Cage Furniture/Decor for Blue Tongue Skinks - Ep. 61

In this episode I discuss the must have items to furnish/ decorate a blue tongue enclosure.
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ReptileMountain.TV KZbin Channel:
TC Houston, former professional zookeeper, SKINKAHOLIC, and reptile fanatic, shares his experiences and passion for keeping and breeding Blue-Tongue Skinks and other reptile species for the educational and overall betterment of the hobby. Subscribe to stay updated on more evidence-based, current, professional information about the reptile hobby and Blue-Tongue Skink care. Enjoy! Watch! Like! Share! Woot woot!

[@kekkelpenneypeckeltoot5700]

Excellent job explaining why the enclosure is NOT a hide! It’s super frustrating when people try to say that!

[@rovena996]

I love to decorate my skink's enclosure and she loves to redecorate it. Everyday I come home to all her dirt piled in the middle of the tank.

[@shaharothe-khan4139]

Alyssa awwww lol

[@ezypvp3353]

same mine too esspesaly when there a new born

[@grumpycup4762]

These videos are so educational. I've learned more from watching your videos than I have from 2 weeks of scouring various forums etc. Lots of love from Sweden ;)

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@tahliadixon2325]

4:35 look in bottom right corner enclosure for about 10 secs

[@StainedBrain]

"Oh, hey."

[@adeonsajakarta2923]

A sneak peak I see😂😂😂

[@mandolinplus]

Lol

[@irThumper]

"Slight anthropomorphism"... lol. That's like saying Pringles are "slightly addictive".

[@djPharmer]

Good morning TC. George from Hemet CA. Yesterday one of my clients pleaded me to find a home for her daughters Blue-tongued skink.I tried but ended falling in love with this beautiful beast. I’ve watched plenty of videos but found myself favoring you and your information. Brought me up to par. She is not my first reptile. Thank you for the specifics I need for good husbandry. And welcome back. 😃

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Thank you! Glad to play a role in your experience 😊

[@CringeJester]

Fake plants are so easy to find, cheap and pretty. Not really an excuse to not have those! I'd love live but I'm bad with plants, I need more practice lol

[@adeonsajakarta2923]

Youre the best man!!!Got so much info on these cute fellas

[@Bunparade]

You caught the elusive drinking skink on video!! A miracle! Thanks for the tips, TC :)

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I did 👍🏼

[@LittleBlueBirdsears]

Your videos are so helpful!! What a great resource. We live in New Zealand & have an adolescent Eastern Blue tongue. Lil’ fella is thriving - thanks to all the good advice we’ve had from your channel. Big thumbs up!

[@billyslimetoo2970]

Your very educated idk how you aren’t the biggest channel for reptiles

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Thank you.

[@-cMc-]

Oh cupling is so clever it's cool a deli cup fits so perfectly

[@-CMariaMillenia]

Great knowledge for skink , thank you for the tips :D

[@ArsonBjork]

Thanks, I have all these checked off already but the thing about waterbowls was a good new tip

[@rainycats4721]

Thank you so much! I’ve been watching all your videos in preparation for my new blue tongue skink! They have been so helpful and you have been the most educational and best source of research for me.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Glad these have helped!

[@thatwhitekid2622]

Satans child same

[@loreleialexander8607]

Wheat grass is the perfect choice for plants! Super easy to grow, just keep wet, grows super fast, and it can take a beating!

[@grenade310tri]

just want to let you know that I got my first BTS this week and your channel is always helpful and indeed informative along the way.

[@SuuupaaaChip]

Thanks for making a great video! I'll be adding some greenery to my blue tongue Zuko's terrarium asap! :) keep up the great work, you deserve more subscribers!

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Thank you for watching!!!

[@carolmaynard174]

Awesome info

[@-cMc-]

I like that trick to keep them from dumping their water bowls

[@tyliful]

good info.

[@xoxladykrys10xox]

my BTS likes a thick layer of the substrate snakes usually have...shes a burrower. also have some hides and a big water bowl cuz she likes to get her whole body in the water during shed.

[@bobstranzenbach4700]

I have often wondered if Box turtles occupy the same niche here in the US that Bluetongues do in Australia. Very good overviews. I wish there had been someone like you when I started with Bluetongues. 👍

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Very possibly!

[@xanderschroder5030]

thanms so much getting a bluey next week!❤🙃

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Yay!!!

