Questions about Silver/White BTS

[younggalaxy]

I have fallen in love with Silver/White coloured blue tongues.

It will be my first BTS so I figure I'd ask the right people.

I do have limited but valuable experience with pets - fat tail geckos, sand boa, ball python, fahaka puffer, black wolf fish, a few cichlids, and I guess a cat too.

I've got a couple of Q's for those who would be willing to share some knowledge.

1. I've seen pictures of Silver/Whites in both Northern and Tanimbars on this website. In both subspecies how much would they typically cost as a young male?

2. Anyone breeding these animals in Canada?

3. I prefer the look of Tanimbars, but also heard they were a bit tough. I love the idea of taming a BTS, but would love to have a chilled out pet at the end of the day. General thoughts from experience?

4. Heard from a few sources that a heat pad is not necessary because they burrow to escape from the heat? So should I use heat emitters instead?

I'm planning to start with a 20G long (30x12x12) as a baby, and if bought as a bigger animal there's a 40G (36x18x16) good to go. Is this 40G appropriate for Tanimbars long-term? I know it probably wouldn't be for Notherns? In the worst/best scenario I can sacrifice the space for a 90G (48x24x18).

Thank you in advance for your answers!

[Fatal_S]

Welcome. Where in Canada are you? I too fell in love with white/silver skinks

Right now there are only 4 Tanimbars I know of in Canada, and they're annoying me daily by refusing to make me some babies. Should I get babies this year, they will be available for sale, so cross your fingers there. If you live near the border I could teach you how to get a skink from the US, which opens up your options significantly.

White Northerns don't really exist much. There are a couple, but they're not being nice and breeding, and they're also not in Canada. You can get pale Northerns (Caramels or just naturally pale ones) but they're not really that white

To be honest your best bet for a silver skink in Canada might be a silver Merauke (or even a silver Indo if you could find one). They'd be wild-caught, but Meraukes are very tame naturally IMO. They're generally more of a tan color, but some are quite pale/silver.

IMO a Northern or Merauke would need the 48x24 as adults, but a Tanimbar could probably live in a 36x18 for life. I wouldn't go any smaller though.

You probably won't get a choice on gender, but in my experience males are more active, explorative, and somewhat more aggressive, while females are more laid back but like to hide. I like cuddling with my females, but my males are much more interesting in their tanks. However all skinks have their own personalities.

My Tanimbars were somewhat fiesty when young, but are amazingly sweet now. They do panic more than my other skinks, which is making it hard to get them to breed (every time one moves they both freak out and run around), but in particular my big silver female is my baby-girl, and a total sweety. The bigger they get, the calmer they get.

[younggalaxy]

Thank you for the amazing reply!

I am almost convinced that I am going to shoot for a Tanimbar, something about them is just special. You have 4! That's amazing. To be perfectly honest I come across a lot of Irian Jayas and they don't particularly appeal to me. Meraukes have long tails it seems and I think stubbier is definitely cuter. Is it just me or do Tanimbars have the most puppy dog-like faces?

How much did you pay for your Silver and Yellow Tanimbars if you don't mind sharing? I would be happy with a nicely coloured Yellow one if I can find one before a Silver phase. I would like to know what I'm getting into so please PM me the answer.

I will gladly get in line for your offspring if I haven't found one at a show or something. CB animals from breeders with knowledge is the best way to go of course!

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'm from Toronto. Nice to meet a fellow Canadian!

[Fatal_S]

I bought my CB Tanimbars from Andrew Seike. The silvers were $125 USD, the yellows were $350 USD. I also have a WC Tanimbar that belongs to another friend in the US, I can't remember what she paid for it, but WC Tanimbars are uncommon and more aggressive.

I love Tanimbars. I plan to have an entire mini-hoard of them in the future, from several different sources. Tanimbars are my favorite BTS, I love the aggression and sleek beauty. I was actually disappointed that my first two Tannies were so tame, I'd been hoping for devil-skinks.

Your only real option for a Tanimbar in Canada is to get one from the US. I'm pretty sure I have the only 4 Tanimbars in the country right now. Can't be sure of course, but there's been no sign of other Canadian tannies in the past 7 years. I do know someone who used to see Tanimbars for sale (WCs when they were more common), but probably because of the attitude problems they didn't make good pets for most people and disappeared in Canada. Thankfully there are breeders in the US So within the next few years hopefully I'll be able to get more Tannies and get babies. I have two pairs this year (WCxSilver and YellowxYellow), but again, they just scare each other. I'll definitely send you a PM if I get babies.

[Bird_Brain]

My Tanimbars are more docile than the northerns I had. Tanimbars are one of my favorite species. I can easily handle any of my 7 tannies.

[younggalaxy]

Thank ya'll for the answers, it's more appreciated than you'd think.

I definitely didn't know that a Yellow would cost more than the Silver, I guess you shouldn't assume. That seems like a really good price for a Silver Tanimbar, most Irian Jayas I see around are just below/above 200 CDN.

I'm going to have to shoot this Andrew guy an email, although I'm afraid that shipping across to Canada may be a crap shoot. Not long ago I was trying to get a Green Tree Python across, and the shipping would've costed me more than the animal itself.. I imagine a BTS is no different?
In any event are there any notable US Silver phase Tanimbar breeders other than Andrew Seike?

Fatal_S, I would love to see pictures of your Tanimbars and their set ups!

[Fatal_S]

Andrew can't ship across Canada. I live near the border, so I had him ship to a friend in the US, and I drove to pick them up. If you can drive to the US, I can tell you everything you'd need to know to bring them back via car.

Ray Gurgui also breeds silver Tanimbars for about the same price, but again he can't ship to Canada. It is easier to ship a BTS than a green tree python, but there's not many people able to do so. Again, it is quite easy to get them via car and bring them back yourself.

The silver tanimbars have been around in the US for a while, while the yellows almost disappeared at one point, so it's more rarity that accounts for the cost difference. Apparently there were once lots of colors (when they were all WC) including greens and reds. One day I really need to go explore the Tanimbar Island, I'd love to see them all.

[Zach]

Great responses! My TQ is still probably the most flighty of my 10 BTS, although Niko (white-ish northern) is a close second. My other two northerns are totally docile.

[Bird_Brain]

You just had to brag with posting a picture of TQ didnt you Zach! He is gorgeous! I need to get my little male out in natural light for a picture. He is very pale, too. He is a picture of him next to a female.

[Zach]

Love it...I think I've asked before, but is the left one related to TQ?

[Bird_Brain]

Possible. I got them "second hand" from a guy who originally purchased them from Ray. The female (on right) is also from Ray's bloodline. Being that it is so light, I wouldnt be surprised if they were related.