Best safe and non-toxic greens and vegetable list for blue tongue skinks
| Staple | Feed occasionally | Feed rarely |
| Arugula (rocket) | Pumpkin | Carrots |
| Collard greens | Kale | Radishes |
| Endive | Pinto beans | Okra |
| Escarole | Green beans (raw, green) | Cabbage (red or green) |
What do Blue Tongue Lizards eat?
Blue-tongued lizards are omnivores. Garden snails are their ideal food, but they will also enjoy most varieties of fruits and veggies. For a treat, feed them crickets and mice which you can buy at your local Petbarn store. Blue-tongues usually eat from late morning through to midday after getting some sun.
Do blue tongue skink lizards need calcium?
Otherwise, it will start rotting and smelling. 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.
How to get a blue tongue lizard licence?
You can then apply for your licence online or call the provided number. Blue-tongued lizards are omnivores. Garden snails are their ideal food, but they will also enjoy most varieties of fruits and veggies. For a treat, feed them crickets and mice which you can buy at your local Petbarn store.
What should I Feed my skink lizard?
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.
Can blue tongue skinks have baby food?
Yes, your blue tongue skink can eat cat food, but dog food is more suitable. Cat foods are often higher in protein than dog foods. You can offer cat food to baby skinks under 5 months, sick and skinny skinks.
How much do you feed a baby 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.
How often should I feed my baby blue tongue skink?
Baby skinks under 5 months old will need to eat every day with one day of fasting. Offer as much food as a baby will eat two to three times per day to encourage proper growth and nutrition.
How do you raise a baby blue tongue skink?
0:433:51BABY BLUE TONGUE SKINK DIET - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what I do with this is I chop it up a little dish for them I give it to them every second orMoreAnd what I do with this is I chop it up a little dish for them I give it to them every second or third day. This helps them really put on the mass. And get growing real quick.
What do baby skinks like to eat?
Skinks love: Eating insects – crickets, moths and cockroaches are favourites.
What do newborn skinks eat?
0:348:46Feeding Baby/Young Skinks - Ep. 52 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUnder a year old another food product is reap a she's blue blue a buffet which also is a highMoreUnder a year old another food product is reap a she's blue blue a buffet which also is a high protein content. And is good for young omnivores. So I feed cat food on a rotation.
How do you take care of a baby blue tongue lizard?
Blue Tongue Care Blue-tongues require a basking spot maintained between 30-35˚C. They should have access to an elevated piece of flat timber or rock ornament to allow them to bask closer to the heat source. The cool end of the enclosure should be maintained between 24-26˚C and should not drop below 18-21˚C at night.
Do blue-tongues drink water?
If you feel you absolutely must do something to help the blue-tongue lizard, consider providing clean fresh water from a bowl or dish that it (and other wildlife) can easily access and not get stuck in.
How long can a blue tongue 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.
What do baby lizards eat?
insectsBaby garden lizards usually eat insects and only a few fruits and vegetables. Flightless fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and bottle fly spikes are the best insects for baby lizards. Baby lizards are growing faster than adults and need to eat more often.
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.
How much does a blue-tongue eat?
Juvenile blue tongues should be fed once a day, with adults being fed every second day. Uneaten food should be removed within 8 hours of feeding, sooner if the animal is obviously not interested.
How many gallons does a blue tongue skink need?
The minimum would be 30 gallons, that is 24 inches (46cm) long, 18 inches (46cm) wide, and 15 inches (38cm) high. The bare minimum for an adult blue tongue skink is 40 gallons, that is at least 36 inches (91.5cm) long, 18 inches (46cm) wide and 15-18 inches (38-46cm) high.
How often should a blue tongue skink poop?
Most blue tongue skinks poop once a day, but some will poop once 2-3 days. However, sometimes it can be normal if your blue tongue has pooped once a week. If your blue tongue has not pooped for over 7-10 days, it could be impacted or constipated.
What do baby blue tailed skinks eat?
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 do blue tongued lizards eat?
Blue-tongued lizards are omnivores. Garden snails are their ideal food, but they will also enjoy most varieties of fruits and veggies. For a treat, feed them crickets and mice which you can buy at your local Petbarn store. Blue-tongues usually eat from late morning through to midday after getting some sun.
How to legally house a blue tongued lizard?
