Should I get a CB baby or a CB 18" adult bluey?

[marlinman]

I'm new to reptiles but I was an avid saltwater reefer so caring and feeding of pets is no problem. The clerk in the reptile store has been doing reptiles for 22 years so I'm not dealing with a kid. I'm getting a 36x18x18 terrarium so it doesn't matter which one I get. He's going to give me a complete setup with the either bluey for $350. I feel that's a fair deal for a reptile store. The store is owned by Ben Siegal and he has a website with a list of all the reptiles he has plus he has a you tube video showing his complete store. This place has lots of reptiles! So help out a newie with your thoughts. Should I get the baby or the adult? Oh he said the bluey's initially came from Southern Australia and both blueys are captive bred by the same individual.

[Nae]

Originally came from South Aus? Meaning that they are a South Aus species? As there hasnt been any legal exportation of Aus reptiles in quite some time...In fact I dont think there ever was.

I personally would go for a baby, just because they are adorable and I would love to watch one grow up, but it really doesnt matter - if an adult is friendly and has been well cared for, then there isnt really much different personality and behavior wise~

[Bird_Brain]

I personally would buy direct from a breeder. I honestly dont feel that his offer is a "deal".

Blue Tongue Skink from exerienced breeder - $200 shipped
40 gal breeder kritter keepers (come with screen top) - $100
Light fixture from Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart - $10
4 pack of light bulbs at same stores - $1
Bag of Cypress mulch from same stores again - $3
Water bowl - $10
Slate basking rock from Lowes, Home Depot, etc - $1

This will leave you with roughly $25 for decorations and hides.

I say skip the "deal" and support the breeders. You are lucky enough to live in a state that has one of the best blue tongue breeders in the US/World. I would never pass on owning one of his animals. Get a hold of Ray. He is THE man when it comes to BTS.
http://www.thunderbayherps.com/

[Jeff]

I'm really curious to know more about what type of skinks these are. Nothing from "southern Australia" is common in the U.S. I was under the impression that Ben Seigle dealt almost exclusively with imported BTS too. is there anyway to get pictures of the two animals in question before you decide?

[reaperreptiles]

Ben is a great guy but your right jeff, he deals in almost all imported animals. He probably got the blueys from a wholesaler or someone local who breeds them, i doubt he breeds them. My question is how is a 'northern' blue tongue skink from southern australia????

[James Wilson]

Ben also deals a lot with Northern BTS (intermedia). Ben has breeders that supply him baby Northerns every season, and I know he has some available right now. I think maybe either the original poster heard wrong, or the guy at Ben's shop made a mistake. Either way, Ben sells nice little Northerns, at a very competitive price. Unfortunately, he does deal with the imports as well.

[marlinman]

Wow, all kinds of confusion... I asked Joe again about where the BTS came from and he said it was in the northern and then he said that he could of come from an Island. Very confusing. I plan on seeing him in the next three days and I'm going to ask him to tell me the truth. If I knew where he came from maybe I could pick up what he eats and what kind of fruits they like. They were advertised as captive bred and they all come from the same breeder and that they are seasonal. Does that make sense? BTW the BTS is very shy and a finicky eater. He'll eat the worms but he's not big on the cat food or the fruits. Anybody here have any ideas to help me?

[marlinman]

Ben also deals a lot with Northern BTS (intermedia). Ben has breeders that supply him baby Northerns every season, and I know he has some available right now. I think maybe either the original poster heard wrong, or the guy at Ben's shop made a mistake. Either way, Ben sells nice little Northerns, at a very competitive price. Unfortunately, he does deal with the imports as well.

Thanks for this info!

[Nae]

An island in the North of Australia? Then it would have to be and Indonesian species, no? As Im fairly sure Northern BTS only live on the mainland... In which case it would of been wild caught, although I have noticed talk recently on the forum about some farms?? Im not sure about those though...

This is confusing...

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

You said that he could come from one or the other places so does that mean that one is an indo and one is a northern.

[marlinman]

After looking at pictures on the internet I'm convinced he's a northern.

[Hopeful_Herper]

I prefer buying adults personally, however it can be very rewarding raising a reptile to maturity and it is more work.

[Katrina]

For dealing with picky eaters - a bluey is generally only pick if it is very well fed. They aren't picky in the wild. Generally if you wait long enough and then offer a healthy meal they will readily accept.

If the bluey is older and very used to one diet it may be harder to switch to other foods than if it is younger and just picky. If it has been eating the same diet for years then you will need to switch it over slowly - offer mostly the food it is used to with a small amount of other healthy options mixed in and then gradually increase the amount of healthy foods. But from what I've seen, most very picky eaters are only picky because they are overfed. I just took in one skink that would only eat a handful of foods, or so the owner claimed. I offered healthy foods weekly when the other skinks were being fed and this incredibly picky eater has cleaned its plate almost every time.

As for shy - just time, patience and lack of stress will fix that!