- Blue tongue skinks need to eat 40-45% protein – bugs mainly, and some meat, dog/cat food. Please remember that live bugs have to be gut-loaded (read below).
- 50% – veggies and greens
- 5-10% fruit
- For baby and juvenile blue tongue skinks of up to 5 months old – offer 50% protein, 40-45% veggies and greens, and 5-10% fruit
- Shingleback skinks ( Tiliqua rugosa) – will need to eat less protein – around 30%. They also tend to be hungrier, so feed adults 2 times a week.
What minerals do blue tongue skink lizards need?
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 I Feed my blue tongue skink?
How Much Should You Feed Your Blue Tongue Skink? As a pet, blue tongue skinks will thrive on a diet of around 40-45% protein; fresh vegetables and greens should make up roughly 50% of their diet, with fruits making up 5-10% of the diet. Juvenile skinks should feed on more protein, mostly made up of live feeder insects that have been gut-loaded.
Are blue tongue lizards herbivores carnivores?
Studies have shown they are also occasionally coprophagous — samples of herbivore and carnivore dung were taken from the stomachs of wild blue-tongue skinks. In order to obtain all these delicacies, they forage.
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.
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What can I feed my blue tongue lizard?
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 do blue tongue skink eat in the wild?
In the wild, blue-tongued skinks are omnivores that eat a variety of plants and animals including insects, snails, flowers, fruits, and berries. At Cosley Zoo, the skinks are fed fruits, vegetables, crickets, worms, and mice.
What can you not feed a blue tongue lizard?
Items such as avocado, onion, eggplant, rhubarb, buttercups, potatoes and tulips are all considered toxic, therefore should be avoided at all costs.
What meat can blue tongue lizards eat?
It is better to use the recommended foods for them, such as gut-loaded insects like dubia roaches and superworms, you can also offer them canned dog food as a treat once every couple of weeks. Instead of raw meat, you can use cooked meats such as lean beef, ground turkey, chicken, duck, or venison.
Can blue-tongue lizards eat lettuce?
Can blue tongue 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 Blue-tongued skinks eat apples?
The Best Food for Blue Tongue Skinks, Hands-Down 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.
Can I keep a wild blue tongue lizard?
Is this illegal? A: Private individuals can keep blue-tongue lizards, but most species require a permit to keep and sell them. These animals have been bred in captivity, meaning they have not been sourced from wild populations.
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.
Do blue tongue lizards drink water?
Juvenile blue-tongues should be fed daily and adults can be offered food every second day. Fresh water should be available to the lizard at all times and changed daily.
Can blue tongue lizards eat cat food?
Feeding Cat/Dog Food To Your Blue Tongued Skink Cat food is higher in protein than dog food, and feeding too much protein in their diet can lead to gout, so it is best to stick with dog food generally. Cat food can be offered to young skinks, but once they are adults, you should only give them dog food.
How do you know if your blue tongue is happy?
A healthy blue tongue skink eats well, has a healthy size, and has normal stools. It also sheds regularly and is in a good shape. There should be no secretion from the eyes, mouth, or nose. A happy blue tongue skink is active and alert, calm when handled, and has normal hiding and basking behavior.
Do blue tongues bite?
Blue-tongues are not venomous but they try to look intimidating by opening their mouth and acting aggressively. They can bite but their teeth are used more for crushing than tearing, so they might bruise you but will rarely break the skin.
What do skinks eat in the wild?
Garden skinks feed on larger invertebrates, including crickets, moths, slaters, earthworms, flies, grubs and caterpillars, grasshoppers, cockroaches, earwigs, slugs, dandelions, small spiders, ladybeetles and many other small insects, which makes them a very helpful animal around the garden.
What dog food can blue tongue skinks eat?
What dog food should you get for your blue tongue skink?as much of whole animal as possible (not just meat but bones, tissues, cartilage)meat including poultry, rabbit, lamb, bison, and even kangaroo.good calcium-phosphorus ratio (2:1)
Do blue tongues bite?
Blue-tongues are not venomous but they try to look intimidating by opening their mouth and acting aggressively. They can bite but their teeth are used more for crushing than tearing, so they might bruise you but will rarely break the skin.
What do blue tongue skinks eat?
Blue-tongue skinks are opportunistic omnivores: their diet includes insects, larvae, snails, slugs and other invertebrates; soft fruit, flowers, greens and seeds; other reptiles, including smaller skinks; occasional small mammals, eggs and hatchling birds; and carrion. Studies have shown they are also occasionally coprophagous — samples ...
Where do blue tongues live?
These are blue-tongues that live in very arid areas, with T. multifasciata favoring sandy regions dominated by spinifex grasslands. Based on distinct skull shapes and some differences in dentition, Shea suspected this might indicate the two species had evolved for eating different diets. He examined stomach contents from a large sample of both species and compared them:
What does T. multifasciata eat?
Shea notes that other observers had reported T. multifasciata regurgitating seeds and ants. Stammer (1976) reported that they had been observed eating cattle dung, and Baker (1992) observed the species feeding on parakeelya, a type of flowering herb found in the Australian desert. Using specimens from the Kimberley area, Jones (1992) reported finding plant remains, arthropods, vertebrate material (carrion?), and bird eggs in the stomachs of 23 T. multifasciata.
What do T. nigrolutea eat?
