Shingleback Skink, A MONOGAMOUS Blue Tongue?

Shingleback skinks (Tiliqua rugosa) are certainly the most unusual of blue tongue skinks. They are also extremely rare outside of Australia. Fortunately, in 2019 I got to travel to Australia to the Australian Reptile Park where I got to talk with Cooper from Coop's Reptiles about these incredible, monogamous, funny little skinks.
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Clint is a professional biologist and educator, but above all, Clint LOVES reptiles and he loves to share that love with everyone he meets. Whether you're lover or a hater of reptiles, you can't help but get excited with Clint!
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You guys are so RAD!
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Fan mail? Yes Please!
Clint's Reptiles
770 East Main Street #127
Lehi, UT 84043
If you would like to send a LIVE animal - FIRST: please send us an email to make sure we can take it in. [e-mail]

[@efrainoctavio3506]

Male: Honey you are the only skink in my life Female: My head is this side

[@monicdavis6150]

lmao!

[@maggiepie8810]

😂😂😂

[@lilaznliquidfreak]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@llSuperSnivyll]

I can only imagine the first person trying to take care of a shingleback wanting to pet it on the head and accidentally petting its tail.

[@socialreject2156]

I can totally see my self doing that

[@lilaznliquidfreak]

😂😂😂

[@karenl6908]

Meanwhile, as the two men are talking... Shingleback Skink: I miss my wife...

[@samieD22]

😭😂 Why must you pull at my heart strings like this?! 🥰🧐

[@ImFangzBro]

"I miss my wife you guys. I miss her a lot. I'll be back."

[@biggjiggins8987]

i really enjoy this more candid conversational format

[@splattered63]

My first pet was a shingle back - over 50 years ago now. We used to see them all the time as kids in Australia.

[@darthplagueis13]

"Look at this head and tail! You tell me which is which." Ambiguous end of the lizard: *mlems*

[@particlemannn]

Clint: "Is there anything blue and toxic in Australia?" Blue ringed octopus: "Do I mean nothing to you?"

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

It is not on land though.

[@RomeoHatesShrimp]

@@stefanostokatlidis4861 just because you haven’t seen one yet ....

[@oijosukeiliveinyourwalls5798]

@@stefanostokatlidis4861 Που σαι ρε αδερφε ερπετοκαυλε!!!

[@mookinbabysealfurmittens]

Technically, that's not IN Australia ;)

[@recipoldinasty]

@@RomeoHatesShrimp lol is this sarcsm? Only way to see an octopus in land is cus its dead or dying

[@HateAndFlame]

They’re also one of the few reptiles that actively raise their young, the male included which is even rarer. My wife and I are looking at getting a pair in the not too distant future. They aren’t very hard to legally purchase in Victoria and they’re also pretty cheap.

[@Neon-ki4cd]

Thank you Clint for the most amazing, stink'n rad birthday of my entire life at your reptile room!

[@ClintsReptiles]

I'm so glad you could come!

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Ph happy birthday

[@Neon-ki4cd]

​@@ClintsReptiles ​ it was awesome! Also you should totally do a dumeril's boa, dumeril's monitor (when he calms down), and a savu python video.

[@jamesholste8908]

Skinkin' Rad*

[@eleanormckelvaine6939]

Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂

[@almar456]

Hey, I was wondering if you guys could review the Tyrannosaurus? I recently moved into a new house with a lot of space and thought I'd get one, but some people say they can be difficult to handle and relatively expensive to feed. Many thanks!

[@ClintsReptiles]

I would like that!

[@coldbloodedmonstars]

LOL LMAO nice👍

[@markcobuzzi826]

Here’s what I am predicting... *Handleability:* 1/5 *Care:* 1/5 *Hardiness:* 5/5 *Availability:* 0/5 *Upfront Costs:* 1/5 (spare no expense!) *Overall:* 1.6/5

[@diplodocussenior8687]

@@markcobuzzi826 Hardiness: 5/5

[@reywashere5284]

@@markcobuzzi826 Generally ability to easily kill the owner gets a handleability of 0/5.

[@lyzzidc]

this video makes me so happy, watching this with 2 of my 3 Shinglebacks sleeping on my chest, in Australia I bought mine for $150. They are really the loveliest lizards, and hopefully, more of them become available in the states so you can experience these beautiful pets.

[@lyzzidc]

They also have osteoderms, boney scales, which helps protect them from predators. The babies when they are born are the equivalent of a 3 year old human, and Shinglebacks often have 2, can give birth to up to 3 at a time.

