New to the forum, and new to skinks!

[Skits]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I'll go by Skits. I have two dogs, six cats, two ferrets, two turtles, and several reptiles and arachnids which include; 7 snakes, 1 gecko, 1 scorpion, 12 tarantulas, and now a blue tongued skink.

I wanted advice from experienced owners on how to care for her as much as I could We got her in a 30ish gallon tank, but are planning on moving her into a 3x2 foot enclosure. She has wood chip substrate, and was eating watered ferret food..which I'm going to change to a better diet once she settles as she's stressed as it is right now. She's nervous, but according to her last owners, tame but just nervous and shy.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated on care

Also if anyone has any name ideas for her, that would suit a lizard. Nothing too complicated, and any videogame names, or world of warcraft themed names are greatly appreciated haha.

[Dakota]

Welcome!

Firstly, please read the care-sheet.. and I we mean 10 whole times. :
http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

Ferret-food, huh? Ferret-food is made mostly like cat-food, but with an added ingredient, which has left my mind. I probably wouldn't say that it is harmful to the skink, but can be in a degree of over a long period of time. Dog's diet are more closer than JUST meat eating carnivores such as ferrets, cats, ect. A lot of people feed dog-food as the staple part of the protein portion of the diet. Some feed turkey, some beef, some even kangaroo. I would stray away from chicken or pork as being the staple. If you do feed, make sure you supplement calcium+D3 with it. I personally supplement every feeding, but people are successful with every other feeding. Please read over this thread, and mainly focus on the third comment, which is basically what mine is:
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=20387

30 gallon is WAY to small for a skink than can potentially grow up to be 26". That would be like living in a closet your whole life. Not fun. 3 x 2 is fine, but with Meraukes being the longest species, it may cause a problem. I house all my adults and sub-adults in a 55 gallon enclosure, which is long, but not very wide. I plan to do a DIY with turning them on their side, which would being perfect then. Right length and width.

--oh, and if you didn't take the hint.. you have a Merauke. One of my favorite species of Tiliqua.

Some headers, Meraukes are not very forgiving when it comes to humidity, but your substrate seems absolutely perfect. Good for holding the moisture in. Try to get at 50%-60%, though they have been found in almost 100% humidity.

They are a very warm temperature species, so around 80 ambient is fine. I wouldn't go over 80, and no lower than 70 during the day. They do not require a super-hot basking spot like some of the Aussie species, I usually keep mine around 95. I have noticed around 100-105, they never seems to bask.

I don't think I can think of anything else, right now. Congratulations on the new skink.

[Skits]

Thanks

I've read quite a bit of it, learned quite a lot and am looking forward to my new skink getting used to us. I've had a savannah monitor with a diet somewhat similar so I guess it won't be too new for me.

Recently my savannah monitor passed away..I had built him a 6x2 enclosure, I was originally going to put a tegu in it once I had the money to buy one, but I have decided that I would keep my skink in there if it won't be too stressful for him. It has a heat lamp, a nice big hide, a basking spot, and a water dish. I wanted to do so since I got the skink but my concerns are being territorial, and stressed mostly.

Thanks for all the tips I'll be sure to follow them.