BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I've been wondering... Which do you guys like more? Northerns or Meraukes? Why?

Meraukes are more attractive IMO. I like their long lengths, and their long tail. I also like the natural color variation we commonly get in the US.

Northerns have more personality, more curious, more interactive. Meraukes are MOSTLY imported, and I've noticed pickier housing requirements.

I think northerns are prettier and have a higher variety on pattern and color. They are more durable too. I do love my finicky little indo though

Both have their upsides. My personal preference is definitely northerns over meraukes. Both come in a wide array of colors and patterns, both have fairly easy care requirments, and both have a large size. Northerns are very curious and personable. Meraukes are a little more sh, but still make fantastic pets.

I would go with Northerns as well. I find them more attractive, and from what I have seen they tend to have more outgoing personalities. Most Meraukes seem to be quite shy (mine included).

northerns, easier care requirements it feels like.. meruakes require a tid bit more effort.

My skinks are the opposite of what everyone is saying. My merauke is very out going and curious. My northern is pretty lazy. Both come out quite a bit but my northern gets scared easy and will go hide if I walk near his tank, my meruake is un-phased.

Its a no brainer for me,blotchies,lol

Having zero firsthand knowledge of indo species,if i lived stateside northerns would be my first choice,until i could afford some blotchies,lol

I do really like northerns to though,so a bit biased,id like the challenge of playing with some indo species though,but if i had to just pick one non aussie skink id by pass the tiliquas and go prehensile tailed skinks,those things really interest me

Right now, of the ones I work with, my preferences in order are Blotchies, Kei Islands, Meraukes, Tanimbars, Easterns/Northerns, Indonesians. But it changes from time to time.
And of course there is no objective answer to the question - you like what you like!

I like merakes because my only blue tongued skink is a merake, but I love her

Is it possible to have a valid opinion on this if you have not kept both? Even then, wouldn’t you need to keep multiple examples of each to form an educated opinion? I guess you could have an opinion on which looks better to you if you have seen pictures of both, but even pictures can be deceiving. I think this question, and the answers to it, illustrate very well some of the dynamics of online forums that we should all be constantly aware of.

In my experience northerns and meraukes are significantly different behaviour wise, but I couldn’t possibly say one is “better” than the other, they both have pros and cons. The thing that is very surprising to me is that most of the WC meraukes I have been around are at least as calm and docile as CBB northerns, or even more so. I would never have expected that to be true. I have never been around a WC northern, but my guess is that they are not MORE docile than CBB northerns, like many WC meraukes are.

Between the two I like northerns best. I've kept both, both in the past and currently, and in my own experience ive never seen a merauke as calm as my calmest northerns, im sure they exist but I've just never personally had one. If I had I might be a bit more torn between the two but I still think id like northerns best. I like their colors and patterns, stubbier tails, and more barrel shaped torsos. I like the more lazy way they go about their days. I like the way they come out of their hides or stop whatever theyre doing when I come into the reptile room and waddle up to the front of their cages to see whats happening.

When I was a kid it was a picture of a northern blue tongue that got me interested in reptiles as a hobby to begin with so can't help but be a bit bias I guess.

Richard, monkey tails are an AWESOME species to keep by the way! And one I'll hopefully be keeping again soon if all goes well, I had one years back that I've regretted selling everyday since, especially since the price is quite a bit higher nowadays, but what a fun species to work with. Tal about lizards with personality! That would be my choice of favorite skink if they were included in the question

Yeah they are amazing skinks,such a hulk of a skink but highly arboreal,and such a bearer of small litters like shingle backs

Jeff,as a keeper of a wild caught kunnanurra northern,i cant tell any difference behaviour wise between him or cbb,hes actually mellower than alot of them,very very small sample size,but our wild caughts dont usually go through the process of indo species,so probably helps there,actually alot of the wild caught species here settle into captivity very well,again not put through the stresses that the indo imports have to endure