How to set up a Blue Tongue Skink BioActive Enclosure with The Bio Dude

WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Meet our little dude/lady, the nameless Blue Tongue Skink. We got this little baby in and discovered that his/her leg was broken and so we were quick to take action to help our friend out. We would love to have our viewers help name this cutie. Our staff has thrown around some Hollywood fictional character names like Lieutenant Dan, Ron Swanson, & Legolas. If you like those names or have idea of your own, comment them below and we'll start a poll with the most common names in the next couple of days where you can cast your vote to help name our new friend! We're excited to see everyone's input, and can't wait to give this fighter a well deserved name. We'll launch another video next week with our friends story and the name reveal so stay tuned!
...Now back to your regular scheduled program
What's up guys? Today we're going to be building a Blue Tongue Skink BioActive enclosure. Our new resident will be housed inside of a 4x2x2 Kages enclosure. The Blue Tongue Skink is an omnivore and known for being an opportunist when it comes to edible vegetation in their habitats. These large, docile skinks have a great demeanor and tons of personality, making them a very popular pet. A large enclosure with plenty of places to hide, burrow, dig, and gentle slopes for climbing are recommended. Hotspots as high as 100 degrees are utilized and humidity spikes throughout the day are preferred. Since these lizards are omnivores it is very important to utilize plants that when ingested, provide benefical nutrition and are not harmful or toxic. We love to grow healthy edibles in their vivariums, such as mint, basil, oregano, hibiscus, cabbage, kale, and spineless opunita. This allows them to forage as nature intended. Our friend really enjoys horn worms, roaches, and Repashy Bluey Buffet that we've linked below for you. We're going to be utilizing The Bio Dude's signature Terra Firma as the base layer, add plants, cork tubes & flats, and biodegradables to make our friends enclosure #BioActive.
We can't wait to see the names you suggest, and for the voting process to begin!
Big shout out and thank you to my wife, Dr. Dougherty at Red Bluff Animal Hospital for taking care of our new friend and helping us restore his/her health.
Red Bluff Animal Hospital: www.redbluffanimalhospital.com/
As always, thank you for watching and make sure you subscribe to my channel so you can be notified when we release new content.
- Website: www.theBioDude.com
- Facebook: / thatbiodude
- KZbin: / @thebiodudejoshhalter
- Instagram: @TheBioDude
- TheBioDude Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston 15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598 Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]
Want a Blue Tongue set up of your own? Check out our Blue Tongue Skink BioActive Kit: www.thebiodude.com/products/b...
Items used in video:
.:: Kages Custom Reptile Enclosures: reptilekages.com/
.:: Terra Firma: www.thebiodude.com/products/t...
.:: AAA New Zealand Spag Moss: www.thebiodude.com/products/a...
.:: BioShot: www.thebiodude.com/products/b...
.:: Live Oak Leaf Litter: www.thebiodude.com/products/l...
.:: Arid Springtails: www.thebiodude.com/products/g...
.:: Show grade Cork Tube: www.thebiodude.com/products/l...
.:: Cork Flat: www.thebiodude.com/products/1...
.:: Sanservia Snake Plant: www.thebiodude.com/products/s...
.:: Dracanea compacta: www.thebiodude.com/products/4...
.:: Aglaonema Simplex: www.thebiodude.com/products/4...
.:: Birdnest Fern: www.thebiodude.com/products/4...
.:: Repashy Bluey Buffet: www.thebiodude.com/products/r...
Only sold at our Point of Sale or limited shipping availability items:
.:: Blue Tongue Skink
.:: Isopods Powder Blues and Purples
.:: Large show grade moss

[@mercuryryryryyy]

I live in Australia and a few months ago my brother saved a young one who was missing half a tail and her arm and leg on one side, she was almost dead once he found her but he brought her over and me and my mum nursed her back to health! We got her a nice big tank and just recently made her a much bigger one and she loves it :) we don't know her definete gender we are just going off size and body features for now, but yeah owning a blue tongue that's missing a few legs is pretty crazy (quick edit: my mum has studied veterinary nursing and zoology so nursing animals back to health is gonna be her job in a few years)

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

How nice! The Dude abides!!

[@Rekkarfox]

I live in Australia and coincidentally this morning I spotted a new resident blue tongue in my yard! They're really cool animals, I love seeing them around.

[@monahelmgens3703]

I have one in my yard, he is living in my garden shed and I am here to look at making him a more suitable house to live in my yard freely. We can't actually keep blue tongues in captivity with out a licence in Australia as well.

[@adrianjolly422]

What about clover if it is a female, because a clover has 3 leaves

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

I really like that!

