BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hey Everyone!

I've been browsing the forums for quite a while now and thought I'd finally register and say a proper hello. First off, thanks for all the advice on and great information on the care sheet and this forum as well.

So on to business. I've been piecing together a terrarium for a BTS over the last couple weeks, but I do have a few questions. First, how's my tank below look so far?

Frontal:


Lower:


My heat lamp and thermostat are on order, and for substrate I'm planning on using paper towels or something until the BTS grows a little bit. I think I remember reading that it was best not to put them on Aspen chips when they're young. I also have a water bowl not shown. Also, the tank is a 36x18x18". For whatever reason the hide on the right looks white but it's really brown. Sorry for potato quality.

I also have a temp gun to confirm temps set by the thermostat. For a heat lamp bulb I guess I'll just buy a flood light at Lowe's. I think 65W should do it.

Anyways, give me your thoughts/criticisms! I have all receipts so I'm open to changes!

- YouSureSkink

The tank looks fine so far. As for aspen, it all depends what type of skink you will be getting. For example, Northerns are more hardy when it comes to humidity while Meraukes need more humidity.

I had that same exact tank and it was wonderful. Try to shift the hides and decor around every few months or so, I do this when cleaning out the substrate, I've read that this helps their curiosity. I'm no BTS guru though, so pay attention to the more season herpers' advice.

Btw,

Thanks both for the welcome and the replies! I'm planning on getting a northern , in part because as you said they're more hardy. And good tip on shifting the hides around.

My only real concern at this point is the hide on the right. Its a cement-like material and feels pretty rough. It doesn't really have any sharp edges but I wonder if it could irritate a BTS's belly. I'm guessing they're pretty tough though. Seeing as how they lay on rocks and all in the wild.

He should be fine with the rocks edges unless you go across it with your fingers and it cuts you.

Having a rough surface will aid in the shedding process. Like a previous poster said if you run your hand along it and it doesn't cut you it should be fine. Getting all the supplies ready is half of the fun of getting a skink. My skink breeder recommended reptile carpet so nothing will accidentally get enjested. But shredded up paper towels would be fine too.

Your enclosure is looking nice. I will say don't suspend the log like that unless you can secure it. The skink will push things around, and that log could hurt him if it falls. You'll also need a water dish of some type.

As Zalder mentioned, you can switch up the tank regularly to give the skink something new to explore (unless you have a shy/nervous skink, then big changes are scarier). BTS tend to enjoy checking out new things and exploring new areas
(Zalder, good advice, and big kudos for the disclaimer, very nice post)

Paper towel/paper substrate is useful for new additions, as you can easily see things like bugs, poop, shed, etc. I use it for my babies for the first week or two, and for any new reptiles I bring in. If you're getting a skink from a specific breeder, ask what that breeder is using and consider using that until your baby settles in. When buying from a reputable breeder the thing to keep an eye on is poop - moving to a new home is stressful, sometimes it takes a while for them to get running again (don't worry too much, just watch for it so you'll know whether he's running normally - one of my first skinks took a month to poop, and when she did it was liquid all down my front...).

When you're confident your animal is healthy, a burrow-able substrate is often appreciated (1-2 inches is plenty, I only give enough that they can feel hidden without me having to use an excavator to find them). Aspen (go for the shredded, flake-like type, not the sliver type) is great for many species, but not for a higher-humidity species (indonesian, merauke). Something like a coconut bark/mulch is better suited for when you want humidity (coco bark works well for most species). I avoid the coco-powders (eco-earth) as I find them too dirty, but that's my opinion. Don't be afraid to try a few substrates (whenever you do a full clean for example) and see what you prefer.

Yeah it's not rough enough to cut my fingers so I should be good there.

I was originally going to use glue or something to attach the log, but now that people have mentioned moving things around occasionally I may just take it out all together. I do like the idea of adding a little extra floor space so it'll have more room to move around. Any other ideas or pics of what you all use?

Thanks again for the great info!

I have the same tank!



Currently I've got a platform made from scrap wood but I want to find a sturdy plastic box (to double as a humid hide) and place the basking rock on that. Your skink probably wouldn't need a humid hide though...NC is so humid!!! I think some people use a piece of tile with pvc pipe legs attached?

Looks great, it's so nice having a tank that opens from the side!

That actually looks really good. I'd like to do something similar... The hides I bought were X-Large. Do you think I need hides that big or will Large be big enough? I dont want to waste space but at the same time I dont want to have to keep upgrading to larger hides as it grows up.

Welcome!
I would keep the XL hides; he'll need the space inside eventually. I'd personally keep the log too if you have the floor space for it; just lay it down on the ground as an added texture to crawl/lay on and, when you get substrate, likely burrow under.
I don't think there is such a thing as "too early" when it comes to lighting/heating as that can take some time to get right. I think you're on to a good start; tank is looking good and will be a happy home for one lucky skink.