Feed your blue-tailed skink the following live foods:
- Crickets
- Dubia roaches
- Earthworms
- Mealworms
- Waxworms
- Drosophila fruit flies
What do blue-tailed skinks eat?
Insects are vital prey for most blue-tailed skinks that live in the wild, and usually form the bulk of their diet. In addition to the insects listed above, these lizards also eat grasshoppers, spiders, beetles, and flies. Skinks will even eat the larval forms of these insects, if they can find them.
What do you feed a baby skink?
You can feed them live crickets, mealworms, and waxworms. Sprinkle food with calcium daily and use a mineral supplement once or twice a week, according to Pet Depot. Pet Ponder says to feed a baby skink ants, worms, centipedes, and flies. Larger or adult skinks can be fed spiders, grasshoppers, and beetles.
How do you take care of a blue tailed skink?
They also like high humidity, which can be achieved by lightly misting the enclosure once a day. Female skinks can be kept together, but more than one male in a habitat will result in aggression. Feeding a blue-tailed skink In the wild, skinks prey on a wide variety of insects, spiders, and other small bugs.
How much to feed a blue tongue skink?
Blue tongue skinks don’t need to eat much at all, but offer babies (under 3 months old) as much as they can eat, 2-3 times a day, 6 days a week. In general, adult blue tongue skink’s portion size should be 1-2 tablespoons of food. What is the best time to feed a blue tongue skink?
How do you take care of a baby skink?
Damp substrate should keep the tank humid, but you also need to provide your skink with a water bowl. Get a shallow water bowl for the tank big enough for your skink to lie down in. Give your skink plenty of space to dig and hide. Skinks will get bored or anxious if they don't have hiding spaces in their tank.
What do blue-tailed skinks need to survive?
Create a dense leafy area for hiding and another area for basking. Provide clean, chlorine-free water in a shallow bowl that cannot be tipped over. Provide 12-14 hrs of light daily. Use a UVB flourescent bulb with full spectrum.
Can blue-tailed skinks eat fruit?
Fruits and Veggies Feed your adult Blue Tailed Skink kale, collard greens, red-tipped apple slices, figs, berries, and the occasional apple slices to keep them happy and healthy.
How do you raise a blue-tailed skink?
For both species you must:Provide branches and vegetation.Provide a light source and basking spot.Feed calcium-dusted and gut-loaded insects.Provide water, use a mister, and keep humidity correct.Keep adult blue-tailed skinks in a terrarium of at least 20 gallons per one skink.
What do baby skinks eat and drink?
Skinks love: Eating insects – crickets, moths and cockroaches are favourites. A place to hide – lizards have a good chance of escaping predators if your garden includes logs, small bundles of sticks and dense ground cover.
What do you feed a baby skink?
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What human food can skinks eat?
Safe foods for them to eat are pumpkin, carrots, collard greens, dandelion greens, cabbage, green beans, arugula, berries, squash, papaya, and more. Do not feed your pet skink citrus fruits. These fruits could kill your lizard. If you want to give them a sweet treat, opt for bananas or strawberries instead.
Do skinks eat lettuce?
Yes, your blue tongue skink can eat lettuce, but only small amounts mixed in a salad, and mainly for water. Lettuce of all types is low in nutrition, and too much can also cause diarrhea. Romaine lettuce is the most nutritious of all lettuces.
How long can skinks go without food?
A blue tongue skink can go weeks without eating – blue tongue skinks during brumation can go up to 3 months without food. However, this is not recommended outside brumation – babies will not survive for too long because they don't have as much internal fat storage as adults.
Do skinks eat fruit?
They can also feed on fruit and vegetables, but the vegetables have to be cooked for the skink to be able to eat it. Skinks especially love bananas and strawberries etc. (citrus fruit).
Do skinks like water?
They love to eat — and not just meat! They need fresh drinking water available at all times and a vitamin/mineral supplement containing vitamin D3 (offered twice a week to adults and every other day to growing juveniles).
Can I keep a blue tail lizard as a pet?
Pet Ponder says a blue-tailed skink makes a good pet because they are easy to care for. Because they are reptiles, they require a warm spot in which to bask to increase their body temperature. These animals also like abundant places to hide such as caves or rocks they can crawl under.
What do blue tail skinks eat?
Summary. Blue-tailed skinks eat insects, small animals, and plants. While you can technically feed them a wide variety of foods that fit one of these three categories, there are a few options that are safer and healthier than the rest: Crickets. Silkworms.
What is the best food for a blue tail skink?
