care for a central bts and shingleback. Urgent!

[Dwarfbeardeddragon]

Hey all, new here just came from beardeddragon.org posted something which made me realise i really need to get a BTS and stop dreaming about it. I've got two options: a shingleback or central BTS, the problem is i can't afford an indoor enclosure but i have a big luxury outdoor enclosure, but i worry if i keep a central BTS in there, it will be too humid (i live in southwest Western Australia) but i kind of prefer the cenrtal over the shingle back although i heard shinglebacks are more emotionally developed? the shingle back is $110 and the central BTS is $150, also would a 22 gallon:84 litre tank be ok for a baby bts or shingle through the winter? Thanks!

[splashy07]

Hahahaaaaa I'm sorry, I'm just laughing at the prices....here in the states those two would be a deposit on a new Cadillac...oh dear how I wish I had those choices! I'm sure your tank size would be ok for a little while, now I'll let the Aussies answer your questions! Oh dear.......$110.00 for a shingle....I'd buy them all day....ok I'll stop now.

[Dwarfbeardeddragon]

Okay cool beans, lol arent they like $6000 dollars in the US

[Nae]

Yeah they are pretty expensive in the US - But on the other hand, us here in Aus don't have anywhere near the variety!
Here in WA the only options are shingles, westerns and centralians - We cant even keep northerns and easterns, no blotchies and the Indonesian varieties are definitely out of the question!

Im in Perth also with a Centralian - but he lives indoors. Many people keep shinglebacks outside not a problem, but I honestly would not be entirely sure about the humidity regarding keeping a centralian outdoors. He'd be fine during summer - but will definitely go into brumation during the colder months. But yeah humidity isnt my forte.

Personality wise shingles are definitely more people friendly then Centralians - Who are moody little dudes, despite how cute they are

What are the dimensions of the tank?? Floor space is more important then overall litres.

[Dwarfbeardeddragon]

Its 70 cm long 35 cm wide and 40cm high,(i would just plan to keep a baby central in there over the winter, if i got the shingle i would just keep it in the outdoor enclosure straight up, i was told to put gum leaves as substrate also have u heard or had experience with pilbara pythons before? (where i intend to buy)

[Nae]

I personally would say thats fine for a temporary baby enclosure~ But definitely do keep looking/saving up for an adult enclosure as your bub will grow out of it faster then you know!

As for substrate, i personally recommend either some coir mulch from Bunnings (bake it in the oven on a low temp for an hour or so to definitely kill any nasties) or i have also kept my Zeke on the paper pellet cat litter you can grab for super cheap from like Big W - both options would be a lot less work then collecting enough gumleaves to provide a suitable amount of substrate for burrowing. I dont see a problem with Gumleaves as decor on top though~

I got Zeke from West Aussie Reptiles - The dude is great and they are Perth based. He even dropped Zeke off to me when I lived a few hours from Perth as he was passing by on his way to Geraldton!

But I definitely havent heard anything bad about Pilbara Pythons - The great thing about places in WA needing a variety of licenses to sell/breed/collect is that youre pretty much always dealing with legit people and healthy animals. Have you actually contacted them about what animals they have in stock?? I just looked at their website - The skinks section has not been updated since I was shopping around over 5 years ago

[Dwarfbeardeddragon]

okay so would that enclosure be okay for a baby shingle back aswell? i havent contacted them yet :/ although when i got my western bearded dragons the reptile park suggested them to me about a year ago so they must still be active, Do you have this other guys contact? does he have a website? hmmm i really like the idea of the central blue tongue but handling is a must for me with reptiles so i don't want an angry skink... might have to go with the shingle back although there is not many people selling them either and the last one i saw was $400!

[Nae]

I'd say it would be fine~

I am pretty sure they are still active - Its just that bluetongues just arent very popular in WA I find, it took me a few months to get Zeke. You gotta pretty much just ring around, tell them what you want, and wait for a phone call or email. Getting a baby can be a bit of a waiting game.

His website appear to be down atm but here is his fb - https://www.facebook.com/West-Aussie-Re ... 327811538/
Guys name is Gary~ Cool dude.

You can definitely still handle cents - Zeke has never gaped or bitten - just from what Ive heard they just tend to be a little on the grumpy huffy side I find it funny
But yeah if youre after something a little sweeter, shingles or even westerns are the way to go.

[Dwarfbeardeddragon]

okay cool, so what have your experiences with your blue tongues and shinglebacka been like? whats the main difference in keeping them as in like temperament and how much work is needed to keep them.

[Nae]

First and foremost, Ive kept them all different ways depending on the situation/whether or not I owned them or I cared for them at a wildlife centre~

But temperament wise shingles and westerns are a lot calmer and chiller with handling. Where as my centralian tolerates handling -but would much rather stay in his tank and bask. I can however stick my hand in and pat him or hand feed him not a problem (they arent aggressive - just grumps ) and I guess that the bonus is that he never wants to come out/climb up the side of his tank/ i dont have to take him out at all and hes content. He gets a bit upset when i initially take him out (to the point of peeing sometimes, although a front opening enclosure has mostly fixed that) and will settle into a lap just fine.

But yeah shingles and westerns are definitly a lot more tolerant of handling.

As for work required to keep them I have not noticed a single difference - Ive kept shingles in both tanks and outdoor enclosures, where as the centralians and westerns have only ever been in tanks. They are all pretty much the same imo.

[Dwarfbeardeddragon]

Yeah i'm definitely leaning towards a shingle back, unless i see a western somewhere. i'm the time of guy that would take my lizard for a walk, i'm all about handling not really the look of the animal necessarily. ill keep looking around and keep you guys updated if i end up with one!