on waiting list for northern bts!

[spencerb]

Hi I am on the waiting list and I would like to know if their is anything you notice about Northerns then the many other types thanks!

[Richard.C]

Only thing i can think of is the aggression they can sometimes have to cage mates,males and females,but in particular males the power they put into it is amazing,and the speed,i have no experience with non aussie species but havnt seen that level in other aussie species,not even easterns

They have great personalitiy though with people as a rule,the odd one like any species can not play ball there though,lol

[spencerb]

Only thing i can think of is the aggression they can sometimes have to cage mates,males and females,but in particular males the power they put into it is amazing,and the speed,i have no experience with non aussie species but havnt seen that level in other aussie species,not even easterns

They have great personalitiy though with people as a rule,the odd one like any species can not play ball there though,lol

Thanks so much i am very excited!

[Richard.C]

Apart from northerns,i keep others in prs to groups,thats stumpies,blotched,easterns,westerns and centralians,even a few northerns are together,but thats risky,as they could change behaviour

Theres always exceptions,even stumpies may not like a cage mate and fight,but generally they get along pretty well,maybe the odd squabble in breeding season if you have alot of males

[nmcnick]

Apart from northerns,i keep others in prs to groups,thats stumpies,blotched,easterns,westerns and centralians,even a few northerns are together,but thats risky,as they could change behaviour

Theres always exceptions,even stumpies may not like a cage mate and fight,but generally they get along pretty well,maybe the odd squabble in breeding season if you have alot of males

Really? Wow, interesting.. I've got much left to learn. Are these as adults or juveniles? Everywhere I go everyone says "Don't even think about putting skinks together, especially males!!" Have you heard anything about the interaction of Irian Jayas or Meraukes (any Indonesian species, really) and how they get along?

[Richard.C]

Nope have zero first hand experience with non aussie species,have heard some are fiesty though

This is with juvies and adults,if i see agonistic behaviour i do have to seperate sometimes,but mostly with multi males outdoors,indoors i try avoid having males together,but some get along even indoors,keeping seperate does rule out any sudden agrression if they do decide to turn

As theres always the potential to ones can get along for years then all of a sudden turn

[Jeff]

It's ALWAYS safest to house blueys individually. Some can live together ok, but as Richard said, even if they have had no issues for years, it is fairly common to hear stories about how someone came home to find one of their bts seriously injured or dead. There is just no way to know if any particular pair or group is safe to keep together until they all die of old age. Most people conclude that it is not worth the risk to keep them together.

I keep my shinglebacks in a group, but even with them there is some fighting among certain males during breeding season. These are maybe the most laid back lizards on the planet! I struggle with what to say when people ask about keeping them together. I want to be honest and say it is possible sometimes, but I really don't want to give anyone the impression that it is safe, or a good idea. I don't do it with any of my other bts besides the rugosa.

[Susann]

nmcnick, I think it's worth noting that most people who keep any other species than Shinglebacks together in groups are generally people who keep them in large outdoor areas with lots of space and many places to hide if someone gets aggressive. These are usually not people keeping them indoors in tanks.

[nmcnick]

Thanks Susann and Jeff, makes it a lot more clear Yeah, I don't think this would be the right option for me, I just didn't realize it was possible at all. I've heard a lot of mixed responses about housing bearded dragons and leopard geckos together before but I'd always heard you could never keep blueys together. If I ever did, I would probably have a male and female and separate the terrarium until breeding season.

Just for curiosity's sake, Jeff and Richard, how big are your enclosures?

[Richard.C]

Im one of the oddballs that does it indoors and out :p

Suprisingly saw less issues indoors,but had less together indoors i guess

Indoors from 4x2x2 up to 7 x2x2,the odd 4x3 X2 as well

Outdoors 4 metres by 3 metres floor space

[nmcnick]

Hm, thanks! Its good to know these things for future reference, if, you know, I ever get into breeding as a hobby myself.

[Richard.C]

The good thing with housing seperatly is u have more control,and it prevents sudden nasty outcomes,cant just turn on cage mates if they are alone

Could be better for breeding to,often they show more interest with a non familiar

[nmcnick]

Have any of you witnessed nasty outcomes first hand?

[Fatal_S]

Generally (remember, every skink is an individual), I find northerns to be a very active and outgoing species. They are often very brave/bold and love exploring. They are also quite intelligent and quickly learn how to get whatever it is that they want. Because of their nature, I find that most northerns are great family pets - they're hardy and brave so they often do well with children. A few tend to be on the shier side, so those ones usually do better in single-person or adult-only homes where they don't have to deal with so much activity. Since they are so active, I believe in giving them as much tank space as possible, and taking them out regularly for exploration time. They are very interactive and make really fantastic pets

[Richard.C]

Yes,last season i put 2 northern males that werent showing alot of interest in females together,and bang it woke them up,one grabbed other hard and they went into crocodile rolls,i quickly grabbed and seperated them,they were lethargic and lazy,but as soon as second male was put down,they both were like different lizards,intent on harming each other

Left together could have been a disaster

The blotchies outside ,theres a higher population of males,twice as many as females,in breeding season some have scuffles,lots of chasing and biting,usually head bites,nothing as serious as ive seen in northerns,but some years wild males are attracted to my outdoor cages,they scence cycling females,one year i put a couple of them in and straight away all the captive males set apon them,picture ten adult males intent on a new comer,lets just say i didnt do that again,and grabbed them out and sent them on there way before anything serious happened,if left theu would be polaxed

Easterns ive seen pursuits,similar to blotchies but unlike them not restricted to mating season

Centralians like stumpies,a little male agro

Westerns a female telling male off in mating period

Stumpies,males mostly nudging others away in lead up to mating,the odd mellow bite

[Richard.C]

Like jeff and susann said,most house seperarly to avoid having to see nasty outcomes

[spencerb]

Generally (remember, every skink is an individual), I find northerns to be a very active and outgoing species. They are often very brave/bold and love exploring. They are also quite intelligent and quickly learn how to get whatever it is that they want. Because of their nature, I find that most northerns are great family pets - they're hardy and brave so they often do well with children. A few tend to be on the shier side, so those ones usually do better in single-person or adult-only homes where they don't have to deal with so much activity. Since they are so active, I believe in giving them as much tank space as possible, and taking them out regularly for exploration time. They are very interactive and make really fantastic pets

Thanks now i am even more excited!!!!