[@xanderschroder5030]

❤

[@tinaleighton6390]

Oh man, I hear you when it comes to plants. I do not have a green thumb either. I have tried and tried to keep live plants going in my tortoise enclosure and it is a dismal failure. Spider plants are the only ones I can keep going, and that’s only if the tortoise doesn’t tear them up or eat them.So I broke down and bought some fake plants and that is what’s going into my enclosures for my Northern and for my Russian tortoise. I’m getting a brand new large enclosure for my northern very soon, I can’t wait! I think setting up proper enclosures is one of the best parts of keeping reptiles.

[@StainedBrain]

I know this comment was from 3 months ago, but I also suggest pathos! They're easy to keep alive. I kill succulents and air plants very easily. I find leaved plants and cacti are easier for me.

[@fruitcake1513]

I have a dried grass and I just got some fake plants a ground cover and some for her to hide under. My blue tongue also has lots of substrate because she loves to dig. I really need to get a hide but she hides under her plants for now at least.

[@looboo52251]

I use restraunt stainless steel containers for watering/bathing dishes. Rex seems to like it~

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Great idea!

[@akramcharif7040]

Loved this vid ,for my blue tongue I got a cat food box I covered it in olive oil and I put organic clay on it and when it dried I took it off and now my little girl loves it

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Sweet! Fun idea!

[@akramcharif7040]

Thanks mate

[@tbristowstagg]

Blueys love a good brick.

[@-cMc-]

Being able to recycle is pretty convenient

[@minutemadejuiceboxes9991]

this inspired me to make the pipe hide but customize it so it looks like a natural hollowed out hill

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Awesome. I'd love to see a pic

[@airplanegeorge]

I put some java moss in the water bowls, keeps water fresh longer and provides an escape for insects, (cleanup crew)

[@-cMc-]

This is inspirational. One day I'd like to breed blue tongues. As well 💙 I think they are fascinating

[@rovena996]

I have all five for my skink. The water bowl is a good idea. I've been looking for a way to keep her water cleaner.

[@lexiberanek9126]

Thanks loved this vid!! What a cage do u keep your skinks in!

[@mattgenco1283]

Another excellent video thank you so much! Actually your number five using the plants is what I’ve been doing with mine since I got them. I feel it does replicate more where they’re from, there’s got to be plants in Australia right

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Totally!

[@karoljo80]

Please call them blue tongue lizards for those Australians out there

[@tyler_0135]

Can you use a zoom med water fall as the water bowl ? or even help with humidity?

[@Hazzar-eu2zn]

Can you use eucalyptus branches from your backyard from them because I live in Australia

[@bear_rrr]

So could I use eco earth, and sphagnum moss for substrate? As for the rest of the enclosure, would a few cork bark hides, tuber ware with a hole in it as a humid hide, a few fake plants, a water bowl, and some sort of rock under a basking light work? Is there anything I am missing?

[@jadewa5395]

What are the best live plants to keep with skinks? I know you don't personally prefer them, but do know of any good references to look at? I love your videos by the way! I cant get enough of them I love learning about skinks, I hope to start keeping reptiles in the future! Your videos have just provided so much good information on skinks thank you!!

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Thanks for watching. I know LLL Reptile and Reptiles Magazine have good lists for terrarium plants that are safe for reptiles. I've known a few people to like pothos with skinks.

[@lorimaddox362]

Thanks TC. As always, great video. I just got a huge cork log for Gustavo and he immediately started crawling through it, so, I think he must like it. He has also started to be out where I can see him more during the day. He has usually been burrowed into the substrate. I think he has decided it’s no longer winter. He is a funny critter.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Awesome. That sounds about right. Good ole Gustavo! 😊👍🏼

[@lorimaddox362]

ReptileMountain.TV too funny. He was actually on top of his log tonight. I have no idea how he climbed up there. It’s nice to not need to sift through the substrate to find him. I know I’m close when I hear him hissing at me. 😤. Such a meanie

[@patheticsteam1454]

My skink right now is on paper towel because he just got done with mite treatment. I feel so bad every time he tries to dig into it.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Yeah but its for the best

[@sjc5411]

How does one get their skink to drink out of a clean water bowl vs the larger bowl I've set up for them to bath/relax in?

