a tropical species,and are active in the wet season,probably safer not keeping them moist though,usually the cage heating lowers humidity anyways which they are also fine with

They dont need interaction,they will be just fine with out it,but some seem to like it no matter what,lol

Baby northerns can have supplements at every meal,no need to use heaps either,slow down as they approach adult size to maybe once or twice a week,depending on feeding schedule,also gravid females need alot of calcium for developing babies,so always good to go back to every meal then to keep females healthy

My asvice is dont panic,a northern should do fine in your conditions described,good luck

[Spindown]

Would you have some situation where you could not get a heat lamp for the tank? If so, then no, you should not get a bluey. If yes, than its not hard to get the basking temps where they should be. I'd recommend only using a POWDER calcium/D3 supplement. You can kill them with water soluable supplements, and they really dont need anything other than calcium and D3 if you are giving them a proper diet.

I'd ask yourself if you really want a pet that you are going to be too busy to spend too much time interacting with. They hide much of the day if they arent very socialized, and you will have a pretty cage that looks empty most of the time. There are some active skinks, but mine hid a lot before they were socialized. There are some great display animals out there, that look nice and dont like interaction...and are easier to care fore. I just dont want you to be another person on Craigslist that got a pet 2 weeks ago and are now selling it because you just didnt have the time. (I saw an ad for a baby skink today with that exact reason).