BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hello,

I'm very new to caring for a bts and this is my first forum. I have an indonesian variety, and he's about a year or less old. I have him in a 36lx12wx12h tank, which i think isnt enough space for him to move around. I only used it for quarantine.

Now i got a deal on a cage called 'Barr's' by the seller, and looking it up it seems its made of pvc. Its 48lx24wx24h. I have no experience with pvc or melamine. Ive only ever used glass tanks or tubs before.

Question is, will I be able to use a heatpad on it? I have an exo terra heatmat, which has the same flexibility as a heat tape. It also sticks better than the zoo med kind. All around, it really is kind of the heat tape used in rack systems.

Can I stick it underneath the cage and have it raised with the black rubbers included with the heat tape? I also will prop it up with something else for support.

As for overhead lighting, i have a che right now and a 24 inch reptisun t8. Not sure what method to use to attach them up there since there is no overhead screen. What do you guys do to hold it up and will ches be safe inside a tank that is humid?

My substrate will be a mix of coco, mulch, and sphagnum moss. I also have been cultivating springtails and will put them in there. It will probably be an inch deep in the hot zone and deeper everywhere else.

Ive attached a pic below of what the enclosure looks like. The only difference is that the acrylic is screen.

I also have thermostats hooked up so i know it wont overheat, but i just need to make sure it will function alright. An advice from more experienced keepers who have the same kind of tank. No fire hazard or anything?

Ps. I know about rhp's, but want to also use a heatpad. I also dont have access to one at the moment. I saw reptilemountain's tanks and was hoping to replicate that, with a belly heat spot at night and a basking area in the day.


Thanks!

You can use a heat mat or heat tape, although I'm a firm believer that direct overhead heat is best for these skinks. As far as attaching your CHE, it can be done by purchasing and mounting with screws a porcelain ceiling socket and a lamp cord kit. You'll have to drill a hole and run the cord out through the top or back. CHE's are perfectly fine in humid enclosures. Obviously just avoid getting the bulb wet. The UV hood should also be mountable with screws.

As far as needing to provide belly heat overnight, it really isn't necessary. Many argue that these skinks benefit from the cooler temperatures, provided it doesn't drop much lower than 65 degrees. Are under tank heaters a fire risk? Short answer is yes. So are ceramic heat emitters and just about any heating element. Obviously you can substantially lessen that risk by using thermostats and regular inspections, but even some of the most advanced keepers have had accidents and lost reptiles, and even their homes to fire. If it's not necessary to use, it's not worth the risk.

Hello,

Thank you for the detailed answer. Unfortunately my room gets to be around 50f on some nights during winter, and around the lower 60fs if not. Winter is brutal and it's excessively cold, so I was hoping at least he can have a spot to stay relatively warm in.

I'm thinking during summer I will not use them, since my room gets to about 80f. It will also give him a chance to bask out in the open more. I will most likely stick to overhead heating on summers.

Additionally, i've seen a lot of enclosures in the forum that measure about 36lx16w or variations of that size. Is that ample size for a skink or is that considered a grow out tank?


Thanks

Personally I'd go with two light fixtures on timers. A more powerful daytime bulb and a less powerful heat emitter for night use just to keep the overnight ambient temperature at around 70 degrees during the winter months. PVC enclosures maintain heat and humidity very well so it shouldn't be too daunting of a task. And 36"x 16" or even 18" is too small in my opinion, especially for some of the larger species like Northerns and Meraukes which regularly grow to be 24"+. The height of the enclosure at 24" tall is going to prove a challenge to provide an adequate basking temperature so you will most likely need to have an elevated basking area on one side. Since the bulbs will be mounted inside the enclosure, using a bulb guard would be recommended to keep your skink from being able to make contact and receiving burns.

Okay, i'll do that. I think i'll just buy a platform as a raised area for him to bask in. I've seen tanks with slate tile for basking too.

Thank you for all the help and being patient in explaining things to me lol