[@wildabeeest638]

Genius

[@shabadagoobalikeameeboomee7358]

So does poison Ivey

[@stephenrutt8634]

Nice I like it

[@stevedodger2550]

Hey josh! Whenever you make a new enclosure for another animal, can u pls put the lighting equipment in the description. Basically, can you put what light bulbs and lighting equipment you use, and put the link in the description. Ok bye!!!

[@loispadgett6306]

That is one Lucky Blue Tongue you have there. Glad you are going to keep this one and it's home turned out beautiful. You have great eye for placement of very thing you put in the cages. Lucky could be good name it works for boy or girl. Keep use updated on the little ones progress. GOD BLESS

[@dlockwo2]

Hey Bio Dude, any chance you guys could do a guide for the African Fire Skink? Thanks for the great content!

[@Anomnom123]

I had one and the only advice I have is to not give hornworms and take the humidity and hiding super serious

[@spencersteffen7882]

Sending love from Wisconsin! Hopefully one day I can visit

[@stevedodger2550]

Oh and I also love your videos! Keep up the good work and don’t quit!

[@Smilla116]

Wow that’s a perfect enclosure :D

[@GSignz]

Just recently started following you. Previously watched the video where you said you were going to be trying out the pvc ReptileKages, now I’m here and I see you have your logo on the front of this one. Did you start carrying them ? They look awesome.

[@jerrydease1459]

I caught & released a 3 legged bullfrog this summer!... I named him Legolas 🧝‍♂️!!!!!!!! 💚👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 Not Legless though.. 😂👎🏽

[@core_hobo2622]

I wonder if he lost his leg bc he stepped on a lego 🤔

[@cirelachlan]

Just to throw this out there but that's a merauke blue tongue skink from west new guinea. He looks just like my merauke I've had for 12 years. Key notes, how long he is. Maraukes are the longest of the species. Also his tongue is very pink compared to others. They also require the most humidity out of all the species. 60 to 70 percent and up to 80 to make sure they get good sheds. Looking forward to seeing this little 3 leggy do well.

[@rogerstenstromk5mow715]

Love this video

[@ShadowToken13]

Hey Josh what is that big plant you used for the corner? It looks really nice

[@HulklingsBoyfriend]

Coconut coir is an excellent and renewable replacement for moss.

[@maqzeen1395]

I felt that burn. You sure hurried thru it right after

[@MarinaIslas]

I'm curious, which t5 bulb did you use for the plants? I'm setting up a 4x2x2 for my bearded dragon and was planning to install two arcadia Dragon D3+ t5 14% (one 34" and one 22"). But the arcadia website says that the bulbs produce 8000K and I'm worried that may be too much for even desert plants. What do you recommend?

[@theprelovedpixie1255]

2 14% t5 is way too much uv especially if mounted inside the enclosure. I would only ever use a 14% if my enclosure was at least 3ft high. One 12% is recommended in a 4x2x2 but if you want to create some really nice height with branches etc then the 6% forest arcadia t5 is an excellent unit. Q distance of around 23cm with the 6% between the animal and the lamp gives a uvi of around 5.2 which is perfect for beardies. The arcadia jungle dawn is great for plants.

[@rachaelrorrer6565]

I like how he buys the cricket in there to keep them from drowning lol I knew what he ment cork bark.

[@colby4027]

will you have braided trees in stock soon?! also grapewood tunnels.

[@Lyrabela]

My question is how much ventilation does a halm need? With the vents on the kage enclosure will that make it harder to hold humidity?

[@EJO_VZN]

Mine holds steady within the 80-100% all day no problem

[@AliaZebra]

Hi I was just wondering for added the soil do you have to add bugs with them or no? Can you add soil but no bugs

[@starwar7006]

When the intro played I thought it was over 😂

[@patheticsteam337]

How could I get a cork bark round off your website like that one you used in the back left corner? Of the show grade tubes I’ve ordered they were always long and thin.

[@zoeyreptiliusowner]

i see you

[@patheticsteam337]

You didn’t see anything...

[@Mykeul33]

Wait, aren't blue tongues not wild caught because they're australian? As far as I remember there is no export of local wildlife from Australia. Am I missing something?

[@mayqueenslithers4078]

Indonesian BTS are difficult but not impossible find captive bred. All Australian BTS are CB.

[@Mykeul33]

@@mayqueenslithers4078 Aaaaah indonesian ones, okay that makes sense thanks

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

@@Mykeul33 Yup! Sorry If I didn't clarify appropriately - so much info in this video on the spot lol.

[@millathegorilla9186]

There are Indonesian too

[@Victoria-lq6gw]

Any animal that is native to Australia is captive bred. They have a VERY strict exporting policy. That’s why it’s always good to get an Australian species, because you’ll always know that they are captive bred

[@rachaelrorrer6565]

What kind of flower plants can you plant in a bearded dragons tank that’s safe if they eat leaves as well as flowers?