[@alpheusmarshall4670]

They are truly amazing creatures I wish I could have one

[@ClintsReptiles]

Me too!

[@Meme-vt3fc]

@@ClintsReptiles you can steal one

[@shnoodledoodles8562]

@@Meme-vt3fc but he wouldnt

[@Meme-vt3fc]

@@shnoodledoodles8562 but he can

[@Badateverythingjajajja]

@@Meme-vt3fc stfu stealing is not correct

[@Submarine_2010]

I’m trying to persuade my parents to let me get a corn snake and thanks to your videos and 9 months of persuasion it’s not a definite no anymore!

[@coldbloodedmonstars]

Keep me updated I want to know what you get

[@coldbloodedmonstars]

Thanks bro I never heard of these guys till now 👍 thanks for the info I love Reptiles anything I can do to help?

[@BetrunkenerZwerg934]

@@coldbloodedmonstars same

[@redheadchucky]

make sure you take care of that snake my friend

[@Suspicious_Moai]

so did you end up getting one?

[@sabishiihito]

Skinks out here being more loyal and dedicated than humans.

[@BigBex]

WAIT A SECOND!!!! Blue-tongue skinks basically FLASHBANG their brids predators?!?! THAT'S SUPER RAD!!!!

[@kermit9409]

I have one of these. I live in Australia and they aren’t as pricey but are rare. They have so much personality but he thinks every thing is food. You have to watch your toes!

[@RomeoHatesShrimp]

Somewhere in Australia there’s a skink in a polygamous relationship watching this video

[@ClintsReptiles]

Possibly true

[@RomeoHatesShrimp]

What size enclosure would you reccomend for a pet King Kong, me thinks a 45 gallon would do just fine ?

[@laurensvdd1666]

@@RomeoHatesShrimp nah, that's too big, they only need a 10 gallon tub. No lighting or heat:)

[@laurensvdd1666]

@Keagan Van Duzer yeahh

[@THEE.apples]

@@RomeoHatesShrimp u should get 3 they're very social

[@nickihuber-smith2329]

Shinglebacks are my favourite reptile!

[@coldbloodedmonstars]

Thank you I never heard of these guys till now I love Reptiles anything I can do to help?

[@nickihuber-smith2329]

Sorry wrote that a couple mins in. Glad Cooper talks about this!

[@nickihuber-smith2329]

@@coldbloodedmonstars probably just advocacy if you're from America :) The biggest importers of illegal wildlife trade from Australia is east asian countries and America (I assume coop left that out to be polite haha) Best thing is to educate people especially in states where you can easily own exotic animals

[@timothygrulke1308]

I'd love to know what kind of research you are doing?

[@nickihuber-smith2329]

@@timothygrulke1308 I'm interning with a project which is trying a new method of being able to determine reptiles regional history which would be able to release reptiles back to their original habitat after intercepting them from being smuggled. It's important because currently all animals that are found being smuggled are given to wildlife centres or put down, as they can't indiscriminately put them back into the wild because of the risk of spreading disease and of the trauma of changing home ranges often means death.

[@meganpinnington3166]

The skink SHINGLE-handedly took over this video

[@jessescales4982]

Coop has an awesome channel. He just had some baby blue tongues that are just adorable.

[@ClintsReptiles]

I'm so jealous. Westerns are my favorite blue tongues!

[@GabeDoppel]

Cooper seems like such a nice guy. I'm sure it was easy for you two to click, Clint! Thanks for your work, it's been a real saving grace during quarantine.

[@Madchris8828]

I've been needing some distractions, I've been having a lot of personal work related issues that are getting very tough to deal with. Nice to have something to take the mind off of the craziness

[@GabeDoppel]

@@Madchris8828 hey man im in the same boat! just dont forget, you got lots of people who care for you pal. Hope this year is a better one brother!

[@pyrpyr5Wolf]

I freaking LOVE bobtails. We had one living on our back porch down in the southern corner of Western Australia and it was such a hissy little fella.

[@AudioCalibrator]

You should meet up with this guy every time you go to Australia, you guys bounce off eachother so damn well!

[@Yeshua-is-the-Light]

THANK YOU for making this video!! I’ve been wanting a video of a shingleback skink for months now and it’s here it’s here❤️ I’m so happy im tearing up. If I ever win the lottery I’d love to buy or rescue a pair. I’d throw them a little skink wedding with a bug cake and give them a large enclosure with so much love❤️ I want to give them the world:) thank youuu

[@Madchris8828]

Until this show, I had no idea skinks could get so big. Im used to little guys I see in Louisiana. This one is like a large walking pinecone!

