- Insects. Insects are vital prey for most blue-tailed skinks that live in the wild, and usually form the bulk of their diet.
- Arachnids. Arachnids, such as spiders, scorpions, and daddy longlegs, are also frequent meals of the blue-tailed skink.
- Lizards. Larger blue-tailed skinks won’t hesitate to devour smaller lizards in their environment. Feeding your skink the occasional lizard might seem like a fun treat.
- Veggies and fruits. Some blue-tailed skinks have a diet that consists of up to 70 percent of green leafy vegetables and fruits.
- Soft-Bodied Prey. A majority of lizards, including blue-tailed skinks, will eat earthworms when the opportunity presents itself.
- Rodents. Blue-tailed skinks also feed on rodents. While it’s rare for blue-tailed skinks to encounter nesting rodents, larger blue-tailed skinks will often eat small rodents if they cross paths with ...
Are blue tailed lizards and skinks the same thing?
Throughout this article we may refer to this lizard as the Blue Tailed Skink or the Five Lined Skink. These are simply two different common names for the same species. The Blue Tailed Skink belongs to the Scincidae family of lizards. This is simply the scientific name for the Skink family.
What do blue tongued skinks eat and how often?
When choosing dog or cat food, make sure they meet certain criteria:
- Should be grain-free (blue tongues have trouble digesting carbohydrates)
- Must contain premium ingredients (including bones, connective tissue, cartilage etc.) – important for calcium etc. ...
- Only contains lean meat product
Can blue tails skinks eat fruit or vegetables?
Some blue-tailed skinks have a diet that consists of up to 70 percent of green leafy vegetables and fruits. While they prefer insects, they can survive and thrive on a mostly vegetarian diet. If you plan on feeding your skink fruits and veggies, these types are your best bet: Kale.
What do skinks eat in the wild and as pets?
What Do Skinks Eat?
- Insects. Skinks love to eat insects. ...
- Smaller Lizards. It’s true that lizards sometimes eat their own species and can become cannibalistic if hungry enough.
- Small Rodents. While skinks do eat meat, they don’t eat it as much as they eat insects. ...
- Fruits and Veggies. ...
- Bone Meal. ...
- Water. ...
Can a blue-tailed skink 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.
What do I feed a skink?
Pet skinks typically eat a mix of insects, fruits, and commercial foods. Skinks are popular pets like many other lizards....Consider the following foods that pet skinks eat when they're being kept as pets:Crickets.Leafy greens.Strawberries.Pinkie mice.Cockroaches.Grasshoppers.Carrots.Mealworms.More items...•
How do you take care of 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 you feed blue tailed lizards?
Their tails grow back, but are often darker in color and misshapen. When it comes to being predators themselves, blue-tailed skinks aren't picky. Their diet can include crickets, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, spiders, and even earthworms.
Can 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.
Can skinks eat fruit?
Field research has shown fruit is a large part of a Blue-tongued skink's natural diet. But it is mostly that of the berry variety. Therefore keeping to the berry theme is ideal, with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries being great options for this part of the diet.
Do skinks drink water?
lean a small stick in any water bowl – skinks may drink there and be unable to climb out.
What do skinks eat and drink?
This makes many skinks extremely efficient pest controllers in their garden, enjoying meals of crickets, beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, moths and cockroaches.
Can you keep a blue-tailed skink 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.
Do skinks eat strawberries?
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. (no citrus fruit).
Do blue-tailed skinks need a heat lamp?
Temperature should range from 90F(high) basking area at one end to 75F(low) cooling off area at the other end. Radiant heat is recommended; use an incandescent light or ceramic heater as the primary heat source. Mist the enclosure lightly once a day.
Can blue tongue lizards eat apples?
Bluetongues are omnivores and should be offered a variety of foods such as insects e.g. crickets, worms, snails and slugs. They will eat a range of chopped fruits and vegetables including dandelion, milk thistle, watercress, banana, apple, pawpaw, pear, green beans, carrots, alfafa sprouts, parsley and tomato.
What is the best food for blue tailed skinks?
If you’re looking for affordable, nutritious food for your blue-tailed skink, Zoo Med Silkworms (available on Amazon) are a great bet.
What are the food sources of blue tail skinks?
Arachnids, such as spiders, scorpions, and daddy longlegs, are also frequent meals of the blue-tailed skink.
What do skinks like to eat?
Younger skinks prefer ants, worms, and centipedes – so try to find those if you’ve got a baby on your hands.
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.
Can blue tail skinks eat lizards?
Larger blue-tailed skinks won’t hesitate to devour smaller lizards in their environment. Feeding your skink the occasional lizard might seem like a fun treat. However, it’s not a good idea.
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.
What do skinks eat?
In captivity feed your skink various arthropods, including live insects.
How long do blue tailed skinks live?
The Pacific blue-tailed skink has a lifespan of about 7 years.
How many gallons of water do skinks need?
Your skink can live in a 10-gallon terrarium if it’s very small, but as it grows you need to consider a bigger home of between 20 and 30 gallons.
How to identify Pacific blue tail skink?
