Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

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ReptileLover567
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Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby ReptileLover567 » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:00 pm

What size enclosure is good for baby Blue tongue skinks? I'm not getting anything under 40 gallons, because I know skinks grow fast and I don't want to have to buy a another tank ( not for a while at least, i'll probably up-size in a couple years). Can an enclosure be too big for a baby? There are some really big tanks (70 gallon, 86 gallon, 112 gallon, and a 170 gallon,) available second hand for pretty cheap. There are also smaller ones just as cheap, I just want to know what a good size is. :)
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby Blotchedskinks » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:25 pm

Hey reptile lover
My baby blotched blue tongue tongue is currently in a 2 ft by 1 ft tank and it fits him perfectly for his size. From what I've heard from others getting enormous tanks for tiny babies can be fine so long as there is plenty of hiding spaces, fake or live plants and other ornaments so they can feel secure and safe in there enclosure. They only problem is it will be a pain getting them out If needed especially if they've got a flighty personality.
Hope this helps. :thumbs: :blah:
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby NorthEastBlue » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:26 pm

http://bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

Read the care sheet, buying an enclosure sized for a baby doesnt really work, they grow very fast. Plan ahead early, but gallons dont mean much when it comes to size for a skink, they need the floor space more than the cubic feet, so a 40gal tall is no good.

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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby donkeybuff » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:30 pm

I don't think you can go too big, as long as you have enough decor/hides/substrate depth to make your skink feel secure. Remember, blueys need floor space more than they need tank height, so get the tank with the most floor space that you can. If you want a permanent enclosure, anything with floor dimensions 36 (inches or more) by 18 inches (or more) will work.
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby ReptileLover567 » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:34 pm

Thanks for the Info! And I always make sure that the tanks are at least 3ft long, 18 inches wide, and at least a foot tall. I've seen plenty of enclosures for sale that are a great price and 4-50 gallons, but are like 2ft long, a foot wide, and 4ft tall, which would be useless for a skink, because they can't climb very well.
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby Scotts1au » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:38 pm

For a baby, I prefer them not to brumate in their first year, so a smaller enclosure can help prevent them going into brumation, particularly if you are able to maintain temperatures.
If you wait, all that happens is that you get older. M. Andretti
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby ReptileLover567 » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:47 pm

Scotts1au wrote:For a baby, I prefer them not to brumate in their first year, so a smaller enclosure can help prevent them going into brumation, particularly if you are able to maintain temperatures.


how else can you prevent brumation? I will be getting a temp gun to help me monitor the temperature of its enclosure. Will that help?
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby ReptileLover567 » Sun Jul 20, 2014 10:53 pm

Would an 40" long 20" wide 25" tall terrarium be too big? It's the only second hand one that opens from the front I can find that's a decent price.
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby donkeybuff » Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:11 pm

That sounds like a great size for a baby or an adult.
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Tank size

Postby Eliott-the-lizard » Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:02 pm

I just bought a 2 foot by 1 foot tank and was hoping to keep 2 baby blueys in it for a while, Is the tank too small?
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Re: Enclosure size for baby blue tongue?

Postby mb606587 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:07 am

I would work on separating them. Many aren't successful trying to cohab and it will be especially risky as the skinks grow and are in tight quarters. And that size enclosure may work for the skink's first few months but both skinks will quickly outgrow it.

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