Blue Tongue Skink Care Guide! (EVERYTHING you need to know)

[@LeeLeeRuester]

“Don’t give them fruit that often” omg that reminded me that when my grandma was watching my bearded dragon for like 6 months she gave her strawberries almost every single day bc she “liked them and wanted them” 🤦🏼‍♀️ she came back a lil chunky

[@pencilonpaper1026]

big oof lmao

[@vanyascheide1995]

Always the grandma’s 😂

[@lillymearkley1939]

Elle Hen wait who came back chunky your beardie or your grandma lol

[@LeeLeeRuester]

Lillydillpickle Gaming haha the beardie

[@theneighbourhoodqueer4423]

Oh no

[@user-lo9vu8ok1m]

Bro care guides along with “day in the life with my pets” are my favorite kind of videos

[@journeybeyondthesea]

Exactly

[@francisrodriguez3648]

Owning a Blue Tongued Skink is a wishlist animal for me. They're freakin adorable.

[@xx3creations70]

Same! They’re definitely not in my price range right now so I’ll probably start collecting stuff over time and get the skink itself in a few years

[@fletcherdoherty5507]

@@xx3creations70 in Australia they are only 75 dollars for a baby and I sell captive bred babies for as low as 50 dollars because they have so many baby

[@charityduplechan9346]

@@fletcherdoherty5507 do you have a link to your online store?

[@fletcherdoherty5507]

@@charityduplechan9346 I have no animals at the moment because it is not the baby season in australia

[@G6Emaniac]

I found mine outside crawling around

[@ThyVampire]

One thing I'd like to add, some blue-tongued skinks are just not as nice as people expect. My skink, for example, just is a pill and loves to hiss at me, display her tongue, waste, and attempt to threaten me sometimes when I first get her out until she realizes she's fine and calms down quickly afterwards. She has never bitten me, so it's all a bluff, but I can't say that's the same for other skinks. I've had her since she was a tiny baby, but I've met other skinks who have the same behavior. So, just be careful as well to other people who don't realize this possibility. :)

[@GhoulifiedDelta]

Depending on the colouration, you might have a tanimbar and this is pretty common for that species of blue tongue

[@ThyVampire]

@@GhoulifiedDelta She isn't a Tanimbar. :)

[@azurelegends2696]

yeah, more often than not BTS will warm up to handling and have good dispositions but some don’t and people should realize that and know that they should be cared for the just the same.

[@goldfishghosts1919]

I've had my bts since I was six. We've grown up together, and thirteen years later, he's still my best bud

[@bigsam8597]

Northern or Indonesian???

[@goldfishghosts1919]

@@bigsam8597 Northern

[@DingusDummy]

What is its name?

[@linachamberlain3525]

@@DingusDummy the name is Kinky

[@livehowyouseeyourselfinside]

At first I was confused when I read “bts” because I thought you meant the kpop group 😭

[@lacie3520]

I petted a blue tongue skink for the first time last week at an exotic expo, and it felt like corn on the cob 🤣🤣

[@tylerrugge]

LOL

[@journeybeyondthesea]

Omg 😂😂😂

[@nemodafish1891]

@@tylerrugge can I get one from PetSmart or Petco

[@titomachito4821]

That's one way to explain the feel of them lmao 😂😂

[@limitless4375]

@@nemodafish1891 DONT places like that do NOT treat their animals well. it does more harm than good supporting them.

[@anthonygamez2206]

I’ve been wanting a blue tounge skink but there’s not many cars guides out there and I’m saving up money 😊

[@alexanderlackey739]

Check out reptile mountain tv on KZbin

[@bigsam8597]

Car guide? Why do you want to know how to take care of a car??? (I know it's a typing error; it's a joke)

[@anthonygamez2206]

@@bigsam8597 hey I want my car to be brand new forever 🤣🤣 not everyone knows what to feed their car. 😆

[@jodhia]

Haha come and get them out of my yard. I have many in my garden now that it's hot here down under

[@limitless4375]

@@anthonygamez2206 I give mine diesel but some people like petrol. I’m trying to convert him over to electricity tho.

