Is my BTS a true "Northern"?

[donkeybuff]

I would say NorthernxIJ or IJ. It doesn't matter as long as you're not planning to breed him.

As long as the babies are correctly labeled I don't see why not.

It's inevitable that someone down the line would label them as pure instead of mixed. No matter how responsible you are about labeling your skinks, you really have no control of what happens to them after they are sold.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

I would say NorthernxIJ or IJ. It doesn't matter as long as you're not planning to breed him.

As long as the babies are correctly labeled I don't see why not.

It's inevitable that someone down the line would label them as pure instead of mixed. No matter how responsible you are about labeling your skinks, you really have no control of what happens to them after they are sold.

Inevitable? I think not.
People tend to call their skinks what ever the seller labeled them as. That's why so many people come here saying that they bought what was label as an Indonesian but it was a Merauke, etc. An example would be Phaemas and her "Canadian Eastern" that ended up being an IJ.
Does that mean that everyone is going to call their skinks whatever they were labeled as? No. But, you cannot know for sure.

[Jeff]

I tend to agree with the donkey on this one. Eventually, someone is going to forget (either intentionally or accidentally) that their skink is a hybrid. I'm not saying it's the end of the world, just that I would recommend against breeding a skink with questionable genetics.

[Dakota]

I don't know, I just still can't see any Northern in this at all.. Looks nothing like the few mixes of the two I have seen.

[Jeff]

I'm not even commenting on the genetics of this particular skink. Just recommending against breeding anything you are sure of.

[Dakota]

I think it has a lot of scincoides "look" in him, but that is variable from IJ to IJ.. more have it than others.

[Scincoides]

Hyrids seem to be extremely variable, with the only thing in common being that they usually look more like IJs. This looks like a hybrid to me. The forelegs and the sides really look odd to. I wouldnt say for a second that im sure, or even that ive seen all that many hybrids, but that is absolutely my guess.

[Richard.C]

Prob with hybrids is some dont look it where others you can clearly see it

I wouldnt even trust a petshop if they said it was cbb

The fact they said it was a northern in the first place kind of loses any trust,lol

This could be a hybrid,bit also could very well be an ij,it doesnt show anything to prove either,hence why i lean to ij,but honestly who really knows

Neat looking bluey though

[Scincoides]

Yeah i forgot to add that, GREAT LOOKING SKINK. Congrats

[Dakota]

Yeah, hybrid or not, still very beautiful.. and will not make it any less of a good pet regardless.

Contact the seller and ask for parent photo- if not, I would be inclined that this is a WC skink.. but that isn't 100% the case all the time.

[Dood]

If he is already pretty tame then I doubt he is a wild caught.

Wild caught skinks can have parasites and generally have a more skittish temperament.

He certainly looks robust and not wormy but if you are worried then a course of de-wormer will clear anything out.

(Actually captive breds can have parasites (worms mites ticks) as well but usually their owners have dewormed the parents so its less common)

[Coomassie]

I never really understood why people get caught up in what kind of skink. What you have there is an absolutely beautiful pet BTS. If you have no interest in breeding, it is kind of irrelevant. There is really no way to know for sure what you have and like Jeff, I'm going to refrain from weighing in on it. I wish you many happy years with your buddy.

[Richard.C]

Not getting caught up,op asked if it was a northern,so seemed interested in what it actually might be not just answers saying nope

Some of my wildcaughts are some of my tamest and have never seen a vet

[Dakota]

Same with me I have 2 CBB (captive born and bred) BTS, 2 possible CB (captive born from fresh WC mothers) BTS, and the rest are all WC. I see no difference between the two, while they each have different personalities. Only time I took mine to the vet was when Hunter had the major toe problems when I got him.. all poops are just fine, and no sign of a parasitic infestation.. though the vet prescribed panacur for all my skinks just in case without an examination.

[Richard.C]

If there in good care,not stressed they can live fine without needing a vet,prob is alot are in poorshape from the start,but even then,with tlc they can come good

[Dood]

adult probable wild caught just means it may take a while to settle

adding stress to an already stressed animal,especially a likely wildcaught or baby from a wild caught is likely to lead to dissapointment,its even alot to bare for an established captive born and bred

theres a good chance its wild caught,but even the odd captive bred can bite randomly

Wild caughts often go through the stress of being collected,then held haphazardly in country they are collected in until suitable numbers are collected to fill orders to ship over seas,often being kept not fully correctly until someone may buy it,this can be months or even over a year

With stress comes parasite buildups and bacterial infections ect,though some go through the process quite well,alot dont,unless put into great care asap

Also alot of pet store blueys are wild caught imports and the babies of gravid wildcaughts,hence a bit fiesty

If he IS WC, the only thing to worry about is disease/parasite, but it is not uncommon for CB/CBB to have them also..

Though WC can be defensive, CBB can be, also.. if not held often. So, you are pulling the trigger on that, also.. The main reason people want CBB, is the decrease of disease/parasite, any other health concern

[Dakota]

I don't understand why you quoted them? Yes they go through stress, but not all them are mean and aggressive like people think. It depends on the skink.. and judging that he is nice should not be a way to determine if he is WC or not.

[Richard.C]

Ive got a few cbb ones that are hellraisers,does that make them wildcaughts?

Ive got a few very tame wildcaughts does that make them captive born and bred?

Im lost on your points dood?

[mzelinger]

I will definitely not be breeding. Thanks everyone for the expertise and answers!!!

[Jeff]

WC means different things for different species. Most WC Keis seem to be killing machines. On the other hand, most WC meraukes make great pets (as long as they don't have any health issues). Quoting Peoria out of context doesn't really help anyone.