BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forum and I would love everyone's thoughts on my new BTS. As a reptile lover, i'm beyond excited to have gotten this boy (still no name) at the breeders convention yesterday. My hubby and I currently have one male jeweled lacerta and 3 female crested geckos. Could you help me figure out what my BTS is? Eastern, northern, Indonesian, etc. Thank you everyone!

Can't wait to hear from you all,

Ashley

You have a Halmahera, Tiliqua gigas gigas.

I thought he is Indonesian! I just wanted to make sure and wanted to know! Thank you very much! Now I'm going to research Halmahera so I know even more about him specifically!

ashleyk9109 wrote:I thought he is Indonesian! I just wanted to make sure and wanted to know! Thank you very much! Now I'm going to research Halmahera so I know even more about him specifically!

It is an Indonesian. Halmahera is an Indonesian subspecies.

Gao, I know that Halahera is an Indonesian subspecies. I thought that he was Indonesian but I wasn't sure of the subspecies and if I even had the fact that he was Indonesian correct. I found out from this post that I was right by thinking that he is Indonesian and Dakota was nice and able to inform me that he is the Halmahera subspecies. But thank you for adding to the conversation.

Gao wrote:

ashleyk9109 wrote:I thought he is Indonesian! I just wanted to make sure and wanted to know! Thank you very much! Now I'm going to research Halmahera so I know even more about him specifically!

It is an Indonesian. Halmahera is an Indonesian subspecies.

Gao, I know that Halahera is an Indonesian subspecies. I thought that he was Indonesian but I wasn't sure of the subspecies and if I even had the fact that he was Indonesian correct. I found out from this post that I was right by thinking that he is Indonesian and Dakota was nice and able to inform me that he is the Halmahera subspecies. But thank you for adding to the conversation.

I know I'm late to the game here as I'm trying to catch up from being gone again, but I must clarify something that's been said in the last few posts and not addressed.

Halmaheras are NOT a subspecies of Indonesians. Halmaheras ARE Indonesians. There are two generally accepted "forms" of Indonesians (Tiliqua gigas gigas): "Classic" and "Halmahera". Not a different species, not a different subspecies.
If an Indonesian is classified as Tiliqua gigas gigas, and a Halmahera is classified as Tiliqua gigas gigas, that tells you right there they are classified the same; no change in species or subspecies.
There ARE two subspecies to Indonesians: the Merauke (Tiliqua gigas evanescens) and the Kei Island (Tiliqua gigas keyensis).

Don't know if that makes any sense but I just wanted to point out that Halmaheras are not a separate subspecies.

Susann wrote:I know I'm late to the game here as I'm trying to catch up from being gone again, but I must clarify something that's been said in the last few posts and not addressed.

Halmaheras are NOT a subspecies of Indonesians. Halmaheras ARE Indonesians. There are two generally accepted "forms" of Indonesians (Tiliqua gigas gigas): "Classic" and "Halmahera". Not a different species, not a different subspecies.
If an Indonesian is classified as Tiliqua gigas gigas, and a Halmahera is classified as Tiliqua gigas gigas, that tells you right there they are classified the same; no change in species or subspecies.
There ARE two subspecies to Indonesians: the Merauke (Tiliqua gigas evanescens) and the Kei Island (Tiliqua gigas keyensis).

Don't know if that makes any sense but I just wanted to point out that Halmaheras are not a separate subspecies.

Good to know I always thought they were a subspecies called Tiliqua gigas halmaheras .. XD

Hi, I'm also new in here and have the same problem. I got him at a reptile expo when he was only 2 weeks old (nowadays he is over three and a half). What type/subspecies is he?
Thanks!

Merauke, Tiliqua gigas evanescens. Third photo is mega-cute!

That's a bit of a tough one... could be "new form" Merauke, or an IJ. I'd personally need to see a shot of the full body with the skink laying as straight as possible, taken from straight up above the skink. I'd like to see the full tail....
I do lean more towards Merauke...

Thanks! I figured he must be an Indonesian (T. gigas) but this is how far I got. The guy who sold him had no idea either but as I'd wanted a bts for so many years but never found a baby for sale I really felt like he was the one. Will try to take a better shoot when I get home.

Third photo is mega-cute!

Hehe I made this giant replica of him myself, to prevent the harsh Canadian winds from penetrating our backdoor. When it was ready, I let him to explore it a bit

I have tried, as best as possible. He just started to shed though. Anyhow, thanks for identifying

Ha! The tail didn't help me at all since it looks like he's missing a piece of it, but after a second opinion I'll have to say it's a Merauke.
I realize he just started shedding, but my bet would be that he'd appreciate some more humidity in his tank; he's looking like he's missing a few digit-ends and over-all a bit on the dry side...

I know about the tail and the digit ends, were already damaged when I got him, guessed it was the result of some confrontation with his siblings. Our apartment is also very dry especially during the winter. Trying to mist each morning, but apparently it doesn't help much. Saw the thread on the humid hide, sounds like a great idea.