What is this?

[A.VinczeBTs]

So, as I mentioned before, I am looking into getting a BTS. Now, I saw one in the store (I visit often as they beat prices for f/t rats) and I asked about him (or her, I have no idea).
They are a reptile store, and they told me it was Indonesian/eastern, I asked which and they said that that's just what the breeder told them. They also confirmed it was CB, but since the owner wasn't in I couldn't find out too much more.

I took some pics, to me he might be indo...but could also be Irian. I know nothing mind you, so asking you guys!

[Kbell31]

I think its tail is too clean to be an Indo, Merauke baby?

[Katrina]

It is definitely some sort of Tiliqua gigas species. Not Eastern. Merauke / IJ look similar when young and it looks kind of in between the two anyway.

I would bet a lot of money that it isn't captive born and bred, but instead captive born to a wild caught mother. It is the right time of year for wild caught skinks to be giving birth / have babies around that size. So if captive born and bred is important to you, I would look elsewhere. It is mostly likely from an importer who had a gravid WC skink give birth.

It probably would make a fine pet, although getting it checked for parasites would be recommended. But if you don't want to support the import industry then look to get one from an actual breeder.

[A.VinczeBTs]

Yeah I thought of that too, plus the stripes are too thick for indo from what I've seen. :O
But again, I don't know these things, and until the owner contacts me I won't find more info.

Before I decide on him I need to know who they got it from, I don't support imports. (Well, there are some exceptions) He is a cute little guy, but I don't have everything I need anyway yet. It was more out of curiosity.

[Katrina]

Yeah, it can't hurt to ask. And it probably would make an excellent pet.

I just noticed you are in Ontario - there is an excellent breeder there who has absolutely stunning Northerns. If you can wait a while, he should have babies in June/July. Or you can keep him in mind for your second bluey!

Fatal_S on this forum is in Manitoba and also produces gorgeous Northern babies, but again - she won't have any until Julyish. At least there are a couple options though!

[Fatal_S]

Looks like one of the newer kind of Merauke. Kat's probably right about it being from a WC mother.

[A.VinczeBTs]

Who is the breeder in Ontario?! :O Didn't even know there was anyone up here, haha, seemed like just random people who have no idea about the history of their animals.

And not sure if it matters, but the little dude above has checkers belly, black and white not the reddish some have. I think IJ usually have ared belly...

[Fatal_S]

John Delahaye (Pink T. Monkey) breeds Northerns. He didn't get any babies this year, but he's been breeding for many years. He's fantastic. Hopefully he'll have some litters this summer If you want his e-mail, send me a PM.

[supersnakeman101]

DSCN1906.JPG

my bluey looks almost the exsact same but the breeder said it was a IJ what breeder did you get it from

[Fatal_S]

The first thing to look for when wondering if it's an IJ or a Merauke is the stripe on the back of the neck. IJs tend to have a trident shape, or even 5 stripes. Meraukes have 1. That's my biggest tip-off for IJ/Merauke.

Now SuperSnakeMan, your skink is a New Merauke. It has the one line on the neck and the gorgeous speckly front legs we see in Meraukes. But it's also very colorful, has very thick, bands and has dark marks on the head. These are signs it's not a Classic Merauke. So right now we're calling them newer-Meraukes, simply for lack of a proper locality/type to call them.

A.VinczeBTs, the photo you posted shows the same characteristics. It's slightly closer to the classic look in that the bands are thinner, the tail is much longer, and the marking on the head is not as pronounced, but it still doesn't totally fit the Classic Merauke description so it falls into the newer Merauke group.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Merauke, and I'm sure of it

[supersnakeman101]

ok can you show me pics of the adults

[A.VinczeBTs]

Again, I don't actually own him, or any BTS yet. I saw it in a store, and asked about him. He's very cute, but I'm still waiting to hear back from the owner on where he came from. I may still get him, because I support their store, (it's the only one that doesn't stink, I mean literally, used to be two other stores, animals were terrible shape, and everything smelled unclean) but I don't have everything set up, and I'm in no rush to do so.

Just wanted to know more about him.

[realis88]

nice merauke