[@ClintsReptiles]

That's exactly what it is!

[@devi738]

Hi, Clint! I just want to thank you for your work. With your help I found the perfect pet reptile for me. So if everything goes well I will get a halmahera blue tongue skink in the near future. You are the best!

[@RoseProseFroze]

Same but I have an Eastern Blue Tongue now. I love them.

[@pedwards4367]

Thanks for introducing CoopsReptile! I love your channel Clint and I am also a follower of Coop, for about a year now. He has a great channel too!

[@Codeexcited]

I was in DC this week and the shingleback skink(it was much smaller than this one, perhaps a juvenile) at the national zoo was incredibly friendly, immediately came right upto the glass and basically trying to get me to pet it through the glass. By far the most social animal we saw that day.

[@trenaareen1216]

The shingleback at my local zoo is the same! Well, the eastern shingleback is, the western is a more lazy fellow. The eastern comes up to the glass and puts his little front legs up as if to wave hello. So cute

[@Codeexcited]

@@trenaareen1216 I was like wow this is so cool I want one. And then I saw how much they cost....

[@nosalad695]

I could watch 2 educated, enthusiasts talk geekily for hours can’t beat it.

[@beautyforashes2022]

Awww, so cute! And Look at his squishy little tongue going, "blepp, blepp", freakin' adorable. Also, with his head shape and dark coloration he kind of reminds me of Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon. What a neat lizard!

[@CatherineRay1]

I love that the special guest was involved in this uv-flash tongue study, how wonderful!

[@1234kalmar]

I saw thise kind of skinks in the Budapest Zoo! They were adorable!! Chubby with these tiny legs :D

[@timothygrulke1308]

I love them- from the first moment I saw one I knew I wanted one. When I can afford one, I will get one. Fortunately as an Aussie they are substantially cheaper (around $400 bucks), but also require a licence to keep.

[@j.kaimori3848]

Check the license requirements for your state. I've been pleasantly surprised about the protection level.

[@giddygoat2712]

Wow i didn't realise how expensive they are in America! Where i live we literally see them all the time in our back yard lol

[@stephaniebehan6673]

The one I have was actually one babie of three and mine is so docile and loves a cuddle.

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Coop's Reptiles is an amazing channel. Great content wall to wall

[@killgronia5815]

$10,000 but no one can hold it for some reason 😂😂😂😂. I love it.

[@ribartex_richardbrt]

Love those videos with Cooper ! And thanks to those I discovered his channel that's super cool !

[@robbbish]

Two of my favorite nerds on KZbin talking kinda awkwardly while holding such an adorable animal. I love it. lol

[@BrendanStuart]

Hey this is cool, I only live an hours drive from the Reptile Park, been there dozens of times throughout my life.

[@unstoppableExodia]

I had a couple of shingleback lizards over twenty years ago. Was kinda surprising to hear they are so expensive for Americans to buy given that I got mine for free. They were found in the fields somewhere. They had buried themselves in the soil, that’s how they were found, by chance. They were very well mannered and good to look after. I enjoyed feeding them fruits and snails. They also ate my frogs whose enclosure I housed them in and they also tried to eat my baby turtle. After that I chose to let them go and released them into a near by national park. At the time I didn’t know that releasing them into the same place they were taken is the proper thing to do. I was in high school and didn’t have internet access.

[@JasperCatProductions]

What sweet adorable lizard, he looks so solid and nice to hold.

[@herpdiversity9152]

Wow. It is incredible you got to hold one. Also I am subbing to coops reptiles.

[@LLLLogicccc]

Such beautiful creatures! I wish I could get one! Thanks for always making high quality and great vids Clint!!!

[@ClintsReptiles]

You're so welcome!

[@michaelbooher612]

Wow Clint What a joy.. Very informative and unique to us normies here in the states Thank you bro

[@bizzzzzzle]

Wow, this convo became way more interesting then I expected.

[@bigsam8597]

The shingleback looks like a mini Toothless from How to train your dragon. And I almost didn't recognize Coop there. That's a clean haircut!

[@marcelloplessi9299]

"Bobbies" are simply adorable! Great video :)

[@oogway9895]

Hes so chill as well!!

[@ClintsReptiles]

He's a blue tongue :)

[@oogway9895]

@@ClintsReptiles hehe, hes just vibing with you guys

[@wackysandals7285]

This channel is stinkin' rad. Please keep up the amazing work!

[@raspberrytears]

Best birthday present ever! I love your videos, Clint. They bring such joy into my life. ^_^

[@kurint8350]

To me, it seems like would be worth every penny to get a CB breeding pair and support the foundation of a proper source of availability for these adorable pinecones. When you both started talking about how often people are caught trying to smuggle them it made me very sad. This was wonderful to watch!