[@bigsam8597]

I've always wanted a blue tongue, but they're so expensive. My local pet store has a juvenile that was originally $300. But nobody would buy him/her. It's been a couple of months. I went back to that pet store yesterday, and the blue tounge is still there, but get this: They cut the price *IN HALF.* Now I want this skink more then ever. I've done tons of research. Wish me luck trying to convince my parents.

[@PandaBleu00]

omg good luck!!!! that sounds like a great deal

[@adriandzoeyfamily2003]

Go with like $225 cash

[@ManOfGod194]

It was meant to be

[@arthurmorgan5000]

Its a year later, how did it go?

[@user-ge7ep5sc2d]

.

[@kagehikari4281]

Love the vid, but all I can think about right now is "can you groom my dog?" XD Edit: Wow, did not think anyone would get that reference lol

[@mrtortoise3766]

*cricket noises*

[@eldritchgoddess4434]

Yea I found that vid while looking them up loll very cute

[@codyconspiracy]

i love taylor!!!

[@dotcassilles1488]

I have a bluey under my front steps, it likes to scare the mailman. Blessings from Southeastern NSW Australia, Dot

[@Pantherrz]

I wish I lived in Australia

[@jupitermoone3274]

@@Pantherrz move here when you can!! I cannot recommend it enough it's amazing - sincerely, a queenslander

[@bryanzaragoza326]

I am devastated now. 4 weeks ago I was in my friends house in West Hollywood and I was out in the yard and I noticed a little lizard. I thought it looks unusual and so pretty compared to the ones I’ve seen here in CA and I took a picture of it. The little lizard got scared and went under the ran under the house but. I just realized it was a baby blue tongue skink. I really hope someone finds it because I’m 100% sure it was someone’s pet 😭💔

[@camialling8483]

This is such a wild coincidence, I’m getting my skink tomorrow

[@critterc0rner]

Even though I already have 3 eastern blueys, my oldest is 6 years old and I had him since he was only a month old. I’m watching this anyway bc more info the better and also show support. 💙

[@thedragonlair2797]

I want a blue tongue skink they are sooo precious! Thanks for the info!

[@bluedragon7720]

ive rescued a bluey in a tiny tank with no lighting or heating, on fake grass substrate. we pick him up Thursday. also a beardie from the same person, kept in awful conditions. I'm dropping out next year to start the New Zealand Reptile Rescue Centre.

[@itznot_kylie9098]

There’s videos on tiktok going around about turtles with there shells painted please do a vid on this it’s not good for them bc they they can’t get what they need from basking

[@alfieclayton3418]

I love blue tongue stinks shame my parents won't let me get one😭

[@tylerrugge]

NOOOO

[@justinweisberg1634]

So sad 😞

[@foxmotorsports6473]

Maybe ask for a bearded dragon or tortoise then build up to a blue tongue skink

[@Y0oisaac]

Get them interested

[@lukekruger3079]

Yay my favourite KZbinr just uploaded🙃😊

[@charlottemoo9397]

love the detailed care videos tyler! also your blue tongued skink is so cute 🥺💕

[@EmmysPets]

your camera quality is ✨crisp✨

[@user-eu3gd4hi3t]

I wish people would stop saying they are super easy to care for, because if you take good care of them, they are a lot of work and cost a lot of money.

[@rattings9121]

They don’t. I feed mine snails, earth worms larvae and other worms some I buy and I take snails from my garden same with worms I breed them I save money they are honestly not that much

[@user-eu3gd4hi3t]

@@rattings9121 just because you do that and they survive doesn't mean that is the correct way to care for them... Because it's really not. Especially feeding wild caught prey items is one of the worst things you could do and, depending on where you live and what exact species you feed, illegal. These inverts could possible have been in contact with pesticides or other toxic chemicals, they could be sick and they are definitely riddled with parasites. Also we shouldn't strive for our animals to simply survive but to thrive. Furthermore care means a lot more than just feeding them. What about enclosures, bedding, decor, heating, lighting, UVB/A, thermometers, hygrometers, solarmeters, enrichment, vet care etc.?