Crickets are a tasty and healthy meal for blue-tailed skinks. If you plan on using crickets in your lizard’s diet, I recommend Fluker’s Freeze Dried Crickets (available on Amazon). Crickets are one of the primary food sources for blue-tailed skinks in the wild.
What to feed skinks?
If you plan on feeding your skink fruits and veggies, these types are your best bet: 1 Kale 2 Red-tipped lettuce 3 Collard greens 4 Apple slices 5 Berries 6 Figs
What do lizards eat?
Soft-Bodied Prey. A majority of lizards, including blue-tailed skinks, will eat earthworms when the opportunity presents itself. They will also consume small snails and slugs whenever possible. As a rule of thumb, only provide your pet with snails that are the size of their eye or smaller.
How many live larvae are in a Black Soldier pack?
This pack comes with a 500 count of live larvae, so you can expect to have sufficient food to last a couple of weeks.
Do skinks eat insects?
Skinks will even eat the larval forms of these insects, if they can find them. Because of their insectivorous nature, feeding insects to your blue-tailed skink in captivity will mimic its diet in the wild.
Can you feed a blue tail skink spiders?
Some adventurous keepers drop small arachnids into their blue-tailed skink’s tank from time to time. I don’t recommend this . While your skink might have fun catching and eating it, you should generally avoid feeding it spiders or scorpions .
Where do blue tail skinks live?
The Blue-tailed Skink, also known as the ‘Shinning-skink’ or the ‘Christmas Island Blue-tailed’, is a species of skink that is indigenous to the Christmas Island of Australia. Historical data have revealed that, these humble, non-poisonous reptiles were once feral and widespread throughout the island. Though, from around the late 1980s, these creatures started to decline in numbers across the Christmas Island.
How long does it take for blue tail skinks to hatch?
They are oviparous and generally lay two eggs at a time. Their hatching period is approximately 75 days.
What is the difference between a blue tailed skink and a five-lined skink?
The main physical difference between the blue-tailed skink ( Cryptoblepharus egeriae) with the five-lined skink ( Plestiodon fasciatus) is that, unlike the five-lined skinks, the former is relatively smaller, with a black body having yellow stripes that run down to a bright blue tail.
What is the color of a skink's tail?
Like people often mistake, these skinks are not closely related to the Plestiodon skinks of North America, the juveniles of which are known for their blue tails. A regenerated tail of these skinks are often the color as the body (and not blue), and is also slightly shorter than the original tail.
How much does a skink weigh?
Weight: Average weight of the skinks is about 10-18 ounces. Skin/Coat Color: The baby skinks exhibit a dark black complexion with bright yellow stripes on the back of their necks that run down to the juncture of the tail. Adults begin losing their yellow stripes with age. The black back takes to the brownish side.
Why are skinks' tails blue?
The skink can regenerate its tail. The bright blue pigmentation on the tail is to direct the attention of the predator towards it, instead of the vulnerable body of the skink.
What color is the black back of a squid?
The black back takes to the brownish side. During mating season, the neck starts growing a reddish color. Females continue to keep their blue tail throughout their life. Feet: Their feet are fairly long and are almost rectangular in shape with five claws in each foot adapted to grip branches properly.
Background Information
The Pacific blue-tailed skink and American blue-tailed skink are different species of skink, but overlap in many ways.
Physical Description
You can recognize a blue-tailed skink by its bright blue tail and light stripes.
Blue Tailed Skink Buying Tips
When you’re buying a blue-tailed skink, look for reputable reptile breeders in your area.
What Do Blue-Tailed Skinks Eat?
Blue-tailed skinks feed on a wide variety of insects but they also consume other arthropods and even small vertebrates.
Blue-Tailed Skink Habitat and Tank Setup
In the wild, blue-tailed skinks live in hardwood forests, on the edges of thick bush, and in rocky places. You can find them on:
Breeding
Male skinks use courtship behavior, chemical cues and vision to locate females.
Blue-Tailed Skink Behavior
These skinks have diurnal habits so you won’t find them active at night. They avoid predators by running away and hiding.
What Do Baby Skinks Eat In The Wild
Before looking at what do baby skinks eat, first you need to get familiar with their diet in the wild.
What Do Baby Skinks Eat As Pets
Knowing what do baby skinks eat in the wild is as important as knowing what to feed them when kept as a pet. In captivity, baby blue tongue lizard diet slightly varies from that of an adult.
How To Feed A Baby Skink?
Knowing what do baby skinks eat is as important as knowing how to feed them safely. The best way to feed your baby Blue tongue skink is until they are full and then immediately remove any leftovers.
Baby Skinks Diet – Feeding Schedule And Portions
In terms what food portions to feed a baby Blue tongue lizard, the food should be no bigger than the size of their head. Furthermore, each serving should be as big as 1-2 tablespoons of food.
