Talking Bluey?

[kayla990]

Hello!

So I’d like to quiz you all about something I’ve not really seen documented/mentioned much – of Blue Tongue Skinks ‘talking’ to owners. I figured the easiest way to explain this would be through video (and for those who are yet to come across it).

While I give a quick explanation in the start (can skip to 3:30 if you just want to see the noises!); basically she seems to be doing interactive/responsive whistling. So if we put our hand in the tank with her, she’ll do a type of ‘curious’ whistle, compared to when we stop her going somewhere (such as the floor, as it’s too cold along with too many hiding places) where it’ll be stronger whistles/more annoyed xD

While it’s quite possible it’s more ‘anthropomorphism’ saying she talks; we know it’s not from her smelling the environment (as she breathes out, so I wouldn’t have thought it’s related to her sniffing the air?).

A quick run down on why we don’t think it’s RI (but of course, if she starts to do the sounds nearly 100% of the time, we’ll get her checked out to be on the safe side!).
- Eating very well and gaining weight at a steady rate
- no discharge around the face at all
- When being held, she’s silent (when not checking out something!)
- Even when holding close to our ears, no crackling or wheezing etc
- No sign of gaping or ‘star gazing’
- Whistles seems to be in response to someone or something
- Keeping on top of humidity carefully

If it’s just her “being her”, then that’s great – curious if she’ll continue doing this as an adult.

I just found it pretty cool as had no idea they’d be this “talkative”; but want to make sure that for those who have experienced RI - that it's not that!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DYrBdXonw0&t=59s [haha does anyone get used to their voice on video? uff.. hope I didn't butcher the sub-species name.. ]

[Taliats]

I have noticed my Skink making that exact noise. Whenever I go to her viv to change her water/give her food/clean up droppings, when she calms down after her usual huffing and puffing at my presence, she starts doing that exact same thing, especially when she is moving around.

[kayla990]

That's awesome you're also experiencing this! How old is yours? Still no wiser on the reason... any thoughts on your side?

[Taliats]

She's just over a year old.

No clue as to the reason but it doesn't seem like she is stressed when she is doing it, She seems to do it when she is either exploring or if I am nearby.

Maybe it's some sort of probing or something?

I have heard cases of some animals and even humans using sounds to map out an area using the echoes.

[kayla990]

That's a pretty interesting idea with the using sound as probing! Very possible Glad they are both doing the sound when relaxed/exploring (and feel less concerned with health - knowing your girl does it too ^__^). Funny critters, always learning something new from them!

[Y33T]

my 11 month old eastern used to do it whenever i pet him or picking him up. He doesn't whistle so much anymore and now responds in huffs like my 2 year old does.

[kayla990]

Haha aww - shame your eastern doesn't do it anymore! I wonder if it's something to do with age? Glad to see that more bluey's do (or have done) the whistling too

[kingofnobbys]

They are indeed vocal .... my two EBTS and my Eastern Water Skink have cute vocalisations , squeeks and barks depending on what they are doing.

First time I heard them barking I thought URI , even had the vet check them , found perfectly healthy ....

Mostly it's when doing something pleasureable / fun ....

[kayla990]

my two EBTS and my Eastern Water Skink have cute vocalisations

Haha that's adorable that your Water Skinks also make similar sounds - Love reading your stories with them (and great you got a vet confirmation that showed nothing was wrong!).

Find it super interesting, as didn't see or hear about the vocalizations when doing research on Blueys I know that a few other lizards I worked with (for example Sundan Plated Lizards) didn't seem to make any noise. Possibly as they were always on display at the zoo - but they were pretty shy individuals...

[Tokkay]

I've had a similar experience with my Kei Island BTS, and he's at least two years old (probably more- he seemed full grown when I picked him up at an expo at the end of 2015).

He makes the same whistling huff noise, usually when I'm messing around in his cage. He comes out a lot more often than my northern (who likes to stay buried under a rock 24/7) and tends to make the noise while he's investigating if I have food. At least, that's what I think he's doing, as he's always looking for a snack from me! He's also just more noisy in general though- he huffs and puffs and hisses a lot more compared to my northern, who is mostly only huffy and puffy if I disturb him when he's sleeping.

I don't take my Kei Island boy out very often as he's always been skittish with handling for very long, but maybe I'll try letting him wander a bit and see if I encounter any similar whistling when he's out and about as well.

[kingofnobbys]

my two EBTS and my Eastern Water Skink have cute vocalisations

Haha that's adorable that your Water Skinks also make similar sounds - Love reading your stories with them (and great you got a vet confirmation that showed nothing was wrong!).

<<< I had never read or heard of skinks making anything other than hisses , and some know-it-all on an Aussie herping M/board said they only make sounds like what I described (little barks) if they had an RI .... same person who said water skinks are display pets only and not suitable to be interactive pets or likely to enjoy physical contact . So I had a vet examine the water skink .

Find it super interesting, as didn't see or hear about the vocalizations when doing research on Blueys I know that a few other lizards I worked with (for example Sundan Plated Lizards) didn't seem to make any noise. Possibly as they were always on display at the zoo - but they were pretty shy individuals...

[kayla990]

I've had a similar experience with my Kei Island BTS, and he's at least two years old

Aha, love that your adult is also doing the noises - So cute yours seems to do it while snack hunting too! Ours seems to be getting more noisy with time, sounds like a squeaky toy when she's out and about now (though it's easy to find her under blankets, she'll whistle back to us when trying to find her!). I wonder if you'll find your more skittish Bluey will start doing it with time ^__^

and some know-it-all on an Aussie herping M/board said they only make sounds like what I described (little barks) if they had an RI

That's what I was initially concerned about too! Kept reading similar things about it being RI related.. but just seemed too weird to me, as no other symptoms were present. So glad lots of others are finding their Bluey's do it (or other types of skinks!) seemingly just from exploring/interacting