[@babycat9351]

When you said rock or something it reminded me of an MRE

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Yep! That was my thought too as I said it lol 😂😂😂

[@babycat9351]

ReptileMountain.TV lol love that

[@alyssaanderson4502]

Hi I’m new here and still learning about proper husbandry of skinks, but are you able to to clip their nails like you can cats and dogs? Or is it best to just kinda let them have something to file them? Correct me if I’m wrong,but I’m just curious

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Yes. I have a video on it.

[@Sticky_Ricky]

What's your opinion on setting the water dish on top of a square of bricks buried halfway? It seems like it would keep a majority of the substrate out and would encourage some super lightweigh climbing, plus the nail filing.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I like it. I have done that in the past with some success. Some skinks tip it off but others did great!

[@Sticky_Ricky]

ReptileMountain.TV I may incorporate your PVC water dish holder on top of it!

[@reptilerob9650]

Out of my other reptiles my bluetongue is the one who likes to trash his home every day but still love him

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Party animals

[@reptilerob9650]

😂

[@shannonheathcliffmul]

atleast 2 hide one at each side of the temperature gradient

[@mizzbamii8214]

can you do a video of putting the enclosure together please >.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I did one called simple skink set up. Check it out in the video list on my channel 👍🏼

[@shaharothe-khan4139]

Where do you get the log things

[@aronoiiel]

Do you not need to worey about skinks nibbling fake plants? Also in that last bit there was a little blue ball like thing is thst an enrichment thing? I know tortoises like to push around balls so just curious if that was similar? Thank you alot for your videos! Im slowly working through them as I resesech for s skink in my future (distant for now lol so much to learn)

[@ReptileMountainTV]

They typically don’t nibble the fake plants thankfully. Yep the blue kong type toy is an enrichment item. I put raw dog kibble in it and they have a good challenge getting it out.

[@aronoiiel]

@@ReptileMountainTV oh neat that is super cool! Thank you alot for taking time to respind ^_^ i love enrichments things like that

[@xanderschroder5030]

can u make a vid on how muc and when 2 mist a indosesion plz cuz i cant find it anywhere on youtube so if u could that would be amazing❤

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I Will add a “How To Humidity” which will address that... but it wont air until mid/late summer... i have a ton of videos already in the que 😉👍🏼

[@xanderschroder5030]

(:

[@xanderschroder5030]

thanks so much ur the best😊

[@-cMc-]

I definitely do not have the green thumb either lol

[@lobetec314]

Although this is an odd question, how do you clean up after your skink if it urinates or defecates on your carpet or its encloser?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I use F10 disinfectant to clean the enclosure. Check out my video on weekly maintenance. :-)

[@lobetec314]

what about carpet or clothing?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I just wash my clothes and I would use pet stain remover on carpet if I had carpet. :-)

[@lobetec314]

k ty for the answer :)

[@looboo52251]

BTW- I like the silver in the beard. I am in the whole white mode. (old guy, lol)

[@ReptileMountainTV]

It shows wisdom...lol

[@irenedobbins8800]

Do u have a video on how to Quentin a bts?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Quarantine? kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGeznp2trbupbtU

[@andrww9272]

Do you suggest distilled or regular tap water for the blueys to drink? I’m looking into getting one 🙃

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I just use ReptiSafe to treat tap water. Distilled isnt great as it is missing minerals.

[@andrww9272]

ReptileMountain.TV Ok! Thank you for the response 😊

[@kaleluk35]

How old can a baby northern slink make the move from flat substrate like paper to lose like Aspen?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Within the first two weeks easy.

[@Princesspetpeeves]

Can i use timothy hay in a hide in addition to her regular substrate?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Yes if its kept dry. 🙂

[@rachelansley5119]

Do you sell the Blue Tongue Skinks? I would love to buy one and you look legit. Thanks, Rachel

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Thank you! I do sell them you can check out more here www.reptilemountain.com

[@slimjimphatt9238]

Can specific dog food brands be a staple for blue tongues or is it better to feed them a freshly prepared diet?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Blue Tongue Skink Diet In Depth - Ep. 79 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJCohoSZftiIbNE

[@cruzcool7367]

Hey TC I am currently putting the finishing touches on my Indo BTS's enclosure and I found some stone bricks in my backyard that I would like to use in my enclosure. However, I want/need to sanitize it in order to keep my Blue Tongue healthy. How do you sanitize your bricks?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Bake em

[@cruzcool7367]

Thanks! I’m so happy you responded! Do you have any specific heats or times that you use when baking your bricks? I just want to be super careful to make sure I can kill everything on the stone. Thanks again!

