BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I recently bought my second BTS and was told that the baby is a Northern. However, after seeing pictures of Northerns and Irian Jayas, I'm not sure it really is a Northern. What does everyone think? Sorry if the pics aren't great.

Thanks!

I want to say it's an IJ but i could be completely wrong so don't take my word on it, i pay more attention to Aussie species'

I think IJ too, based on the black flecks on the legs that Northerns shouldn't have.

Here's a couple pics of my True Northern for comparison.

Definitely an IJ.

Thanks for the input everyone. I thought it looked more like an IJ, but I wanted other opinions before I call it that. I did want a Northern, but this baby is super cute and friendly, so it doesn't really matter.

Yep definitely irain jaya. If you don't mind me asking, who did you buy him form that told you he was northern. I'm just curious. There's been a lot of mislabeling going on lately. Still nice looking IJ. Good luck with him.

starscream3232 wrote:Yep definitely irain jaya. If you don't mind me asking, who did you buy him form that told you he was northern. I'm just curious. There's been a lot of mislabeling going on lately. Still nice looking IJ. Good luck with him.

I got him from a reptile store that specializes in bearded dragons and has been breeding them for years. They also sell other reptiles and told me that they got the BTS from a breeder at repticon. The breeder showed the owners the video of the BTS being born to prove it was captive bred. The breeder told them it was a Northern. I trust the store owners because I know them personally and got my first BTS from them a while back. It looks like the breeder didn't know what subspecies he was breeding.

jesswebb93 wrote:

starscream3232 wrote:Yep definitely irain jaya. If you don't mind me asking, who did you buy him form that told you he was northern. I'm just curious. There's been a lot of mislabeling going on lately. Still nice looking IJ. Good luck with him.

I got him from a reptile store that specializes in bearded dragons and has been breeding them for years. They also sell other reptiles and told me that they got the BTS from a breeder at repticon. The breeder showed the owners the video of the BTS being born to prove it was captive bred. The breeder told them it was a Northern. I trust the store owners because I know them personally and got my first BTS from them a while back. It looks like the breeder didn't know what subspecies he was breeding.

I have heard that a majority of bts sellers at reptile con are importers, not breeders, as true reputable breeders usually already have waiting lists for their babies and rarely have extras to sell at cons. Just because there was a video of the babies being born doesn't mean they are captive bred. The mum may have been wild-caught already gravid, and just gave birth after being caught. That would be a more logical explanation for the breed mislabelling than a true bts breeder not even knowing what subspecies they were breeding.

wermy wrote:I have heard that a majority of bts sellers at reptile con are importers, not breeders, as true reputable breeders usually already have waiting lists for their babies and rarely have extras to sell at cons. Just because there was a video of the babies being born doesn't mean they are captive bred. The mum may have been wild-caught already gravid, and just gave birth after being caught. That would be a more logical explanation for the breed mislabelling than a true bts breeder not even knowing what subspecies they were breeding.

I would go so far to say that the video was pulled offline or was a different BTS giving birth, the main thing is it's a healthy skink and it is friendly.

NickBrahz wrote:

wermy wrote:I have heard that a majority of bts sellers at reptile con are importers, not breeders, as true reputable breeders usually already have waiting lists for their babies and rarely have extras to sell at cons. Just because there was a video of the babies being born doesn't mean they are captive bred. The mum may have been wild-caught already gravid, and just gave birth after being caught. That would be a more logical explanation for the breed mislabelling than a true bts breeder not even knowing what subspecies they were breeding.

I would go so far to say that the video was pulled offline or was a different BTS giving birth, the main thing is it's a healthy skink and it is friendly.

The store owners told me that the "breeder" was actually in the birth video. I've read that if an Irian Jaya is bred with another subspecies, the babies almost always look like an IJ. So perhaps one of the parents was a Northern and the other an IJ? I don't know. The baby is very active, friendly and has a great appetite. S/he also doesn't run and hide like my halmahera, when he sees me from in his enclosure. He may or may not be truly captive bred, but I love him all the same

I was just going to mention that

My skinks mum was a Northern but the father looked IJ or possibly Tanimbar

Scatha certainly has the mello Northern temperament though and as long as I got a Captive Born and Breed and not an import I was happy