[@rattings9121]

@@user-eu3gd4hi3t I have all the stuff you have said and top of the line. It costed me for everything 350 pound and I breed snails and other animals in my garden where there are no pesticides or chemicals. I save money doing this and the only food I buy for him is the larvae which doesn’t cost that much at all. And his heating and stuff doesn’t cost much on my electric either. And I grow vegetables and berries that are used to feed him. I just save a lot of money and it doesn’t cost me at all and he is perfectly happy where he is

[@user-eu3gd4hi3t]

@@rattings9121 i have no idea how you did that with just 350 pounds but good for you. But none of that takes away from my inital argument. Blue-tongue skinks are commonly kept poorly, because they can survive almost anything but a good elaborate enclosure, a healthy varied diet, enrichment and vet appointments are more work and money than many people are willing to spend on their pet reptile. These lizards are relatively big, live long and are extremly intelligent. I spend more than 2000€ per year for one skink, including everything, except the enclosure itself because that was a one time purchase. From all of the species I have kept or worked with throughout my life, they definitely are one of the more expensive and time consuming species. I think this even showes in the literature. The only really good book about them, that isn't full of misinformation costs between 70-80€.

[@Ruben355]

when it comes to indonesian blie tongues id say the classic indonesian is mostly wild caught. but meraukes are becoming more availible in captive collections. so if your looking for an indonesian species i would recommend the merauke. norterns are almost 100 per cent of the time captive bred. since capturing them from the wild is higly prohibited in australia

[@mermaidheather5049]

I have a zen habitat for my blue tongue skink too. I would LOVE to put all my animals in them, their stackables are so pleasing to the eye.

[@alurafox666]

I'm currently looking into getting an australian blue tongue as a first reptile. This video will be my go-to if I have a question or doubt, thank you!

[@prettysadcat4958]

So hows your lizard doin

[@alurafox666]

@@prettysadcat4958 sadly I can't find -any- Australian blue tongue skinks in my country. :/

[@brirader3621]

Living for future Tyler’s hair!!!!

[@nicholenadansie9545]

can you do a pac man frog care guide i know other people have but i trust you most

[@jupitermoone3274]

I know this was done a while back but thank you!! I've had my little bluey since December and he is only 6 months old - you've helped us so much in terms of everything!! brilliant thank you so much 😆☀️

[@animeumaishorts8515]

Hi if u r reading this hope u have a great day

[@cwren9060]

First like and first comment! Can't wait to watch the video!!!

[@sheiksawesome]

Finally got my blue tongue for my birthday, its been a want of mine for years and they're so cute 🥺

[@prettysadcat4958]

Hows your lizard doin

[@sheiksawesome]

@@prettysadcat4958 doing great! She is a very hardy reptile and has taken my long learning curve well 😁

[@user-eu3gd4hi3t]

The enclosure for an adult bts shouldn't be any smaller then 5 feet with appropriate depth and hight! I think even a 75 gallon is way to small. They are big lizards, that will use all the space and enrichment if provided. With aspen and other dry substrates you risk dry belly scales, which northerns are very prone to, so make sure the bedding isn't to dry. Also I'd definitely recommend using UVB, blueys are diurnal animals, meaning they naturally bask.

[@AaronLewisOfficial]

Don't have a Blue Tongue Skink or ever plan on owning one, but you bet I watched this whole video! ALSO Am I the only one who is high key jealous of how white his teeth are...

[@rattings9121]

Why not get one?