[@NoisyBones]

I got to see a pair of these cuties in the Baltimore Aquarium. They cuddled up and napped under a shade rock right in front of us, so so so cute

[@theofficalchairmanrevoluti614]

I can see in the background you guys are at the Reptile Park! I've got a good history with that place. Ever since I was little I wanted to go there and as a teenager my parents took me there finally. I basically collapsed due to dehydration but it was still the best experience at a zoo I ever had. It's got all sorts of amazing animals.

[@joelpygott7523]

So happy to see this in my recommended :)

[@ClintsReptiles]

It's a good Wednesday!

[@coldbloodedmonstars]

Lol sup bodak bill lol check out my black throat monitors

[@wilhelmtan5301]

I remember watching the pair of shinkleback at Life in Cold Blood narrated by David Attenborough. that is so cool there is even a reptile like that.

[@Violet-Lily]

I love that series! I bought the box set so I could watch it over and over again!

[@DMOptionalboss]

Important professional news, Clint. If you haven't done so already, you need to create an archive channel as well as back up your videos. A very popular KZbinr in a different genre whose name I can't drop without drawing attention has actually put a name to the algorithm issues with KZbin's community channel feature. Basically hold onto your butt and be ready to re-upload when KZbin does their clean-up. I don't think they'll reset the stats of the view counters, subs, and notification bells, but there's a chance they might, or we might be preparing for even worse. I don't want to alarm people as much as I want to set expectations and make sure my personal favorite content creators are ready for whatever is about to happen so that you guys don't suffer for it.

[@RoseProseFroze]

Oh man Shingleback skinks. I love seeing them so much. Also that tip about reflecting UV light turned the skink's defense mechanism from kinda sad to PRETTY STINKIN RAD.

[@Dionaea_floridensis]

They're so cool! Wish we could get them stateside. Glad the Aussies are protecting them though

[@Madchris8828]

As to what I can see, Australia seems to be pretty great at protecting their wildlife. Australia does have one of the more unique varieties of species on the planet.

[@eleanormckelvaine6939]

I love those! Someone has GOT to start a breeding program here in the states! ❤️

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Shingleback are pretty much the SICKEST skink and COOLEST yet. Also nice video,i found to be the coolest yet.

[@ClintsReptiles]

Nice!

[@munafruit]

i felt like you waited so long to say that bit about the uv tongue and i was vibrating even tho i knew what you were gona say lol. i would have accidentally blurted it way before you did. you're so polite 😂

[@susanmartin3762]

That is some very brilliant science discovering Wyatt kind of an animal would be a certain color. I'm fascinated by that. Couldn't you look like a little kid holding a Christmas toy. They are adorable. I love seeing you and your Clint reptile t-shirt. Nothing wrong with a little subtle advertising is there? I'm joking because you don't need to advertise anything. I have so many friends on Facebook and in KZbin. Watch your Channel. I have a strong feeling that within a year you're going to be offered a television show on the Animal Planet or the Discovery Channel either or because your show should be seen by all the world! Imagine all the kids that you are influencing!! Kids that are going to grow up to become reptile experts and teachers like you are!! I get happy when I watch your shows!

[@MrDLYouTube]

What a great video! I bet Clint and Cooper could talk together for hours! I also checked out Coop's channel, impressive amount of videos.

[@Zappygunshot]

Ever since seeing your videos about emerald tree skinks, I've fallen in love with the adorable little fellas, and decided I really want a few. Given that they're virtually impossible to get captive-bred where I'm from, I figured it'd only be ethical if, when I eventually decide to actually get some and they end up being wild caught, I'd try to breed them. Being not particularly well-versed in keeping pets, much less breeding needy animals like exotic reptiles, however, I figured it'd be a bad idea to just hop into the deep end and hope for the best. So, I decided to treat it the same way some people treat getting a tattoo: talk to friends and knowledgeable people about it, think about it every day for a year, and if by the end of it I still think it's a good idea; I'll get me a leopard gecko first since they're fairly similar in care and personality, but are a lot more forgiving and most importantly available captive-bred _everywhere._ After all, it's a pretty big commitment bringing a living creature into your house with an average life expectancy of up to a decade or more, gotta be smart about it.

[@spanishmountains4588]

That is a dream reptile most of us can't afford. But what a unique and fascinating animal.

[@Dana-kj9qo]

I love skinks, thanks so much for sharing!