In order to legally house a blue-tongued lizard, you must register with your local government by applying for a ‘Companion Animal Keeper Licence’. This varies from state to state, so find the relevant information on your government website. For example, in NSW, the ‘Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Reptiles’ keeps you up to date with the rules and regulations relevant to keeping your new pet. You can then apply for your licence online or call the provided number.
How to house a lizard in a plastic tub?
Use a glass aquarium, wooden box or plastic tub to house your lizard and consider their adult size. Talk to your local Petbarn team member about what size enclosure is sufficient. Use sand, gravel, or newspaper to create a suitable substrate. Keep branches low to the ground and stable.
How to choose a lizard?
When choosing your new lizard it’s important to ensure they’re fit and healthy. Healthy blue-tongues should be active and alert, responding to movements with their tongue or head. Make sure their nostrils and eyes are clear, there is no sign of excessive pieces of skin from shedding and their scales are free from abrasions, swelling or scarring.
Why are my blue tongues moody?
When their skin begins to appear dull and starts to crack it is best to leave them be; blue-tongues can be moody when they shed. Blue-tongues will also enter a process called brumation. Brumation is the equivalent of hibernation and is a natural process your lizard will go through to avoid cool conditions.
How long do lizards stay dormant?
While the temperature of their enclosure will be monitored and they may not necessarily be exposed to cold conditions, your lizard may still enter a dormant state for up to four months. They will not engage in normal activities, like eating or basking, and will generally recoil into a dark spot to sleep.
How often do blue tongues shed?
Blue-tongues will shed their skin up to 10 times in their first year of life and will still shed a few times a year once reaching adulthood. Prior to shedding, your lizard may show a loss in appetite and become increasingly thirsty.
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.
What insects are good for blue tongue skinks?
Insects such as hornworms, Phoenix worms, crickets, silkworms and others should be the main source of protein for blue tongue skinks. All insects must be bought for reptile consumption and gut-loaded for 24 hours (apart from Phoenix worms) before feeding to your skink.
Is fish good for skinks?
This is because fish is high in salt and fat, which is not good for skinks. Also, fish can carry parasites and have a high heavy metal load, which over time will cause serious negative effects to your blue tongue’s health.
Can skinks eat mice?
Yes, your blue tongue skink can eat mice, but only once or twice a month as a treat. This is because they are hard to digest and fatty. Only offer pinky (also called neonate or fuzzy) mice or rats, and preferably only to skinny skinks.
Can you skink blue tongue hay?
It would not be advisable to offer blue tongue skink any hay (orchard, timothy etc.). Alfalfa hay is actually a legume. While hay is high in protein, it’s also dehydrated. This can cause issues with digestion, and might expand in guts or mouth and cause impaction.
Can you dip your blue tongue in applesauce?
A little bit of applesauce can also be used to dip meat if your blue tongue is not interested in it. Make sure that applesauce is free of preservatives, corn syrup, sweeteners or even added sugar. Choose only unsweetened applesauce or make your own.
Can you feed bananas to a blue tongue skink?
In general, you should avoid feeding bananas to your blue tongue skink. This is because bananas are high in sugar and phosphorus, which binds calcium and removes it from the body. Offer a very small piece once a month or less.
Can blue tongue skinks eat oranges?
No, blue tongue skinks must not eat oranges. In fact, avoid any citrus fruit such as lemons, limes, clementine, tangerines, kumquats and else. Citrus fruit will cause serious digestive upsets and diarrhea in your blue tongue skink.
Do Blue Tongue Lizards Eat Vegetables?
Blue tongue lizards can eat vegetables and fruit mix in captivity. They also love to eat a mix of mealworms, crickets, super worms, dubia roaches, and waxworms. It will be best to give them a mixed assortment of chopped-up fruits, vegetables, and a few insects. Vegetables like peas, collard, mustard, and beans are their favorite.
What Vegetables Can Blue Tongue Skinks Eat?
Yes. Blue Tongue lizards and skinks can eat tomatoes safely. Although tomatoes are pretty low in sugar, it supports your lizard heart health. It is also a good source of vitamin A to strengthen your skink immune system reproduction, vision, and growth.
Final Thoughts
Watercress, turnip greens, dandelion greens, endive, escarole, and beet greens can be fed frequently in a week to your blue tongue skinks. However, vegetables like green cabbage, kale, red leaf lettuce, and red cabbage-like vegetables should be fed occasionally, like once in 1-2 weeks.
