Should You Keep a Blue-Tongued Skink as a Pet?

The blue-tongued skink is a large, diurnal lizard that is docile, quiet, gentle, and easily tamed. Due to being low-maintenance lizards and easy to care for, they are considered to be good pets for both children and beginners.

Skinks are native to Australia and got their name from their distinct blue tongues, which they use to protect themselves from predators—when predators see the blue tongue, they assume the animal is sick and won’t eat them. Although they are known to be beginner pets, they require a large amount of space for their habitat and specific substrates that fit their needs.

Learn more about the blue-tongued skink’s behavior, housing requirements, diet, and more.

Can You Own a Pet Blue-Tongued Skink?

Legality

It is completely legal to own a blue-tongued skink as a personal pet, though they do require special permits to sell. Because the lizard is native to Australia and parts of Indonesia, you will likely have to go through a specialty breeder to acquire a blue-tongued skink.

Blue-Tongued Skink Behavior and Temperament

Blue-tongued skinks are ground dwellers with flattened and elongated bodies somewhat resembling snakes in appearance. Native to Australia, these calm lizards have distinct blue tongues (which is how they got their name), short legs, and dull teeth. In the wild, blue-tongued skinks spend all their time on the ground.

They are docile, quiet, gentle, and easily tamed, which is why they make great beginner pets. Also, the blue-tongued skink can form a close bond with you, but you must take the time to develop that bond. Regularly interact with your skink, talk to them, and gently handle them for up to 15 minutes several times a day. Some blue-tongues can even learn words.

Be advised that although skinks are not aggressive, they have strong jaws and teeth, and a bite from a skink can be quite painful. Despite their generally docile nature, blue-tongued skinks will bite if they feel threatened, or hiss and expose their tongues. Try to avoid provoking or startling them, and don't let small children interact with a skink without proper supervision.

Housing

Blue-tongued skinks require a large enclosure, such as a 120-gallon tank or larger, with a secure lid, for an adult. For baby blue-tongued skinks, a 20-gallon tank is a good place to start and needs to be sized up appropriately as the animal grows.

Provide a large, shallow, and sturdy water dish inside. Skinks like to bathe in their water but also often defecate there, so frequent cleaning will be required.

House one animal in one enclosure—you may be able to keep females together or a breeding pair but never put males together in one enclosure.

Blue-tongued skinks don't need branches for climbing since they are strictly ground dwellers. Instead, provide them with a couple of sturdy hiding spots since they like to burrow and hide. Cork bark, wood, rocks, PVC pipes, or other reptile hideouts can be used.

Skinks are used to ample sunlight, and UVA/UVB rays help with their metabolism, bone health, and more. To ensure they get the nutrients they need, provide your pet with full spectrum UVA/UVB light for between 10 and 12 hours per day.​ This bulb will have specific instructions on how far away to keep it from your skink but typically it is about 10 to 12 inches. You should also make sure nothing is blocking the light from reaching your skink, except for a metal mesh screen if necessary.

Specific Substrate Needs

The substrate (bedding) in your blue-tongued skink's environment can consist of aspen wood shavings, cypress mulch, or even newspaper. Whatever you choose, make sure your skink is not eating it or your lizard could get an intestinal blockage. Any wood pieces or rocks should be firmly placed so they will not fall on the lizard.

Specific Humidity and Heating Needs

Since blue-tongued skinks are native to Australia (just like bearded dragons and frill-necked lizards), temperatures should be kept warm, with a thermal gradient of 75 to 82 F and a basking spot of 95 (90-100) F. Under-tank heating pads can be used, but keep in mind that if they overheat the bottom of the enclosure surface, your reptile may get a thermal burn if their body touches the bottom of the cage. A basking light on one side of the tank with an under-tank heater can work well.

Ensure the appropriate temperature gradient is provided by measuring temperatures in various spots around the tank, not just one. Nighttime temperatures can drop to about 70 F, but temperatures any cooler than that can cause several problems with your skink and make them more prone to getting ill.