Baby Skink Foods Reccomendations
The following are kitten kibble brands that are perfect for the first 3 months of your skink’s life:
Foods To Avoid Feeding To A Baby Skink
Now that you know what do baby skinks eat, it’s time to learn what foods to avoid such as:
Final Thoughts
Blue tongue skinks are omnivorous by nature. In the wild, they eat a varied diet of dead animals, live bugs, fruits, vegetables, berries and other foods that they come across.
How to care for blue tail skinks?
These animals also like abundant places to hide such as caves or rocks they can crawl under. When setting up a habitat such as an aquarium, make sure the skink can not escape from it. Add moss or other plant material, a water source, and rocks and branches for the skinks to climb on.
What do skinks eat?
In the wild, skinks prey on a wide variety of insects, spiders, and other small bugs. You can feed them live crickets, mealworms, and waxworms. Sprinkle food with calcium daily and use a mineral supplement once or twice a week, according to Pet Depot. Pet Ponder says to feed a baby skink ants , worms, centipedes, and flies.
What are blue tail lizards called?
Some people might call a blue-tailed skink a blue-tailed lizard or a blue-tailed salamander. While lizards and salamanders look similar, they are not the same. Lizards do not have the same life cycle that skinks do. Reptile Magazine explains that lizards and skinks are reptiles and salamanders are amphibians. Amphibians have a life cycle in which they are born in water and live in water for their early life. Then, they transition to living life in both water and on land. Reptiles are born on land and live their lives on land.
Why are blue tail skinks a good pet?
Because they are reptiles, they require a warm spot in which to bask to increase their body temperature. These animals also like abundant places to hide such as caves or rocks they can crawl under.
Why is the blue tailed lizard called a skink?
It is sometimes called a five-lined skink due to the yellowish stripes on its sides and back that lead into a bright blue tail. They are common in the wild in some parts of the country and also make good pets because they are easy to care for and eat food that is easy to acquire. This blue-tailed lizard has a striking appearance.
Why are skinks called scorpions?
People call them that because they are believed to have a venomous sting. The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory says this is completely false. But the origin of this belief may have come ...
What is a blue tailed skink?
Cuteness may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. A blue-tailed skink is a black and yellow-striped lizard. It is sometimes called a five-lined skink due to the yellowish stripes on its sides and back that lead into a bright blue tail. They are common in the wild in some parts of the country and also make good pets ...
Keeping Your Pet Reptile Healthy and Happy
The blue-tongued skink continues to be one of the most popular “beginner” pets for new reptile owners. It’s not hard to see why: Along with being colorful and fun to watch, the blue-tongued skink is easy-going and relatively low maintenance. His size will range between 18 and 24 inches as an adult.
Prepare your grocery list
These are just a few of our favorite vegetable and fruit options for blue-tongued skinks:
What to feed blue tongue skink?
Please feed your blue tongue skink mainly live feeder bugs for protein. Gut-loaded bugs will provide correct nutrition and allow your skink to exercise. On top of insects, you can sometimes feed cat or dog food, some cooked lean meat and raw or cooked eggs (treat). If cooking eggs, don’t use any oil or seasonings.
What do blue tongue skinks eat?
Blue tongue skinks are omnivores, and in the wild they eat plants, vegetables, fruits, berries, blossoms, dead animals, bugs. As pets, blue tongue skinks can enjoy a big variety of foods, such as live bugs, meat, veggies, greens, dog or cat food, fruits and plants.
What supplements can I take for blue tongue skink?
Best supplements that you can get for your blue tongue skink are: Repti-Calcium like this – pure calcium without vitamin D3. Multivitamin by Rep-Cal like this – balanced Ca:P ratio, no vitamin D3. Repashy calcium like this – no vitamin D3. Repashy multivitamins like this.
How to maintain calcium levels in skink lizards?
To maintain optimal levels of calcium in your skink lizard’s body, you should make sure that it doesn’t eat foods with high phosphorus levels. Ideal Ca:P ratio in the diet is 2:1. This is because too much phosphorus will bind calcium and remove it from the body. Over time, this will lead to deficiencies.
What do blue tongue lizards drink?
Blue tongue lizards drink water from a bowl and will also get in to soak. The best type of a water dish for your blue tongue skink is a large water dish that your blue tongue can fit in at least partially. So, choose an extra large water dish like this, that will be big in size and sturdy.
Can you buy commercial food for blue tongue skinks?
You can also buy commercial food for your blue tongue skink, to offer on some days for variety or to use when you don’t have time to prepare other food. Few of the best commercial foods that you can find for sale are: Repashy Bluey Buffet like this – a gel premix, omnivore diet.
