Blue Tongue setup help!

[jmhg11]

Alright so im planning on getting a baby blue tongue skink. i have been ALLLL over the internet looking at setup videos, and articles but i cant get a straight answer do i need an overhead? what kind of substrate can i use? how much tank space do i need? what do i feed and how often? i really need help fining the right answers so i figured id come here where i assume the experts are thanks! (i dont know if this helps but i live in Canada, British columbia)

[Dakota]

I would suggest reading over these two links:
http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

viewforum.php?f=24

[jmhg11]

I would suggest reading over these two links:
http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

viewforum.php?f=24

thank you for the response i read the posts and i still have a few questions. 1. can i feed my blue tongue a stable diet of dog food while giving it fresh veggies and meats every few meals and also occasionally giving treats? 2. do i need a uvb light or any kind of heat light? (i need a under tank heater right?) thanks these are just the questions i had trouble finding (also what kind of vitamin supplements do i need)

[NickBrahz]

1. Yes some people on here give only dog food as a diet, some of us a blend of half and half, a standard diet is for us to do something like this viewtopic.php?f=18&t=29005
2. You need a heat source yes, though a globe is not your only option, you can also use heatpads that go under the enclosure if you prefer but you have to be careful they don't burn anything or get to hot, globe is usually the easiest and cheapest option.
Not everybody uses UVB, i offer it personally to mine as i have a globe setup so it is no effort for me to do so, but a lot of people don't offer it and have had no issues, as for Vitamins some Calcium + D3 powder sprinkled on the food every few meals is sufficient, can get them only dirt cheap and they last a long time, especially with just 1 bluie.

[alichamp]

With your questions answered I will just add the link to the Diet/Food Chart. Note the foods to never feed: onion family, rhubarb, avocado.

Let us know how you are going with setup and of course of any new arrivals.

[AvaRose]

I am also pretty new to this (I've had my little guy since October), but I will say that I had a hard time getting him to eat veggies when they were not mixed in with something meaty (dog or cat food usually). Good luck!

[teamh]

I am also pretty new to this (I've had my little guy since October), but I will say that I had a hard time getting him to eat veggies when they were not mixed in with something meaty (dog or cat food usually). Good luck!

Agreed! We started out trying to mix in greens with dry food (and the Repti-Calcium):
(Scout)


But then we found a grain-free dog food with a gravy, so we chop up organic spring mix (we've read somewhere that too much spinach isn't good for them(?), so we stick to other leafy stuff) and mix it in:
(Zipper)


And ours LOVE bananas!
(Zipper)

[alichamp]

Susan, I have read that too about spinach not being a good choice for greens. I thought it was about the ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous in foods which you need to be careful of with blueys, but I tracked down this information from another thread, which gives other reasons to avoid feeding spinach.

Spinach has a Ca:P of 2:1 which isn't as bad as a lot of other vegetables. The main reason for minimising spinach is because it is high in oxalic acid which binds with calcium to form salt crystals carried in the blood stream which can in turn build up in the kidneys and synovial fluid of joints.

[teamh]

Alichamp: Super good to know. Awesome research; thank you for posting!

Also, (low priority question here) - did you come across any info on kale one way or another in regards to bluey diets?

(And full disclosure; I'm also wondering if the spinach reacts the same in humans in regards to adjusting our human diets. I've changed to kale smoothies instead of spinach and it seems to be going well and am interested to know if I can toss some of our kale in with their food too).

[teamh]

I would suggest reading over these two links:
http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

viewforum.php?f=24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

thank you for the response i read the posts and i still have a few questions. 1. can i feed my blue tongue a stable diet of dog food while giving it fresh veggies and meats every few meals and also occasionally giving treats? 2. do i need a uvb light or any kind of heat light? (i need a under tank heater right?) thanks these are just the questions i had trouble finding (also what kind of vitamin supplements do i need)

And to add to the awesome links Dakota suggested and the other helpful responses from everyone in regards to tank set-up, Sue started a cool thread about "Enclosure Pictures" on the top of the "General Discussion Board." A lot of good visual information there regarding heating and substrate, etc.

Good luck in your set-up. This forum has very helpful people and a supportive community full of BTS lovin' folks!

[alichamp]

Alichamp: Super good to know. Awesome research; thank you for posting!

You're welcome! That's kinda my thing on here

Also, (low priority question here) - did you come across any info on kale one way or another in regards to bluey diets? ... interested to know if I can toss some of our kale in with their food too).

Hmmm, the Diet Chart lists kale as a food for use "in moderation" and posts from others I would consider gurus on such things suggest the same. So, sure chuck some in your skinks' food too for good greens but rely more on Asian greens, rocket, and some of the other greens listed as "frequent" for staples.

[alichamp]

1. can i feed my blue tongue a stable diet of dog food while giving it fresh veggies and meats every few meals and also occasionally giving treats? 2. do i need a uvb light or any kind of heat light? (i need a under tank heater right?) thanks these are just the questions i had trouble finding (also what kind of vitamin supplements do i need)

I re read this and thought I could add.

Just to clarify, the dog food is given as a staple largely for the meat component of the meal, in other words if you decide to use dog food as a staple you don't need to add any other meats. You would only feed other meats on days that you don't feed dog food. By meat here I am talking about red meats and the occasional poultry. It is best to choose dog foods that include variety of red meats as frequent feeders, chicken etc should probably be less frequent.

You could however offer insects and snails for a different protein.

And yes, occasionally give treats too and once you get your BTS you can use these treats as a way to build trust with your bluey and get it to learn that you can bring good things. Yummy fruits are a winner - berries, mango, etc, banana is a very occasional one.

In terms of supplements, go for a calcium+d3 powder to dust/mix in with feedings once a week or so. This probably combats the problems with relying on uvb for calcium development. The main problem you are trying to prevent is MBD (metabolic bone disease) and this can easily be prevented with the right diet (as above) and the powder supplement. UVB is debated with some experienced keepers saying it's not necessary as the powder supplement and good diet will be more effective and others saying it is needed. I tend to leave these kind of decisions up to those very experienced keepers who can decide for themselves, while us newbies might provide it anyway as there is no harm done by doing so.

And for the heat light/under tank, as Nick said you can choose either, but you won't need both. You choose which to use (most of us use heat globes for basking) that will give you the temperature you need for basking at the warm end - about 30-35 celcius under the heat (eg on a basking rock or tile) with nothing at the other end so that you get a temperature gradient down to a cool end of around 20-25 celcius. This will provide enough options for the skink to regulate body temperature.

Hope you are getting the answers you need. Don't be shy about asking more as they come to you. And PLEASE remember to update us and post some pics of your enclosure and especially you bluey when you get one. We love pics.

[jmhg11]

Hi guys this is what ive got currently. Its a bit of a work in progress as i still need a few things! Side not this is not his permanent home but we are moving in a few months so im gonna hold off on building a bigger one. Ive got a zoo med basking bulb that i need to return and get a higher wattage. Water bowl foodbowl basking brick. Going out to get a hide and better bulb tomorrow as well as a proper lid. Im planning on keeping A northern! Having some difficulty finding one as i live in canada. Im super excited to get my skink!