Advice for a brand new owner?

[stay-weird]

Hi everyone! So I have a need for some advice... I'm getting a Northern Blue Tongue Skink on Wednesday (my dream lizard, I'm so excited!!!) and I want to be fully prepared. He's being rehomed to me, and his current owner is providing his tank, a water dish, and some hides and a basking rock. I've gone ahead and purchased some Repti-bark, a 10 inch lamp, and a 100 watt bulb. I ALSO got a timer for the lamp, to encourage a natural sleep cycle of 12 hours on and 12 hours off.

Does it sound like I'm prepared? What else should I get? I'm thrilled and nervous, I want to make sure he'll be good to go once I pick him up and bring him home. He's one year old.

[Janella]

Congratulations on your new skink. Sounds like you have just about everything. The only few things I would suggest, is what size is his current enclosure? Big enough for a skink? Two, I would get another type of substrate to go along with the Reptilink. I use zilla jungle mix with reptibark on top. This helps hold the humidity better and gives them an excellent burrowing substrate. Last is just making sure your temps are right, I would get a temp gun. You may also need a ceramic heat emitter if you're temps at night drop to low. Oh, and don't forget to stock up on food. If you haven't done it already, check out the forums feeding chart for proper feeding guidelines. Good luck!!!

[kingofnobbys]

Northerns live in the tropical grasslands and woodlands of northern Australia from the Pilbara Region WA across to northern QLD , so UVB at least 10%UVB. >> I suggest an Arcadia T5HO 12%UVB tube in a good reflector hood mounted UNDER the lid and about 12" from the basking spot.

Distribution

The Eastern Blue-tongue extends along the coast and semi-arid inland areas from about Adelaide South Australia, through Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The Northern Blue-tongue extends from northern Queensland across the top end of Australia including the Northern Territory and the Kimberley of Western Australia.

Habitat

In the bush, Common Blue-tongues inhabit open areas including woodlands and grasslands with plenty of ground cover such as tussock grasses, rocks or logs under which they shelter at night or during cold periods.
Within urban environments Common Blue-tongues have adapted to shelter under a variety of human debris (tin, tiles), garden plants, or buildings and are common inhabitants of many suburban yards in Eastern Australia.

https://australianmuseum.net.au/eastern ... gId__D_BwE
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid ... d07400b701

Northerns are not as needy of high RH as Indonesian BTs seem to be (not much tropical jungle in Australia or the natural range of Northern BTs).

Temperatures , basking spot about 40degC, warm zone 30degC cool zone 25degC.

Photoperiod , i'd be bumping that up to 15 or even 16 hours. See this for why : https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/vi ... 7#p1815777

Diet : this is an excellent guide and more in line with scientific observations of what BTs actually eat in the wild and need : https://www.completecritter.com/blue-tongue-skink.html

[Janella]

I did forget about how important UVB light is. Definitely recommend that as well.