BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hey there everyone, I just registered on here and I am hopefully going to be a new proud owner of a skink here in the next few months. I am tickled about the whole thing. I already have a cage for him or her. Right now I am starting off with a 25 gallon tank since I am getting a baby. Then move to my 40 gallon tank once he or she get's a little bigger. Besides what is on the care sheet, ( which I have read over at least twice already ) is there anything else I should know about?

Also I have a question. My local pet shop has a BTS and I adore him. I was trying to figure out what kind he is though. I have looked over the different breeds but he does not seem to totally match one in particular. The picture is not great for it was more of a novitley picture more than anything. He does have a salmon colored belly though. I dont know if that will help at all. Here is a picture.

welcome! and i'm no pro but I would say indo or an IJ (irian jija)

Hey thank you for the welcome. ^_^
Mkay, if I were to get better pictures of him would you be able to tell me what he is?

Welcome!!

He's an IJ or Merauke or some thing in between those, if you can get a better picture we can definitely ID him.

Okay, tomorrow I will go by and take a few better photo's. He is just about the sweetest thing I have ever held. It is so cool walking around with him and having the kids come up to him and want to touch him. He is not even mine >.<
The first time I ever encountered a BTS was about 15 years ago when I was in preschool or in kindergarten when they had a reptile show. There was a BTS there named Romeo that stole my heart. I am way to excited to maybe get one!
Hopefully here in the next week I will have his or her cage set up and be able to show everyone!!

Now reading up on the IJ I think he is def under that classification. The belly and patterns match pretty well. He has such a great disposition though. If I am so fond of his temper I can not wait to encounter and own my first one, which I hope will be a Northern!

one in the pic,looks in great shape

baby season is anytime now over there so should see alot of babies available in the next few months,welcome to the forum

main thing is supplying them the right conditions temp wise,then go from there,they are quite adaptable to different ways people keep them

Yeah he is in a smaller cage than what everyone here recommends but besides that he seems happy! I have actually been talking to Jeff about buying one of his babies from him when ever they drop. I am giddy like a little school girl! Thank you for the welcome!
So far I have a new temp gauge along with a humidity gauge. I stay in an upstairs room so the ambient temp. stays pretty warm because I have yet to purchase a fan.
>.<

I agree the bts in the photo looks like an IJ (that would be species though, not breed... sorry, I'm a stickler for details)

You can't go wrong with a baby from Jeff!!

Species, mkay I am still learning my proper terminology due to the fact that I am still new to it. I am soo excited to get the baby!

Morgans wrote:Yeah he is in a smaller cage than what everyone here recommends but besides that he seems happy! I have actually been talking to Jeff about buying one of his babies from him when ever they drop. I am giddy like a little school girl! Thank you for the welcome!
So far I have a new temp gauge along with a humidity gauge. I stay in an upstairs room so the ambient temp. stays pretty warm because I have yet to purchase a fan.
>.<

I'd definitely get a temperature probe instead of a gauge with a little pointer. With a temperature probe (which are only a few dollars) it will give a much more accurate reading for actual surface temperatures. I have a regular gauge in the middle part of my tank to get an ambient reading, but also put a probe right under the basking area to make sure that it's 95-100. My temp gauge in the middle of the tank definitely doesn't show this since the rest of the tank is always 80, so to make sure your skink's temperature gradient is correct and so he will be able to digest properly I'd definitely get one. :]

hello(: Are you buying a baby bts? I am going to be a new mommy to a Northern Blue Tongue Skink soon and cant wait! I already have my tank too(: I will post a picture when i get him/her. I still need a name. Haha, any ideas?

Wellcome new BTS addicts - you are here amoung friends and people who understand the fever

I usually wait to name a new animal for a couple of days - see if their personality helps - or just whatever comes to mind...but that is me.

temp probes can be...temperamental. I'd recommend investing in at least a $30 point and click temp "gun", or if you can swing it, an "actual" temp gun. My accurites had gotten smashed around and knocked around that some of my temps were NOT in the ranges they should have been...as soon as I realized it after using my little temp gun thing, I was able to fix them right away and my animals were SO happy! Its also mobile, I've used it on consultations before.