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Wet it, then bake at 275 for 45min

[@cruzcool7367]

Thanks TC!

[@ggittins4097]

I saw a little ball thing in one. Is that like a cat toy? Do they enjoy them?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Yes they like to investigate things. However their attention span is short so you have to change things up daily

[@legendzanimations6285]

Hey! I know ur probably not gonna respond to this (I’m a little late) but, do u still have skinks in the winter? I’m going through Colorado Springs in a little while and I’ve been looking for a blue

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I do have some babies from last years litter. I don’t live in Colo Springs though…

[@legendzanimations6285]

@@ReptileMountainTV Denver?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Southern Denver area

[@fansiderc9302]

I am a Pyrex dish uses lol I have a 9 by 9 in with my Indonesian skinks enclosures. He loves to soak. Lots of cork flats and fake plants. We are bumping him to a three foot by 6 foot 270 gallon tank soon. I am thinking about a water feature for him in that big enclosure.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Sounds wonderful

[@rhys896]

Dam that sounds amazing, since this comment was nearly a year ago you have any footage of it? I'd love to see!

[@fansiderc9302]

rhys not yet as I am working on some new hides and moving around his lighting around. I still didn’t do the water fall yet 😕 lol this has been a very slow switch in the last 9 months.

[@rhys896]

@@fansiderc9302 Lol, that sucks, but oh well. Hopefully you can eventually do more work on it

[@fansiderc9302]

That is the plan! Lol I have lots in the works that has been moving. Slower than I like but still moving.

[@Hresko199265]

having an issue finding that 4 inch T on a hinge, does anyone have a link on where to get them, couldnt find it on amazon or home depot website

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I haven’t seen them on Home Depot for a while sadly. Ive seen some on ebay. Called 4 inch hinged tee connectors.

[@sandysizemore1828]

Ive been looking for a year now :((

[@Shannon.RebelReis]

What live plants would you recommend in a Northern Skink enclosure?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I don’t really have great success with much but some non toxic monkey grass or pothos would be worth a try.

[@Shannon.RebelReis]

@@ReptileMountainTV I read that wheat grass is also okay because they can/will eat it? Is that also an okay plant?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Im not very knowledgeable on plants really. I got a D in field botany in college lol.

[@Shannon.RebelReis]

@@ReptileMountainTV LOL! That's okay! The Skinks still give you an A+ on info! 😉

[@rovena996]

Also hobby lobby is a great place to get fake plants for reptiles. A lot more variety than pet shops.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Agreed!

[@d3m0nh8]

Question. Do BTS like to climb at all?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

They will climb some yes. Its not their best skillset and I wouldn’t say it’s an activity they “enjoy” as a recreation but they will climb if given the opportunity.

[@kelgean687]

How often should you clean the cage?

[@ReptileMountainTV]

I spot clean daily and completely change bedding and scrub down every 3-4 months.

[@kelgean687]

ReptileMountain.TV Thank you!

[@garywright4020]

If I wanted to use real plants what kind is safe to put in with them???

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Reptile magazine has a good article on that.

[@ProgressiveDiscussions]

Cage decor is for people not the Primitive reptile. It's just like the logic that all of those fancy fishing lures attract more fishermen than they do fish. Finally someone in the United States has an incubating clutch of Peter's banded skink eggs. The ones from Reptile Rapture. The so-called reptile know-it-alls on the internet were saying that these are live bearers, apparently not.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

The decor ascetically is for the human yet it can serve as environmental and sensory enrichment for the reptile.

[@ProgressiveDiscussions]

@@ReptileMountainTV I understand. A large Grapevine can be favored by a lizard to climb on or crawl under instead of being totally out in the open exposed. Except for a Peter's banded skink which prefers to burrow in sand, but they might feel even more secure with a large flat piece of slate rock to go under.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Yep gotta match the species needs. Happy tk hear the PBS have now been bred. Lets hope for good hatch rate and record keeping so they can get established cbb 🤞🏼

[@ProgressiveDiscussions]

@@ReptileMountainTV now is the time for people to breed this wonderful skink species while the wild caught specimens are sent abroad in large numbers which is very sad but at the same time provides breeding pairs to enthusiasts. These breeders should also stock up on Panacur to take care of internal parasites.

[@beanfeblio7496]

talk to much lol