What does a northern eat?

[marlinman]

I have a baby Northern and I want to know what do they particularly like to eat? He'll eat the worms and very little of the cat food or fruits I've cut up. Is there a particular brand of catfood? Which fruits would he like? Thanks for any help.

[Nae]

Check out the caresheet, theres a list of suitable veggies in there =D As for cat/dog foods, I believe any sort is ok as long as it isnt some cheap, dodgey brand, some that come to mind are Wellness, Pedigree, but Im sure that if you pop it into the search you'll find tonnes of different brands. Also, many people like to stick to beef/ Poultry flavours as seafoods can equal stinky poos

As for fruits you will find out what types are ok in the same section of the caresheet as the veggies, but these should be kept to a minimum - as treats =D

http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm <<< Caresheet.

Also remember to supplement with calcium~

Since hes new, it may take him some time to adjust and so he wont eat eat as much. Just give him time =D

[Jeff]

Babies eat very small amounts of food at a time because they have very small stomaches. They are not physically able to eat very much at a time. Because of that, you want to make sure what they do eat is nutritious. Canned dog food is probably the easiest way to get a fairly balanced diet into them. The vegetables, greens, and other things are all healthy to feed, but it may take a few weeks or a month before your skink eats enough that you can give him huge variety. If you offer a bunch of different things to a tiny baby, he will fill up on just the stuff he likes most and may not get well-rounded nutrition.

I generally stick with just dogfood supplemented with calcium w/ D3 powder for the first 5-6 weeks, then start to add mixed vegetables and greens.

[marlinman]

Babies eat very small amounts of food at a time because they have very small stomaches. They are not physically able to eat very much at a time. Because of that, you want to make sure what they do eat is nutritious. Canned dog food is probably the easiest way to get a fairly balanced diet into them. The vegetables, greens, and other things are all healthy to feed, but it may take a few weeks or a month before your skink eats enough that you can give him huge variety. If you offer a bunch of different things to a tiny baby, he will fill up on just the stuff he likes most and may not get well-rounded nutrition.

I generally stick with just dogfood supplemented with calcium w/ D3 powder for the first 5-6 weeks, then start to add mixed vegetables and greens.

My BTS is eating the cat food after all the worms are eaten and I leave the dish there. Fruits are tough I haven't found one he likes.

[Katrina]

My BTS is eating the cat food after all the worms are eaten and I leave the dish there. Fruits are tough I haven't found one he likes.

Fruit is NOT necessary - it is a treat only. No need to feed it. But as the baby gets older add in greens and veggies. Just chop them finely and mix them in well with the cat or dog food and they won't be able to pick them out.

But don't bother feeding fruit if he isn't fussed for it.

[marlinman]

My BTS is eating the cat food after all the worms are eaten and I leave the dish there. Fruits are tough I haven't found one he likes.

Fruit is NOT necessary - it is a treat only. No need to feed it. But as the baby gets older add in greens and veggies. Just chop them finely and mix them in well with the cat or dog food and they won't be able to pick them out.

But don't bother feeding fruit if he isn't fussed for it.

Thanks for the info. I've had him about 10 days and his appetite is improving. I still haven't given him/her a name I have been calling him Stinky but that's probably not a good name. Any Ideas?

[Nae]

Hmm...Do you have any current themes when it comes to naming pets? Or would you like to start one? They are always fun, I remember someone here had...different types of sushi, was it? And I used to name my bettas after Mexican foods

An English word you like but might sound better in another language? (Thats what Im doing for mine when I get him~)

Or you could just wait, something might hit you

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Munchkin, apollo, james, jose', monkey, lizard, tiliqua, katrina, patternson, oatmeal, penut, squiggy, squiggles, harry, hairy, scaley, jelly.

[Coomassie]

Post pictures! It will help us give name suggestions. My reptiles all have very different names. Coomassie (my BTS) is named after a dye, we named our crested geckos after different hops varieties (we are homebrewers), etc.

[reaperreptiles]

I like to name my animals after either food or movie characters. I named Toby (toblernone) because when i bought her she looked like the packaging on a toblerone candy car. Mr.Tubbins is named because....well he was VERY obese when i bought him. Beetlejuice because of her stripes, just popped into my head. My orange chameleon female is named peaches, my male trans chameleon is named ghost because when he is under the heat light you can see through his white skin. Whatever comes to you i guess, whether its there behavoirs or colors. good luck with a name!