[@Saunteringvaguely.downwards]

A dreamie of mine, sadly don’t have the resources to care for one though I’ll just have to watch all of you skink parents out there living the dream

[@mariahschenk6552]

I watched ur ads I just enjoy the info u give to us Its useful im raising my northern rn and hes growing so fast Its so much fun

[@sonniettethorne9675]

hey how you doing I want to know where can I go to buy a blue tongue skink I would love to get one not to expensive though

[@evanicole1414]

I just rescued a bts and this is by far the best video I've come across explaining everything. Thank you! Idk if you still get commission from the links but I'll definitely order thru them if you do.

[@blueclover4399]

40% humidity is what I got for Australian blue tongue skink

[@Maria-jq3zv]

I’m getting one soon! Really informative care guide! I’m trying to learn all that I can about them because I want to get this right.

[@JoLi08-u7t]

THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤️❤️❤️❤️ thanks to you i am now the new mom of a 8 month halmahera 🤗 your videos help so many people thank you thank you thank you

[@brookeopalgrove9349]

I've been wanting one for about a year and a half and just about a week ago my mom FINALLY agreed to let me get one

[@nicholashack1943]

I just set my baby northern blue tongue up in a 48 by 24 zenhabitat last week

[@britlyntrent1999]

I want a northern blue tongue skink but my bedroom is too small for a 5th animal enclosure.

[@anaa-qg7xp]

Thank you so much for the links it is really awesome for my research into getting them. Will happily use your links to help you out.

[@synnesilentweb]

I got a northern bts yesterday, he's so friendly and confident! As he's my first reptile I'm super paranoid I'm going to do something wrong. 😭 But I did several months of research prior to getting him so I'm hopeful everything will turn out okay.

[@iezu6743]

Thanks for the care guide 😁👌 now I know all information about blue tounged skink

[@YortOK]

They are very placid in the wild. Australian kids have been catching them since we were a colony, and I think the word has passed around the blue tongue lizard community that we're all good 😂

[@joshgentry571]

it says that the zen habitats are for desert reptiles that need a dry climate, however skinks need a more humid environment

[@funfuronahotday]

i have them living in several places around my melbourne home and they do live in families, also i give them spaces to live autonomously , they are free as they should be

[@imnotagamer22]

Not everything you need to know, keep doing your research guys.

[@sophieajdahshfj9590]

this is off topic but your eyebrows are literally perfect

[@scrappymations1537]

The only thing I don’t understand. Is the humidity levels and having a cool and warm side. I know like we need a heat lamp or a UVB heat lamp but I don’t know how to make one side colder then the other

[@KingsAquariumsAndReptileRoom]

Great video Tyler, very informative, thanks for sharing mate

[@presleyp4860]

this is everything i needed and more!!!! thank you so so much😁

[@Youtubedubs]

Saw one of these for the first time while shopping at petco today!!!!!

[@Paul77ozee]

Years ago when l was a kid. My dad would take me camping in Moulamein NSW to catch yellows and cods. One year l wanted to catch a Blue Tongue. So my dads cousin who live up there told me how to catch one. She said put some blue dye in a bowl of water and they’ll come. So l filled up 3-4 bowls and laid them around the camp. It wasn’t until we were coming home that my dad told it was bullshit. I laugh at it these days.

[@arielberger2488]

I was going to get one tonight at the pet store but the lady there told me it was too complicated for someone who’s never had one and basically told me I was too stupid to have one and insisted that it needed a 120 gallon tank..

[@toxicgreen9306]

Thanks I really needed this

[@gbproductions649]

Thanks for the information

[@dylanparker6402]

You are wrong about the cohabitation but I have a blue tongue bearded dragon and shingle back all together in a 8 by 4 I closure in my backyard btw I live in Australia

[@Leahceegee]

🥴🥴🥴

[@MeTrabi66]

Hi love your vids keep up the good work

[@tylerrugge]

Thank you!!

[@zacharaiahcampbell7620]

In Australia all the reptiles are breed in captivity as it is illegal to have a non native or wild reptile

[@juanavlog2730]

Can you do a care guide for crested and leopard geckos as well as corn snake and ball python?