A humidity hide (such as a plastic storage box with moss or cypress mulch to hold moisture) will help your skink with shedding their skin. Humidity should range between 40-60% or higher, depending on the species of blue-tongue skink you have. It's recommended to measure your humidity throughout the day with a hygrometer.

What Do Blue-Tongued Skinks Eat & Drink?

Skinks are true omnivores and this preference should be reflected in their diet. Variety is the key to providing a nutritious diet to a blue-tongued skink, and a calcium/vitamin D supplement should be added to their food regularly to help prevent metabolic bone disease.

Try to feed your young skinks vegetables to get them acclimated to eating these food items so when they are older they don't refuse to eat greens. You should also strive for a balanced mixture of about 50% vegetables. 10% fruits, and 40% meat/protein items.

Consider using the following foods:

• Green beans 
• Summer or winter squash
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Kale
• Beets
• Strawberries
• Bananas
• Melons
• Blueberries
• Low-fat canned dog food
• Superworms
• Mealworms
• Crickets
• Pinkie mice

You can feed your skink canned dog food or a pinkie mouse occasionally. Otherwise, stay away from items that aren't fruits, vegetables, or insects. Too much protein isn't good for lizards' digestive systems or kidneys.

Younger skinks can be fed every other day to every day if needed. Adult skinks can be fed every two to three days, depending on their size and appetite. Ensure your skink is getting a vitamin and calcium supplementation, whether it's a multivitamin that can be given daily or a calcium/vitamin D3 supplement given every third feeding for adults or every other feeding for juveniles.

Set up a sturdy water dish in your blue-tongued skink’s enclosure to ensure they always have enough clean water to drink and soak in each day. Make sure the dish is shallow enough to be safe for them.

Common Health Problems

In general, blue-tongued skinks are very easy to care for and are not known to have major health issues. However, they can be prone to:

• Metabolic bone disease: The most common health problem among skinks (as well as other reptiles) in captivity is metabolic bone disease. This condition occurs when the animal's phosphorous-to-calcium ratio is out of balance, and is usually due to poor UV lighting and poor diet. Symptoms include weakened or fractured bones, tremors, lethargy, and overall weakness.
• Vitamin A deficiency: Like other lizards, skinks can also suffer from vitamin A deficiency—a supplement can help prevent this from becoming serious.
• Mouth rot: Another common issue for blue-tongued skinks—and all lizards—is mouth rot, which is characterized by a foamy or cheesy secretion that comes from the mouth, teeth, and lips. It can be caused by an eating injury or stress and should be treated by a professional. Before you purchase your blue-tongued skink, be sure there's a veterinarian in your area who specializes in exotic pets such as lizards.

Grooming

Shedding

Reptiles, including lizards, all shed their skins at some point. The frequency with which blue-tongued skinks shed will depend on their age—young skinks under a year of age will shed every two to three weeks, while adult skinks will shed only once every one to three months.

If your skink isn't able to shed fully or sheds irregularly, it may be a sign of an underlying health issue, also known as dysecdysis. Skinks shed in patches (rather than all over like a snake), so it can be harder to recognize when they're shedding incompletely.

If you notice your skink having issues, try boosting the humidity in their enclosure or soaking them in warm water daily, especially around the time of a shed. Otherwise, you may need to visit an exotics vet to help your skink properly shed and treat the underlying issue.

Purchasing Your Blue-Tongued Skink

On average, a blue tongued- skink might cost $150 or more, and younger lizards are typically more expensive.

Try to get your skink from a reputable breeder, who will have the animal's health history available. Your lizard should have clear eyes and skin that is free of blemishes or dry patches (which may indicate a skin condition). If you can watch the animal eat before purchasing, you'll be able to tell if they have a healthy appetite. A lizard that is limping, has any visible deformities, or shows signs of an incomplete shed is probably one with health issues and should be avoided.

Similar Pets to the Blue-Tongued Skink

If you're interested in a lizard that's easy to care for but aren't sure about the blue-tongued skink, there are other beginner-friendly lizards you can check out:

• Leopard Gecko
• Bearded Dragon 
• Green Anole

Otherwise, you can check out other profiles of reptile and amphibian breeds.