Can a blue tongue skink eat dog food?
Yes, your blue tongue skink can eat cat or dog food, but there are a lot of rules when choosing right ones. However, only offer dog or cat food occasionally, once a week for young blue tongues and once in 2 weeks for adults. Cat foods tend to be higher in protein than dog food. So, it’s better to stick to dog food.
What to feed a skink?
Supplement your skink's diet with fruits and vegetables. In addition to eating insects, skinks enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables. This can help supplement your skink's diet by adding some extra nutrients. Brussels sprouts, carrots, greens, and peas are good vegetables to serve your skink.
How to take care of a skink?
A skink can be an excellent pet with proper care. Make sure your skink has a comfortable tank with plenty of space to roam and hide. Provide a diet rich in the nutrients a skink needs to thrive. Take care when interacting with your skink. As long as they're handled with respect, skinks can be very social.
How to handle a skink?
Handle your skink with care. Skinks can learn to be social, but proper handling is required. When handling your skink, make sure to treat it with respect. Improper handling can cause your skink to bite and become aggressive.
How big of a tank do skinks need?
Skinks need lots of room to roam to be healthy and happy. Hatchlings can be comfortable in a 10 to 20 gallon (37.9 to 75.7 L) tank. If you have a larger skink, make sure the tank is at least 30 to 40 gallons (110 to 150 L).
How do skinks keep their bodies warm?
Skinks require both a warm and cool end of their tank. Reptiles keep their bodies warm and cold by shifting between two different environments. One area of the tank should be slightly above room temperature. A few UV lightbulbs near the cooler end of the tank should keep it warm enough.
What to do if a skink bites you?
If he feels threatened or if you pick him up the wrong way, he will bite. If he does bite, wash your hands immediately.
What is the best substrate for skinks?
Substrate is the substance used to fill the bottom of a tank. It's important to use a substrate that's comfortable for your skink. At least 6 inches (15.2 cm) of a quality substrate is necessary for your skink. A mixture of soil, sand, and wood chips is usually a good option.
Overall Diet
Top Foods For Blue Tailed Skinks
- Zoo Med Silkworms
If you’re looking for affordable, nutritious food for your blue-tailed skink, Zoo Med Silkworms(available on Amazon) are a great bet. One of the main benefits of silkworms is how easy they are to eat. Their exterior is quite soft compared to those of other feeder insects. Your … - Black Soldier Fly Larvae
If you want a live food source rich in protein and calcium, go with Symton Large Feeding Grade Black Soldier Fly Larvae(available on Amazon). This pack comes with a 500 count of live larvae, so you can expect to have sufficient food to last a couple of weeks. If you’d like to choose a diff…
Additional Feeding Tips
- The amount of food that you should feed your blue-tailed skink depends on several factors, such as its size and age. However, generally speaking, you should offer babies and younger blue-tailed ski...
- Younger skinks prefer ants, worms, and centipedes – so try to find those if you’ve got a baby on your hands.
- The amount of food that you should feed your blue-tailed skink depends on several factors, such as its size and age. However, generally speaking, you should offer babies and younger blue-tailed ski...
- Younger skinks prefer ants, worms, and centipedes – so try to find those if you’ve got a baby on your hands.
- It is best to place the food in a shallow dish. When your pet is finished eating, you should always remove any leftover portions.
- Also, never make the mistake of leaving live prey in the cage or tank with your blue-tailed skink overnight. A frightened prey animal may cause injury or harm to your pet, sometimes severe enough f...
Summary
- Blue-tailed skinks eat insects, small animals, and plants. While you can technically feed them a wide variety of foods that fit one of these three categories, there are a few options that are safer and healthier than the rest: 1. Crickets 2. Silkworms 3. Fly larvae 4. Waxworms 5. Mealworms If you’d like an easy, affordable source of these healthy meals, the following recommended skink f…
Background Information
Physical Description
Blue Tailed Skink Buying Tips
What Do Blue-tailed Skinks Eat?
- Blue-tailed skinks feed on a wide variety of insects but they also consume other arthropods and even small vertebrates. They catch insects like: 1. Flies 2. Beetles 3. Locusts 4. Crickets 5. Grasshoppers They sometimes also eat isopods and millipedes. The Pacific blue-tailed skink will also eat the occasional piece offruit, but 90% of the diet cons...
Blue-tailed Skink Habitat and Tank Setup
Breeding
Blue-tailed Skink Behavior
Are Blue-tailed Skinks poisonous?
Do Blue-tailed Skinks Bite?
Blue-tailed Skink Health Information