[@DanielleByers-v7i]

We mostly have breeders for the blue tongue skinks in Australia.

[@naty9009]

Australian Blue tongue skinks are native but it is illegal to keep or sell one as a pet from the wild. Basically, they are all domestic bred if you buy one as a pet.

[@chelseabockius1547]

I just adopted my first Indonesian blue tongue skink! I would love to see what you actually feed on a daily basis to yours! Like what a good diet would look like. This little girl has only been fed the zoo med skink food in a can which I’m wanting to get her off of.

[@rattings9121]

I feed mine on a diet of fruit and vegetables, snails, earth worms and other worms. I don’t feed him locusts or crickets mainly because one I hate them 2 they are hard to take care of and get out of the packet or box and they are just annoying because they jump so that’s what I feed mine

[@MultiPurple32]

Hi Tyler!! Do you have a link to the exact enclosure you’re using for your skink? Yours looks different from the Zen ones but I might be mistaken

[@Lizrui30]

Hello so I have been struggling with my northern blue tongue skink for so time now he won’t eat most things on his own like dog food with lefty greens, at the moment I can only get him to easily eat watermelon with calcium, I know he’s over weight but I have been really looking for help on him I don’t mean to cause him harm, but I’m at a lose for ideas on how to help him.

[@ravenbird3357]

I just got my first skink, thank you for your help! Im a bit worried cause all they told me was she was a morph blue tongue skink so Im hoping to figure out what she is and make her a nice set up

[@Rommy456]

Tyler rugge please is there any type of snake that is great for beginners and doesn't eat only rats and mice

[@kristie2273]

Qisooyin Horror an African egg eater does not eat mice they eat only eggs.

[@Rommy456]

@@kristie2273 is it beginner friendly though?

[@randomuser8660]

Rough or smooth green snakes, or garter snakes! They are bug eaters

[@JMgamer101]

Thank you so much for making this video!!! I have been wanting a Blue Tongue Skink for over 3 years now and still have to wait one more year before I can obtain one. Do you have any websites you would recommend for researching subspecies?

[@alexiapacheco8381]

I’ve always wondered how much your electricity bill goes up when you get a pet that requires a basking light and a UVB light all day.

[@GothMusicLatinAmerica]

Blue tongued skinks are so dang cute. I didn't realize that reptiles could look chonky.

[@Trippy000]

If you are anywhere around Knoxville Tennessee, I Would recommend buying your reptiles from J&J reptiles, or the little ponderosa zoo.

[@ashleymerlin7283]

If anyone is looking for a great breeder Dave’s Skinks in Chicago is awesome. He has a great website to look at care and his babies. He specializes in Northerns and Irian Jayas. We love our Indonesian dude from him😊

[@nathanrenteria3837]

I know this is not on topic but I got a baby crested gecko and I want to see if you can gave me any tips on how to gave him a better life and make his life longer

[@travispatrick4873]

We are planing to get one this video really helps

[@p1qnt416]

Hi, so ive been thinking about getting a blue tongue skink. And I really want to do my research first, but which species should I get? A northern or an Indonesian? I mostly just want to know the difference! Ill pay anything for any of them! x

[@samonelly4813]

Awwww they are so cute haha I can’t wait to get one when I’m done with college!

[@mbgaming2530]

I currently have a juvenile bearded dragon but the next reptile I’ll get is a blue tough skink this was very helpful 😃

[@derperderp9036]

Bro you are awesome and thank you for everything

[@janinecody]

Thank you, this very helpful! Took over the care of my daughter's geckos and BTS when she left for college. I'm trying to find out as much as possible. I think we accidentally purchased a wild-caught Merauke. MicMac is very skittish and hates being held/touched. Terrified. But I'm trying. Any advice for that process? I feel bad about not providing the right humidity till learning about it now. When feeding, how much food do I offer? He's an adult by now. I think I'm feeding too little too often. What's a serving of protein for instance if feeding 3 X per week? Finally, Mic hisses a lot and no reptile site ever mentions that. He gets very pale occasionally too. Thanks again. I'll use your affiliates for what I need.