Based on earlier studies and observations, it appears that T. scincoides and T. nigrolutea eat similar diets to their desert cousins , with the consideration that in their wetter climate zones, they have additional access to fruits, flowers, snails, and other molluscs. T. nigrolutea has been recorded to eat wild fungi (mushrooms).
What do shingleback skinks eat?
A large number of studies over an extensive geographical range have shown that they eat primarily plant material with a small component of animal foods such as insects, larvae, molluscs, small vertebrates, carrion, and dung. T. rugosa populations consume roughly 80% vegetable material, including flowers, sprouts, leaves, seeds and fruit.
How many berries did T. occipitalis eat?
Often large numbers of seeds or fruits were consumed, and one T. occipitalis, for example, had eaten 226 small berries. Shea writes, “In contrast to the high frequency of insect prey, arachnid and myriapod prey were few.
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.
When do blue tongues eat?
Blue-tongues usually eat from late morning through to midday after getting some sun. It’s fine to leave food in their enclosure for them to eat over the course of the day, but if left unfinished it’s best to throw it out after a day.
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.
What does it mean when a lizard's faeces are runny?
It’s crucial you check your lizard’s faeces as well. Runny, discoloured or especially pungent faeces could mean your lizard has an internal parasite.
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.
What do blue tongued lizards eat?
Your pet will enjoy feeding on roaches, grasshoppers, locusts, snails, hornworms, earthworms, silkworms, crickets, and superworms.
What Do Blue Tongue Skinks Eat as Pets?
Once you bring a blue-tongued skink home, you need to ensure you offer them the best food to keep them healthy.
When Should You Feed Your Blue Tongue Skink?
The nutritional needs change as they grow and mature. Baby skinks up to 3 months baby should feed 2 to 3 times each day, six days a week. During this age, you should feed them daily with insects and a small portion of greens.
Why are blue tongued skinks endangered?
Despite this, some of the skink varieties, such as the pygmy blue tongues, are listed as endangered species because of smuggling and illegal trade.
Why is my blue tongue skink refusing to eat?
Your blue-tongued skink might be refusing to eat due to an issue within its enclosure. These creatures are very sensitive to temperatures and lighting. Therefore, you should always check whether the temperatures in the basking zone are as they should be.
Why are blue tongues so popular?
Blue-tongues are popular because they make good pets if they are captive-bred. Unlike the wild species, captive-bred pets will become quite friendly and form a bond with their caregivers. Keeping one of these creatures requires you to provide the necessary optimal conditions for them to live comfortably.
Where do blue tongued skinks live?
All blue-tongued skinks are native to the Australasia region; they are present in mainland Australia and parts of Asia, Papua New Guinea, and a few other Indonesian islands. This lizard species has become extremely popular in recent years due to its berry-blue tongue and viability.
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 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 blue tongue skinks eat butternut squash?
Yes , blue tongue skinks can eat butternut squash. Butternut squash is actually on of the staple foods for blue tongue skinks. Offer raw and grated or chopped into small pieces.
Can skinks eat blueberries?
Yes, blue tongue skinks can eat blueberries, but only occasionally. This is because blueberries are high in oxalates.
Can you feed a blue tongue skink?
Yes, you can feed your blue tongue skink peeled grapes, but very rarely. Grapes and raisins are however believed to cause organ damage in reptiles, so you might avoid them altogether.
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.
How to feed blue tongue skinks?
When looking for a supplement to a healthy blue tongue skink diet, as outlined here, there are a few key nutrients one should consider. Most greens, insects, fruits and vegetables are low in magnesium, iron and iodine. Make sure your supplement provides these nutrients as well as ample amounts of B vitamins . Often iodide is provided using kelp as an ingredient. Additionally, vitamin A should be provided in a retinol form because it is not know if these animals can synthesize vitamin A retinol from beta-carotene.
What is the diet of a pygmy blue tongue skink?
Tenner et al. (2007) also found that arthropods are the majority of the diet of the pygmy blue tongue skink. Most commercially raised insects are deficient in several nutrients, including calcium, thiamin (vitamin B1), vitamin A and vitamin E.
What foods are good for blue tongue skinks?
foods for blue tongue skinks and inhibits zinc uptake, so copper intake needs to be limited. Foods-spinach, turnip greens. asparagus, beans, nuts, kale, mushroom, pumpkin. Fats (lipids) Definition-a biological molecule that is found in plants and animals.
What vegetables should I eat with a blue tongue skink?
Other good vegetables include asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrot, green beans, snap peas, tomato, yellow squash and cucumber. Check out the nutritional analysis of vegetables. Fruit: Fruit is a less essential part of the blue tongue skink diet.
What are the main sources of protein for blue tongue skink?
Insects are the major protein source for blue tongue skink nutrition. This is backed up by Shea (2006), who observed arthropods in 73% of blue tongue skink stomach samples, while vertebrates were only observed in 20% of samples.
Why is my reptile not eating?
Not eating is a common occurrence with many pet reptiles. Usually the issue is with the temperature of the enclosure, or another husbandry problem. Ensure that your tank is up to standards and visit a
Can blue tongue skinks be obese?
Obesity is rare in blue tongue skinks when compared to other captiv e reptiles, but does still occur. If you have an obese animal it is recommended that you consult a veterinarian to examine for underlying issues. Obesity is deadly. It can cause or be caused by liver failure and many other issues. Once examined by a veterinarian, reduce the amount of meat in the diet and feed only lean insects as a protein source. Supplementing with a very small amount of omega 3 fish oil is also wise to prevent liver disease in obese animals.
