BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Would someone be able to ID a skink I'm planning on purchasing? Does it look healthy and all? It was shedding when the pictures were taken. Also, how large will it be when it's matured... I'm still planning out the dimensions for the terrarium. Would a 48" or 52" by 24" by 20" (L,W,H) be fine? Thanks all!

http://imgur.com/a/VbN1W

-Shawn

I cant come to a 100% positive ID on this from those pictures, possibly a halmahera (sp?) Indonesian? The banding is rather strange on it though IMO. My largest skink is my Merauke, and shes 25" long. Shes a big skink though...so yours probably wont get *quite* that large. My custom tanks are 4 L x 2 W x 17 H, so that should be a fine size. They really dont need height...mine is only so tall because there are 2 levels.

A good starting point would be the caresheet if you haven't read it yet, it will help you find answers to most questions you will probably have if this is your first bluey

Thanks for the reply! She (or he) is about 16" in the picture. So is there a good rule of thumb you can follow for terrarium sizes? I want her to be as happy as possible and not feel cramped.

-Shawn

I would agree with Sapphire, the dark markings around the scales on her face makes me think Halmahera Indo.

As for a rule of thumb 'bigger is better' is the main one I hear. But either size you mentioned should be fine. My guys are also in 4'x2'x18" and it seems to be doing them well. They use all the space regularly, but it is roomy enough that I don't think they are cramped.

Halamhera Indo.

Thanks a ton on the idenification guys! You're the best

As a note, that skink does not look happy about being held. Maybe just because the person has to hold it one handed. But you should ask about it's attitude so you're prepared - WC Indos (really, any WC animal, but Indos are fairly notorious) can be very shy/defensive/aggressive to start with. No idea if the halmahera locality would be the same.

The one in the image is a captive bred skink, though I do agree it does not look to happy not being fully supported.

CBB (Captive bred and born) Indos are pretty rare in the US and Canada. What some sellers call 'captive born' is actually just a gravid female that was recently taken from the wild and gave birth while being imported or shortly after.
Also looking at those pictures I noticed s/he is missing some toes. That could be a sign of being WC, or it could have been housed with other skinks, or it could be a sign of multiple bad sheds possibly due to poor husbandry.

But I could be wrong, and in any case he/she might turn out to be a lovely skink regardless of being CBB, CB, or WC. But the possibility is something to be aware of.

I know I might sound like a complete nub for asking this ( I have read all the care guides and what not, just not the in depth scientific stuff ) ,but do toes grow back? Because I know with tarantulas and other arthropods they can regenerate their limbs to some extent. Will they comeback, like if they lose their tail?

Ethroes wrote:I know I might sound like a complete nub for asking this ( I have read all the care guides and what not, just not the in depth scientific stuff ) ,but do toes grow back? Because I know with tarantulas and other arthropods they can regenerate their limbs to some extent. Will they comeback, like if they lose their tail?

No, just tails. It would be great if they could.

Sarikazam wrote:Also looking at those pictures I noticed s/he is missing some toes. That could be a sign of being WC, or it could have been housed with other skinks, or it could be a sign of multiple bad sheds possibly due to poor husbandry.

I see far more missing toes in cbb Northerns than wild caught Indo's. I've seen many problems with fresh imports but missing toes seems fairly rare.

Bluish wrote:

Sarikazam wrote:Also looking at those pictures I noticed s/he is missing some toes. That could be a sign of being WC, or it could have been housed with other skinks, or it could be a sign of multiple bad sheds possibly due to poor husbandry.

I see far more missing toes in cbb Northerns than wild caught Indo's. I've seen many problems with fresh imports but missing toes seems fairly rare.

Is it me, or is there no missing toes? He's so black, it's hard to tell.. I can't see.. maybe some pictures of him on the ground will do some justice.. he is pretty little dude, though.

Dakota Nivens wrote:Is it me, or is there no missing toes? He's so black, it's hard to tell.. I can't see.. maybe some pictures of him on the ground will do some justice.. he is pretty little dude, though.

It is difficult to see, it looked like some of his back toes were partially missing in the last picture.
But I will definitely agree, it is a very pretty skink either way!

The last photo makes it look like some toes are missing, but the first photo looks like those same toes are there and fine. Maybe photo is just bad?

Fatal_S wrote:The last photo makes it look like some toes are missing, but the first photo looks like those same toes are there and fine. Maybe photo is just bad?

I agree.. photos can be so misleading..

I would love to get my hands onto a Halmahera.

They are pretty! Toes do not grow back, and most skinks are wild caught, especially Indos of any flavor...the Halmahera's seem like the "hot new thing" to import lately! However, while the toe issue sucks, as long as they have healed cleanly it shouldnt affect the skink at all. WC Indos can be very tough to tame down, but its all up to the individual personalities of skink and person

ETA: Most people house their blueys in 40 gallon tanks as a minimum size. Bigger is always better, and 75 gallon tanks are GREAT for blueys...but heaaaavy.