[@aznheadbanger]

Pretty sure Coop came up on my FYP on tiktok. Love these guys!

[@albertofonrougediaz6154]

Please do a entire video on rosy boas!

[@giacomocostantini2152]

Love your videos, will you cover in a review one day giant waxy monkey tree frogs? I love 'em

[@swampyandcrayelitegaming4394]

Truly one of the coolest reptiles or should i say rad for you clint

[@callumh1920]

really liked this small bitesize video talking about hypotheses surrounding the features of this awesome animal

[@blackmamba7845]

That theory about the uv reflective tongue is so amazing and interesting! I would have never thought of that myself.

[@zephari]

I absolutely covet these skinks, I really wish I could have some, they are amazing!

[@jercle]

Would be awesome to meet either of you! I'm going to the reptile Park soon, can't wait!

[@mocabe01]

Amazing just how chill that pudgy lizard is.

[@Cranky_Crone]

They are totally cute, and terrifying… and the little fella in my room has pretty stripes. I still wish he’d waddle back outside! Wait, did he say 10k!? 😮 (Nah, don’t ask! Not gonna happen 😂)

[@RemixRampage]

I knew there were a few keepers trying to breed these guys in the us years ago… I’m not sure if they had any luck but I’m hoping someday we will see them in the US

[@marieparsons9908]

Hello Clint. I have comments on a Q &A from 2019. I know that parrots are not a main subject here. But if you ever wanted to do a video on them, Birdtricks takes their birds to Moab for free flight gatherings. I'm sure they would be excited to do a video with you. Misc. factoid: "I Keel you" is the catch phrase for one of Jeff Dunham's ventriloquist dummies. He's a funny guy. Maybe not appropriate for your kids though. I enjoy your videos a lot. : )

[@PanthorPapa84]

Those scales looked like obsidian so lovely

[@leonardoilies6980]

I really hope u make it to 1million subscribers near the end of the year :)

[@MOONOVERMIAMI]

hello great video Clint

[@TroySchrapel]

Also called Stumpies (or Stumpy-tailed) around these parts.

[@biggusdickus3838]

Great stuff Clint! I subscribed after I watched the king cobra review and dinosaur chickens 🤣 kinda reminds me of young bill nye but all about reptiles

[@brentcomstock7915]

That is an incredible skink! Thanks for sharing. When I was in ST Thomas doing disaster relief I saw some huge skinks there, not sure of the species. Do you have any videos of the Chonta Tiger snake from Ecuador? Large scale whipsnake, chironius grandiscuamis. I saw one at the zoo in cuenca Ecuador it was so cool it reminded me of toothless from how to train a Dragon.

[@blip-2024]

Such a cool creature! Thank you for sharing.

[@yzettasmith4194]

Ever since I saw a vid with a shingleback whose mate got killed on the road, I've been fascinated with these guys. I also felt so sad for the one who lost its mate. I wonder what they do if their mate gets killed? Do they get a new mate or stay single?

[@ThunderOrb]

These have been on my dream reptile list since I was, like, eight. Hoping someday I'll have the money and knowledge to make it happen.

[@blon.djukey9956]

Awesome as always Clint :)

[@KangarooKidTheMan]

please do a full fleshed out video of the Shingleback

[@darylwilliams7883]

That is one sweetheart skink!

[@bort3486]

one of my favourite features sir david attenborough did

[@heysaucemikehere1804]

What a stunning animal!

[@equestriankaiechomambo6450]

God I absolutely Shingleback blue tongue skinks it’s gorgeous! I have a northern blue tongue which I love if I could afford more I would get more they are the best🤣

[@reptiles4life126]

Your so close to 300k keep up the good work👍

[@ClintsReptiles]

Thank you! We'll keep moving forward :)

[@Brentor14]

I wish we could have CB Australian reptiles exported so many amazing species over there

[@dropinota]

Love your videos and channel. I was wondering if you could do a "Is the Sailfin Lizard the right pet for you?"

[@GloballCosmeticallyIntenseVoid]

I’ve never heard of a reptile like that one. Interesting..... also happy birthday!

[@ClintsReptiles]

Now you have. You're welcome :)

[@GloballCosmeticallyIntenseVoid]

@@ClintsReptiles thank you so much!

[@gamer708886]

What a beautiful reptile!

[@abhijithdivakaran553]

Lat week me and my wife was walking through Inverloch Victoria in a nature park. Suddenly my wife started shouting and ran away. I was stuck there not knowing what's happening. She screamed after reaching 1 km away 'there is a snake, there is a snake'. When i checked it was this guy in the bushes. Thank god it was not a snake.