[@olyvia1380]

i’m sure there’s a resource somewhere online with info like that. i would start by looking at flowering plants that grow where they’re native.

[@death3294]

In Australia it's easy to find captive bread ones

[@bavarianreptiles3711]

Nice Video Bro

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@JakesExoticPets]

@TheBioDude do you have a kit specifically for the northern blue tongue skink on your website? I know Indonesian and northern BTS live in opposite sides of the world

[@vampiresquid]

All baby northern blue-tongues are captive bred. They are expensive but not hard to find. It's the ones from Indonesia, like yours, that are imports.

[@ProfNicoschro7711]

This is sick, I’m building my adult halamahera an 6x 2x 1.5

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

FAB!

[@Backwoodspsycho]

Would this work with a northern blue tongue skink. That is what I have and she could use an upgrade. Thank you for posting such wonderful content.

[@donuttheleo6660]

Northerns cant have to high humidity so you can use it but plants might die

[@kplooki]

Any chance you can do a video for top lizards for 40 gallon bioactive enclosures?

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Thank you for the recommendation, I will add it to our list of future videos!

[@aurora_dawn123]

That's why I prefer to grow sphagnum moss and try to use the dead bits.

[@keeganjulik6770]

I watch from Minnesota and I was wondering if you could do a video on ball pythons please

[@ghost8612]

sooo hyped

[@user-wb1nx8gd8j]

대박이다.

[@murphystoren4011]

Would this set up work for a northern blue tongue skink??? Or just an Indonesian?

[@theprelovedpixie1255]

That 6% uv needs to be shifted closer to the basking end so that the animal naturally gets uv and heat as it would do in the wild.

[@KoFSmoke]

Do some water lizard enclosures, like Sailfin dragons or water dragons

[@Bavarian_Barbarian]

Were you worried about your BTS climbing too close and messing with the bulb? May just be the camera angle, but that cork piece in the back looks really close

[@ZENXJ]

What size plant bulb did u get

[@aris8611]

Hey Dude, whats the first plant you threw in there?

[@darkwo0d]

Maby put tape on the rail when mixing

[@scottd6389]

I know this is easy to later, but tripod would of been a good name 😜

[@olthousem02]

Is that a 40 gallon terrarium?

[@Apollo6166]

What subspecies is that?

[@LillPoss]

Wow didn't know there are wild BTL in Texas. I live in Aus and by law, you can't have a wild-caught one. See I have a bit of a problem. We have a few of them sharing our backyard and around this time of year we get babies and there our cat comes in, he is a hunter, and usually, we manage to save the majority of them as he likes to bring his prey home usually unharmed to show off but last year we missed the moment and there was a row of 8 dead little bodies..... I called the authorities after that and asked how would I go about getting a license for the babies and giving them to people that would love to have them as a pet as I know that here it's compulsory to have a lizard license. they told me that I can't even nurse injured ones and that it's the way of nature and I should leave them to die or take them to the vet, that being Xmas none are open, so I am illegally nursing 3 atm, other 2 were unharmed, and I took them to the local park as I do every year and 1 is dead, hopefully, it is it. But the laws are stupid, why can't you take ones that going to be dead anyway as pets is beyond me

[@user-ih8qc3mc6h]

Hi LillPoss, I know you posted this a while ago, but you can call WIRES for all injured wildlife, the volunteers have training and the licenses to hold and care for wildlife. You could also join your local WIRES branch and volunteer to care for reptiles once you have done the training. There may be other wildlife rescue organisations in your area, but WIRES is the most common one. You can get a cat bib for your cat they have really good success preventing cats from hunting and some Council's provide them for free. You can't rehome wild lizards, they either have to be rehabilitated and released, approved for a licensed facility as an education animal or put to sleep. This is to stop the illegal trade of wild animals as pets, they can't have exceptions as people would say "oh I found this, it was going to die and I nursed it back" even for healthy animals so they can sell them.

[@kasonbridges753]

Please do some tarantula and scorpion videos

[@noworriesplumbingandgaswo254]

I’m getting a blue tongue lizard in 2 weeks

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

That is awesome and very exciting! If you have any questions feel free to email our crew and we would be happy to assist you! ([e-mail])

[@bigbigumms2661]

👍

[@MrSurgpimp]

Name it.... Herschel! After character from Walking Dead that had to lose his leg due to a bite.

[@IsaacClips-mh5nc]

If you ever get another blue tongue skink name it stinky also is it possible for a blue tongue skink to live of live meal worms meat and vegetables and no other live foods because meal worms are the only things I’m ok with

[@wheelmanjosh1982]

Could you grow mushrooms in the enclosure?

[@ikfioqg]

That enclosure/ terrarium just don't have air circulation period. If you know physic and air flow ...it easy...

[@ItzAxolotlPlays]

Is this for northern or the Indonesian skink?