[James Wilson]

In their natural environment Blue-tongued Skinks are opportunistic feeders. This is an adaptation that suits their omnivorous tastes perfectly, making it possible for them to eat almost anything that comes their way, or anything they happen to stumble onto. In the wild they are known to eat arthropods, snails, baby rodents, and other small animals. Blue-tongues also take advantage of the native fruits, berries, flowers, and grasses, readily consuming them when available. By not being specialized hunters with prey specific needs, Blue-tongued Skinks have gained an edge over their reptilian competition, which explains their strong presence in so many different Australian habitats, including urban backyards and gardens.

In captivity, I do my best to duplicate the blue-tongue's natural diet. If there were only one word that I could give as advice to a new blue-tongue owner, in regard to proper Blue-tongue nutrition, it would have to be variety. For the Blue-tongued Skink, variety is not only the spice of life; it is a way of life. My skinks relish my cooking, and I have devised a skink mix that makes up for the majority of their diet. This mix is easy to freeze and store in individual zip lock bags. I try to maintain a ratio of 50-60% animal matter to 40-50% Plant matter in their mix. I always try to include new ingredients, when making the mix, so that it is never exactly the same. I have listed some of the items that I frequently use in my mix below.

Animal Matter
Quality Canned Dog food (Nutro ground chicken, turkey, or beef formulas) work well), Premium canned cat (I usually use chicken flavored cat food), moistened monkey chow, ground turkey, dry premium dog or cat food (moistened), lean cuts of meat, boiled chicken, caned and dried moistened reptile diets, including Bearded Dragon diet, hard boiled eggs (sparingly).

Plant Matter
Chopped mustard, collard, beet, and turnip greens, dandelion greens and flowers, hibiscus flowers (take care that no pesticides or herbicides are present), chopped kale (sparingly), fresh, canned, and thawed frozen fruits, canned or frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, and green beans), grated squash, carrots, apples, and potatoes, moistened iguana diet, and cooked pasta

Supplemental Food Items
Most insects are taken readily by Blue-tongued skinks. If you are feeding insects, that you have collected, to your skink, it is important to make sure that there is no chance of them being contaminated with pesticides. You can purchase crickets at most pet stores, and they are available in bulk through a large number of mail order companies that advertise in reptile related magazines. Also available are mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), superworms (Zophobas atrauts), waxworms, and sometimes earthworms. Snails are relished with delight by most blue-tongues, but again, you should be certain that no pesticides are present. Rat-pups are great for skinks that are a bit thin and need to put on some weight, and young adult mice make an excellent weekly supplement for gravid females. I also like to offer my skinks an occasional fruit meal consisting of ripe strawberries, peaches, mangos, or canned fruit cocktail.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation
A quality calcium supplement with vitamin D3 is an important factor in maintaining most lizards, including Blue-tongued Skinks. Make sure it is phosphorous free, and do not over supplement. Sprinkle a small amount on the food every other feeding for babies and gravid females, and every third feeding for all other adults. If given a varied diet, blue-tongues will not need any other vitamin or mineral supplements.

[aggiegirl]

My female bluey came from someone who did not feed a varied diet. It took time and patience to modify her diet. Gradually increase the greens and other "less desired" food items. Mix them in so well that your bluey can't sort them out. Hunger is a great motivator too---as long as your bluey is in good health and flesh!
I have found that my blueys are much more accepting of variety and change than my other lizards. Believe me, that makes feeding much easier and cheaper---as they can share many of your foods (minus seasoning, etc.) And, as mentioned above, variety is key. Good luck!

[Spindown]

i named my skinks after StarCraft 2 units...my bf made me lol...so i have a Creep, a Broodlord, a Zergling, and a Baneling. I will say...Baneling is so evil he definitely deserves his name >D

My sand boas however, are usually named in pairs. I had a Trickr & Treat, and a Cotton & Candy.

Other ideas are words that somehow relate to the critters, like my ball python is Boros (ouroboros).

Good luck thinking up a name.