Northern or Mix?

[nsducktoller]

This is my new skink. I purchased him hoping to breed him to my female Northern. However, a friend of mine thinks that he is not a pure Northern, but perhaps is mixed with Eastern. Easterns are very uncommon around Ontario as far as I know so that would surprise me. Any opinions?

[Janella]

Looks like a Northern to me.

[underlashes]

It looks like a northern to me as well. I have a pure northern with that same excessive white cutting through the black markings on the sides. That might be the source of uncertainty.

Any chance you could trace it back to the parents or ask where it came from originally to be 100% certain? I would be hesitant breed it otherwise and it'd be nice to have that info for breeding anyway.

[jdheff1982]

I vote for mix. The head has a different shape and the tail should be a mess of browns, blacks, and whites (unless it is still a juvi or younger). Look at my gallery at the link in my sig. It has pics from juvi-hood up until most recent.

[underlashes]

I vote for mix. The head has a different shape and the tail should be a mess of browns, blacks, and whites (unless it is still a juvi or younger). Look at my gallery at the link in my sig. It has pics from juvi-hood up until most recent.

That's a good point. Mine was very slow to get a messily patterned tail, and I've seen northerns retain the pattern on theirs for much longer which is why I thought nothing of it. Retaining the tail pattern is not typical though and is largely dependent on the individual skink. I see where you're coming from with the headshape too, though I can't offer much in regards to it.

I still think in any case, you should try to trace it back to the breeder or breed one that you know the lineage of, OP. You wouldn't want to breed something you're not sure of.

[splashy07]

I thought Northern until Jeff mentioned the head shape, I've never seen a Northern/Eastern cross but I imagine
it might just look similar.

[SleepyCheesy]

Nope, that's a Northern BTS.

[alichamp]

Sleepycheesy, how can you be so sure?

[nsducktoller]

I purchased the animal from a reptile pet shop. The owner is knowledgeable about reptiles in general and this one was well cared for, but he may not have been able to tell a mix from a pure Northern. It is a big one (I think male based on head and body shape) so not immature.

[splashy07]

The more I look the more confuse I get. The tail bands are throwing me off. Northern x IJ???
Anyway, nice looking one.

[jdheff1982]

I wonder if the OP and chronai bought their bts from the same expo? Both members are from Canada and have the same story as to how they acquired their bts.

[nsducktoller]

I didn't purchase him at an expo. I bought him from a reptile pet shop.

I frequently see Indonesian BTS for sale mislabeled as Northern both at expos and in pet shops, but this is a particularly good store with very well cared for animals. That does not mean the owner could not have made a mistake, but I trust that he would not knowingly misidentify an animal.

[starscream3232]

Better clearer pictures will help. Nice clear overhead view and a nice side view pic.

[jdheff1982]

I didn't purchase him at an expo. I bought him from a reptile pet shop.

I frequently see Indonesian BTS for sale mislabeled as Northern both at expos and in pet shops, but this is a particularly good store with very well cared for animals. That does not mean the owner could not have made a mistake, but I trust that he would not knowingly misidentify an animal.

You are right. I don't why I thought you bought yours from an expo. My bad.

[splashy07]

Sorry John. Looked quick and just saw the 'j' and the 'eff' Now it's MY bad...anyway, I recently had to tell friends of mine who own a reptile shop and have been in the reptile biz for years that they had a BTS mis-labeled in their store.
Someone had brought it in that could no longer keep it. Was labelled as an IJ. It was clearly one hundred percent northern. If it had been sold as an IJ they'd have lost a few hundred dollars. Now whenever they get an oddball looking import they'll ask me what it is. No clue myself sometimes, as many Meraukes and IJ's breed in their holding bins before being shipped out of their country. Blue tongue skink has become a generic term for the uneducated, and surprisingly many in the business are. Northerns are seldom seen in pet shops around here, unless they're brought in by someone who doesn't want it anymore. I do not know of any BTS breeders around here that would sell to pet shops. I know I certainly wouldn't.

[jdheff1982]

Sorry John. Looked quick and just saw the 'j' and the 'eff' Now it's MY bad...anyway, I recently had to tell friends of mine who own a reptile shop and have been in the reptile biz for years that they had a BTS mis-labeled in their store.
Someone had brought it in that could no longer keep it. Was labelled as an IJ. It was clearly one hundred percent northern. If it had been sold as an IJ they'd have lost a few hundred dollars. Now whenever they get an oddball looking import they'll ask me what it is. No clue myself sometimes, as many Meraukes and IJ's breed in their holding bins before being shipped out of their country. Blue tongue skink has become a generic term for the uneducated, and surprisingly many in the business are. Northerns are seldom seen in pet shops around here, unless they're brought in by someone who doesn't want it anymore. I do not know of any BTS breeders around here that would sell to pet shops. I know I certainly wouldn't.

Don't worry about it. Others here have called me Jeff in the past. The first 2 letters of my username are my initials followed by part of my last name.

[BD99]

Hey man. Perhaps this will help.

This is an 8 year old female Eastern Bluetongue. Ignore the bumps on the ribs, its mating injury scartissue from before I got her.
She was sold to me as a Pure, ex breeder's prized girl who was sold in a lot once the breeder retired.

Hopefully you can get a good comparison with shapes and markings.

[nsducktoller]

Here are a few more pictures for clarification

[nsducktoller]

And one more, with my pretty girl Aphrodite, who is definitely Northern