[@joshuastover8632]

Name it Dale. #3

[@RavenDeity]

Can you update this video

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Thanks for the request, we will be sure to add it to our list for future videos!

[@noworriesplumbingandgaswo254]

Steve

[@None-qk8qk]

Bluey!

[@philsutherland4563]

I don't understand how you have a blue tongue lizard which is a protected species in Australia

[@LeCalzoneZone]

Omg please name him Ron Swanson, I love parks and rec

[@keithwillis4524]

Stumpy for a name

[@BANANA_land_president]

this is the name of my lizzad but i have two names the name of mine is the name of my best friend in primary school Isabella so i call her Izzy Lizzy thats actuly why i called her that because it rhymed another name is berry because blue berry so if you ever get another you could use either. also BANANA

[@Kirk19962]

My two blueys live there dirt and rocks and some dead trees and flowers and they love there meat 😂 and there loving it had them for 2 years now and they get big fast

[@Kirk19962]

And ones of my blues got 3 legs as well so I called them 3 leg and 4 leg 😂

[@ZENXJ]

Were do u buy the plant bulb???

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Hey there! www.thebiodude.com/collections/led-reptile-lighting

[@ZENXJ]

@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter which one did u get though???

[@wren9719]

How often do you need to chhange the substratre

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

If the enclosure is set up and maintained correctly, you should never have to change the substrate. That’s a great benefit of going bioactive!

[@GuitarioSpagio]

big shame your bioactive kits don't ship outside of the US

[@ZENXJ]

Where do u get the show grade moss

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

At this time it is only available at our Point of Sale

[@dylanlofink8086]

Australian or Indonesian?

[@PogoMilktea]

Since it is wild caught it is Indonesian

[@aurora_dawn123]

Lieutenant Dan, if it's a male of course.

[@tyler_0135]

Oh shit what happened to that poor bts lizards leg ?

[@ausspartanfallon6510]

so did she like any of the names lolz

[@sandymacfarlane3320]

How much are your blue touges please

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Hey there! at this time we do not have any available, apologies! Please reach out to [e-mail] if you have any questions about available animals! thank you! the dude abides!

[@dylanwicklund5129]

Both my bts are captive born from captive parents and their parents were captive going back many generations

[@Ecsueberance092]

Trio , name

[@lukejeka7555]

Why u got a mask on u might give the lizard covid 😂😂

[@rakhashavana3762]

bro u cant make it bioaaktif for gecko pakistan? tankas before..bro

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

hey there! a leopard gecko?

[@rakhashavana3762]

@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter yes..leopard gecko...say hai from bandung indonesia....elo keren bro..

[@dylanwicklund5129]

I do not know what you're talking about they are everywhere and have been for years very easy to find captive bread baby blue tongue skinks in America and Canada

[@Victoria-lq6gw]

I have a northern blue tongue...... she hates me

[@dontreply8346]

I’ll take her off your hands and love and take care of her.

[@Victoria-lq6gw]

@@dontreply8346 I'm slowly starting to work with her, she's gotten a little bit better!

[@erincoulter314]

I like the video and love the mask but if you don't like wild-caught, don't support it. Keep the wild in the wild.

[@jasonking7570]

As much as I'm sure he would love to, I do believe that blue tongue skinks are one of those species that are extremely, *extremely* difficult to breed, so finding any captive bred, I believe, is rare

[@SinamonSticc]

That’s a pink tongue skink

[@funfuronahotday]

dude , let it be freeeeeee stop putting beings in jail

[@jdandkikisExotics]

hey i have a bts and i thikn its a halmahara but i cant fully tell if anyboyd is good with species its on my chennel if u could leave a comment on my vid and tell me that woul be helpful

[@sillywilly722]

And what are you smoking there is so many captive borm blue tomges everywhere wow

[@isaacguia3872]

Ewww

[@EE-bg2sd]

Its a shame this dudes voice is so annoying, cuz the stuff he says is kinda interesting

[@mcexotics6738]

Really man the mask? You had me for a view until you kept your mask on when you’re talking to us. You’re a Texas man this surprised me.

[@daskaterkyle2]

He has his employee filming him. Not a fan of masks, but he's taking precautions for the sake of his employees.

[@Anthony-eg7pw]

Are you being serious . Worry about yourself bro. And anyway..he was advertising his bio dude face mask

[@MarinaIslas]

I'm glad to see that he cares about the safety of not only himself but also his employees during this pandemic. Keep up the good work Biodude!

[@hudsonhaynie1632]

To each their own

[@Flatlower]

Me too. Just hard to hear him properly. If you can't do it right don't bother.

[@sillywilly722]

Wtf do u have a mask on all we can hear is mumbling smfh tell your camera dude to stay 6 ft back