I am about to purchase a skink but I wonder what skink it is

[meemai]

Hello,

I saw on a site over here a skink he's in a 120x70x50 cm tank.

He looks like this http://postimg.org/image/mnbrhnpfx/

I wonder if the cage is alright for him, and if I can take him over from this guy. He or she is 2 years old and well I think I will like skinks. I just have to read lots of caresheets and check how to feed them!

[Kurt]

merauke

[meemai]

merauke

Thanks, are these easy to keep for a beginner?

[UroFreak13]

Yes they are quite social and nice looking

[meemai]

Yes they are quite social and nice looking

Thanks that's cool to know. I just hope he won't be to picky with his food. The nice thing is that I can feed them a lot, though I do not know if they are big eaters.

[Kurt]

My Merauke is a little picky, not too bad though. He loves snails and mice, likes meat a lot, and will eat fresh veggies. He doesn't like fruit very much or frozen veggies. I think it depends on the skink though, some are just better eaters than others.

[meemai]

My Merauke is a little picky, not too bad though. He loves snails and mice, likes meat a lot, and will eat fresh veggies. He doesn't like fruit very much or frozen veggies. I think it depends on the skink though, some are just better eaters than others.

I see that makes sense, I just hope I can find a fun and good pet in them. A mate or somekind.

[Dakota]

Looks like a "New-Form" Merauke, to me.. but then again, I'm not the best at Gigas..

[Kurt]

Looks like a "New-Form" Merauke, to me.. but then again, I'm not the best at Gigas..

What makes you say that?

[Dakota]

His head mostly.. Irian Jayas have more of a thicker head to me, and Meraukes have a long flat (Meaning not as thick).. and the banding it slightly thicker..

But his feet are mostly black, but can't see the stripe to actually tell..

Do you see what I'm seeing, or is it just me?

[Dakota]

I have a feeling someone is going to comment saying head-size has nothing to do with Gigas determining, and I'm completely wrong.. I'm just waiting..

Again guys, definitely a Merauke.. I just thought it resembled a "New Form", also.

[Kurt]

I don't think head size has anything to do with it. I think it's mostly the banding. Looks classic to me but the whole classic/new form classification is kind of arbitrary.

[donkeybuff]

Classic or new form, it's still Tiliqua Gigas Evanescens.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Classic or new form, it's still Tiliqua Gigas Evanescens.

Classic, new form, or IJ, it's still T.G. Evanescens

[Bluish]

Classic or new form, it's still Tiliqua Gigas Evanescens.

Classic, new form, or IJ, it's still T.G. Evanescens

That's good to know. I disagree with that classification but I'm just a novice hobbyist. The experts have classified them as you are stating though.
I'm having a really hard time finding female Meraukes. I might start acquiring some of the female Irian Jayas that have been available to put with my boys. It would go against my beliefs in creating what I consider hybrids but since they are the same sub species I should learn to put my own thoughts on that matter aside.

[Bluish]

Yes they are quite social and nice looking

Thanks that's cool to know. I just hope he won't be to picky with his food. The nice thing is that I can feed them a lot, though I do not know if they are big eaters.

I find they are pretty good at eating a variety of foods. Some of them were a bit picky when I first got them but after a while they seem to accept most things on their food dish. They've got big appetites so you have to keep an eye on their weight.

[Lea]

Ummm, I don't mean to be a dampener on this exciting new event that is getting a new skink ... But, have you considered that there maybe more than looking into more than just the identification of species, that might be paramount before a purchase?

You admit to little knowledge of skinks and this purchase looks to be more of a whim, than a thought through buy. Please try to refrain from buying this animal, as wonderful as they are to own, until you have done a little research. They are magnificent animals and deserve a lot of care and respect. While I understand you may feel you can and will give them all they need, sometimes it's worth a little waiting to save the pain and heartache of making a mistake during the first weeks and months of ownership due to ill preparation.

Please ask lots of questions and don't feel judged by my comments- we have all been there at some point, faced with a wonderfully unique skink in front of us that we badly want to own, but they deserve the time spent researching them first.

[meemai]

Ummm, I don't mean to be a dampener on this exciting new event that is getting a new skink ... But, have you considered that there maybe more than looking into more than just the identification of species, that might be paramount before a purchase?

You admit to little knowledge of skinks and this purchase looks to be more of a whim, than a thought through buy. Please try to refrain from buying this animal, as wonderful as they are to own, until you have done a little research. They are magnificent animals and deserve a lot of care and respect. While I understand you may feel you can and will give them all they need, sometimes it's worth a little waiting to save the pain and heartache of making a mistake during the first weeks and months of ownership due to ill preparation.

Please ask lots of questions and don't feel judged by my comments- we have all been there at some point, faced with a wonderfully unique skink in front of us that we badly want to own, but they deserve the time spent researching them first.

Your 100% right, I have some exerpience with reptiles, and as a kid I always had the wish to become a vet. I like animals I'm an animal man.

Of course I will keep asking questions and read topics in this forum. If I buy him I will not buy him right now, but rather over 4 weeks. The thing is I found a really nice deal on one with a really nice tank. Now I do understand skinks are curious and everything, which I like. So I will of course try to get more information. I know they get old I have a crested gecko that will also become 20 or something.