You can recognize Pacific blue-tailed skinks by their bright blue tails.
Why is my skink's tail blue?
The reason for the bright blue tail in young skinks is it focuses a predator’s attention on the tail.
What color are skink stripes?
The stripes are cream-colored and run along the back of the skink’s body and down the sides, from snout to tail.
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.
What time of day do blue tail skinks bask?
The blue-tailed skink is a diurnal lizard that would be the most active between 10 AM and 2 PM. Beyond this time range, they are seldom seen foraging or basking around. These skinks mainly bask on brick walls and stones, on the boundaries and fences, fallen tree trunks, clearings in primary rainforest, atop ornamental trees, small shrubs and even on coconut palms.
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 are the enemies of the blue tail skink?
The cat, black rat, Asian wolf snake, giant centipede, nankeen kestrel, yellow crazy ant are the primary enemies of the blue-tailed skink present in the Christmas Islands.
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.
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.
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 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 ...
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.
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 ...
How big is a blue tailed lizard?
This blue-tailed lizard has a striking appearance. Its body size is generally more than five inches but less than nine, with short legs and a long tail that is an electric blue color. These lizards are common in the southeastern United States.
Why do skinks need a warm spot?
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. When setting up a habitat such as an aquarium, make sure the skink can not escape from it.
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 is the best diet for a blue tongue skink?
Calcium is one of the main minerals that your blue tongue skink needs. 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.
How much should a blue tongue skink eat?
In general, adult blue tongue skink’s portion size should be 1-2 tablespoons of food.
How often do blue tongue skinks need to eat?
Baby blue tongue skinks of under 5 months old will need to eat every day with one day a week fasting (6 days a week), 5-10 month olds – feed 2-3 times a week. Adult blue tongue skink of over 10-12 months old will need to eat only 1-2 times a week.
What to do after gut loading live feeder bugs?
After you gut-load your live feeder bugs, also dust them with calcium or vitamins (separate days, read more below) just before offering. You might even use a cricket shaker like this to lightly cover bugs with supplement powder.
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.
How to detox snails?
To do this, put them in a cricket keeper or other plastic container, add lettuce and water (or crystals). Keep them in a plastic container for 4 days. Those that stay alive will be suitable for feeding. Feed snails with shells.
Why do you need to buy snails?
Snails caught from the wild are potentially exposed to various toxins and chemicals, and can carry parasitic worms. This is why you need to buy snails that have been raised for human consumption or reptiles.
What to feed a blue tongue skink?
So what are the best foods to give your BTS in order to provide a healthy and balanced diet? Here’s our recommendation: 1 Fruit and Veggies: Remember to keep fruit to a minimum and stick mostly to veggies. The best vegetables for blue tongue skinks are collard greens, dandelion greens, green beans, arugula, mustard greens, and endive. The best fruits are berries, squash, apple, and papaya. Avoid onion, avocado, rhubarb, and tomato greens! 2 Protein: Lean meat like chicken and rabbit are great, as are many types of bugs: crickets, silkworms, hissing roaches, and locusts. Avoid seafood! 3 Reptilinks: If you’re not able to find some of these foods or you want to save some time and money, we offer special Omnivore Blends of our links that are perfect for blue tongue skinks. Check out our 50/50 Links and 25/25/50 Links for more info.
What do blue tongue skinks eat?
As for specific foods, blue tongue skinks are omnivores; they can eat fruits, vegetables, and a few different forms of protein. However, you’re going to want to prioritize protein and veggies over fruit, since they offer more nutritional benefits.
What is the nutritional need of a blue tongue skink?
What are the nutritional needs of a blue tongue skink? For starters, everything they eat should have a Calcium to Phosphorus ratio of 2 to 1. This way, your BTS’s body can properly absorb the nutrients from their food. Additionally, foods high in Vitamin D are helpful for the same reason— although a properly lit enclosure will also provide some of this nutrient.
Can you feed skink watermelon to a BTS?
First, it has a meager amount of Calcium content in comparison to its Phosphorus. Second, feeding too much watermelon to your BTS in one sitting can cause it to have diarrhea!
Can blue tongue skinks eat cherries?
Blue tongue skinks can safely eat cherries. Additionally, they have a mostly even ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus— not ideal, but not exactly harmful. However, they do contain large amounts of goitrogens, so feeding too many of them to your BTS can lead to thyroid issues.
Can skinks eat chicken eggs?
Yes! Skinks commonly eat eggs out of nests in the wild, so you can safely feed your pet skink eggs every once in a while. Whether cooked or raw, you can safely feed BTS chicken or quail eggs.
Can you feed broccoli to a BTS?
You can feed broccoli to your BTS but it shouldn’t be a large part of their veggie content. That’s because it has too much Phosphorus for your skink to synthesize its Calcium content. It’s also 90% water, so it would fill up your pet’s stomach without providing any nutrition!
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 get a skink to hide in a tank?
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. Stop by your local pet store and get things like hidey holes and other enclosures. Place these around the tank so your skink can have a hiding place when it wants privacy.
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.
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