I am looking for help identifying my bluey's subspecies
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:34 am
Hey there! I am new to the forums. I am the proud caretaker of a blue tongue skink named Borris. I got him from backwater reptiles. That was somewhat of a mistake. There is chatter on these forums that backwater sends out northerns and IJs, but people end up with MERAUKES! I have been suspicious of Borris' subspecies since day one since he looks nothing like the IJ's on youtube. I also found a post that stated IJ's never have black feet like the indonesians do. I do not know if that can be disputed as fact.
Borris has black feet, front and rear.
I suspect, based on a pretty detailed youtube video on identifying BTS, that I was, in fact, sent a Merauke disguised as an IJ. I am just looking for help confirming that. He could be common indonesian as well! I love Borris no matter his subspecies and only seek to understand him to better care for his needs!
Some additional information that might help:
Borris arrived in june of last year as a captive born (distinct from captive bred as many of you surely know) baby. That would probably make him a year and 3 months old give or take some.
He measures around 21 inches from head to tail. That is a rough measurement because Borris apparently does not like tape measures. Seeing as he insists on investigating or running from the tape measure the moment I set it next to him, I am shooting from the hip but can safely say it's accurate within an inch.
I could not get a photo of his belly without mishandling him. I don't have enough hands to do so! His belly is mostly white with salmon pink tinting on his throat and belly.
Borris has been always been on the timid side, though fairly he's been content to be handled from the beginning as long as he feels well grounded. He never tries to bite or create aggressive displays. This makes me hesitate to think I got a wild caught indonesian.
I attached a couple of photos, but if any additional shots or information is needed, I am willing to provide and Borris is a patient enough specimen to survive another photoshoot.
The close-up photo looks upside-down in the preview despite being rightside-up on my phone! I have no idea how to fix that! Sorry if it's oriented wrong on your end, folks!
Borris has black feet, front and rear.
I suspect, based on a pretty detailed youtube video on identifying BTS, that I was, in fact, sent a Merauke disguised as an IJ. I am just looking for help confirming that. He could be common indonesian as well! I love Borris no matter his subspecies and only seek to understand him to better care for his needs!
Some additional information that might help:
Borris arrived in june of last year as a captive born (distinct from captive bred as many of you surely know) baby. That would probably make him a year and 3 months old give or take some.
He measures around 21 inches from head to tail. That is a rough measurement because Borris apparently does not like tape measures. Seeing as he insists on investigating or running from the tape measure the moment I set it next to him, I am shooting from the hip but can safely say it's accurate within an inch.
I could not get a photo of his belly without mishandling him. I don't have enough hands to do so! His belly is mostly white with salmon pink tinting on his throat and belly.
Borris has been always been on the timid side, though fairly he's been content to be handled from the beginning as long as he feels well grounded. He never tries to bite or create aggressive displays. This makes me hesitate to think I got a wild caught indonesian.
I attached a couple of photos, but if any additional shots or information is needed, I am willing to provide and Borris is a patient enough specimen to survive another photoshoot.
The close-up photo looks upside-down in the preview despite being rightside-up on my phone! I have no idea how to fix that! Sorry if it's oriented wrong on your end, folks!