Bluey "Language"?

[DimetroDork]

I think it would be interesting if there was a sort of "key" to blue tongue behaviors and mannerisms, like what all their actions mean. For example:

Huffing - Annoyed, "stop that"
Hissing - Angry, "back off"

stuff like that, but more in depth. This would be so useful for someone new to a blue tongue, and it would be interesting to hear about all of your skinks' behaviors that they do, common or unique to them specifically.
If you have any ideas for how to do this or have any behaviors of your own and what they mean, I'd love to hear them!

[Susann]

I think this thread is a good start; if there seems to be enough great interpretations of skink behavior we can see about making the thread stay more visible.
I'm afraid you've already hit on pretty much the only common ones. And the others are anger/defence mechanisms as well, so I'm not thinking it's anything that would be greatly helpful for most owners (as I hope we're not making our skinks ticked off or making them feel the need to defend themselves THAT often), but let's see what you all come up with.

[Dakota]

Tail wiggling as a sign of intimidation, nervousness, or a sign of "BITE HERE INSTEAD!"

Body shielding as a sign of "BACK OFF, I'M BIG!" or to keep opponent from latching on.

[DimetroDork]

What about unusual behaviors, maybe more owner-specific ones? Like I've heard of arm waving or their blueys giving them certain looks or head tilts - stuff like that.
Or even smaller ones, like the nose whistle or lots of licking. Sometimes mine will seem excited and poke his nose at one particular spot and his nose will get all whistley. Is it excitement, curiosity?
I hope the thread expands!

[Snowysmom]

Closing their eyes can mean they either like something like if you are rubbing their head and they can be relaxed or it can mean they are trying to block you out and want you to go away. It's like they are freezing up. So, 2 very different meanings.

[NickBrahz]

If it lifts/curves it tail up, watch out it's either going to pee or poop or both.

[Spooky]

For me, I speak to my bluey a lot. From outside the tank and when he's inside. When he's outside the tank and I'm holding him, I tend to hold him up to eye level with me so it doesn't seem like I'm just some loud creature talking down to him. And it fascinates me because he will look directly at me without being distracted anywhere else as I am talking to him. Of course I give him pets after awhile and he gets sleepy eyes. <3

When I talk to him while he's in his tank, there's usually two situations for me.

When he's buried under his substrate and I say something to him, his breathing pattern changes. Now I'm not sure if I may have spooked him though(because I understand I came out of nowhere and just started making noise at him). But after I coo at him and talk to him for about a minute or so, he comes out and just looks at me.

When he's NOT under substrate and I approach and talk to him, he looks at me and I can see him slightly react by watching his eyes and flicking his tongue. I suppose depending on what I say and the level of my tone, he will actually look like he's trying to comprehend the noise that I'm making. And when I walk away from his tank after speaking to him, he lifts his head to watch me leave.

I dunno, this is just something that I've kinda observed hah. They're definitely intelligent creatures!

[Susann]

Tilting defense.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uja6KKxfY0s

Meaning: "step away from me; I am big and ferocious and will possibly chew your arm off!"

[NickBrahz]

Tilting defense.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uja6KKxfY0s

Meaning: "step away from me; I am big and ferocious and will possibly chew your arm off!"

Wow i've never even heard of that or seen that before, is that something they do rarely or only at a young age?

[Susann]

With captives it is much more common at a young age, I've only ever seen it in my little ones; I imagine it happens more commonly in the wild. It is a way of making themselves appear much bigger to whatever they perceive as a threat.