[@thesnakeboy]

Your videos are so helpful thank you

[@shannonducky2119]

I have a 48x18x18 terrarium for a northern blue tongue skink I have alot of dog food veggies so on to it I just need to know where to buy one

[@Mel-fy7cl]

not sure if youre even going to see this comment, but if you were to build a custom enclosure for a blue tongue skink, what would the requirements be? (mostly asking because my grandfather loves helping me with my animals :)

[@charlesschulz8416]

I live in Australia and i found blue tongue l skinks in my backyard ,geckos, and shinglebacks

[@mariahschenk6552]

Favorite type of vids and plus updated versions Ima make mine soon i just need to get tips on audio tips/ voice over while recording the animal moving

[@user-lo9vu8ok1m]

Does anyone know how much out-of-cage time/play time they need?

[@personinyourwall9158]

I've just got a question, if I were to live in Australia, I would need a license for one of these guys? In year 5-6 camp we got to see some of these guys and I've loved and adored them ever since, and I was told by the handlers that you don't need a license to own one of these guys, but I am reading online I do?

[@zynx5853]

Ok so I have a Northern Bluey and Her Name is Lizzie and she just Gave Birth to 5 but sadly 4 died in the first 2 minutes but anyway should I keep our Baby with her mother or Separate

[@thirdeyereptiles1772]

Are you able to keep skins in box enclosures? My red foot tortoise is going to quickly outgrow its 50x32in enclosure & I hope to rescue a northern skink in the future & would love to repurpose this enclosure!

[@KronoTheGamingKronosaurus]

I need one in my life right now

[@jrdawson1819]

Love ya and all Tyler. But don't you ever say "Zen Habitats are actually pretty affordable. Your telling me $700 Canadian is affordable for the size you recommend I get. Personally I would never but an enclosure from any of these companies when I can make the same enclosure for 200 dollars. Or I can even find an all glass enclosure that is used for the same amount.

[@tylerrugge]

In the states zen habitats pricing is pretty comparable to other enclosures that are the same size, I can’t speak for Canada. You’re also paying for the convenience of having an enclosure shipped to your house that takes minimal effort to put together. Of course building your own would be a lot cheaper, but that’s not a viable option for everyone

[@kathryn5310]

can i use i bin instead of glass like you can for snakes? 🤭 i dont have that much money...

[@tylerrugge]

A bin can work fine if you get one that’s big enough! You just need to closely monitor humidity since bins usually hold more + make a way to have the heat lamp and uvb on top by modifying the lid or mounting them

[@urmilakrishnamurthi3895]

This might be an unpopular comment but the blue tongue skink food looks good

[@kated3165]

If its Indonesian its pretty much guaranteed to be wild caught. Especially if its from a pet store.

[@bear_rrr]

I am trying to convince my dad to let me get a reptile! Skinks are a high contender at the moment. Any tips would be appreciated! (For caring for skinks that is.) I live in North Carolina if that helps. I know humidity is a big thing and it’s pretty dang humid here. (I’m waiting to find out how much space we have available, might completely ruin the chance.)

[@caseyrescue4859]

Are wild caught skinks releasable if they're released where they were caught? The same with other species.

[@rjpets8998]

Just curious, are their blue tongues to protect it from the sun? Similar to the giraffe's tongue?

[@alexanderlackey739]

Defense mechanism

[@dotcassilles1488]

@@alexanderlackey739 i was just about to add a comment about blueys defence mechanisms. They also puff/hiss, flatten themselves to look bigger, etc

[@saddumpling4944]

Hello im from australia and yes we do have lizards like that and my garden teacher let a blue tounge out in his garden to live a free life now there are babies :D

[@brenleighbaggett9479]

I noticed they are some what similar to beadies I’m looking for another reptile in addition to my beardie. This seems like a good option. Also thanks Tyler your amazing.