Blue Tongue Skinks, The Most Underrated Reptile | Complete Care Guide

Blue Tongue Skinks are so underrated but Why? These lizards are might just be the most fun species in the hobby and in this video we teach you how to take care of one!
If you liked this video please hit subscribe.
New videos every Monday and Thursday.
Become a Patron for $1 / wickenswicked. .
NEW Website wickenswickedreptiles.com
Chat with us on Discord / discord
Want a shirt? www.etsy.com/shop/ReptileMerch
WEBSITE► wickenswickedreptiles.com
EMAIL► [e-mail]
FACEBOOK► / wickenswicke. .
INSTAGRAM► / wickenswick. .
Equipment
kit.co/WickensWickedReptiles
Thermostat amzn.to/2xTKn8b
Thermometer/ Hygrometer amzn.to/3avIhZI
Enclosure Lights amzn.to/2S0PtX0
Camera amzn.to/2yCOHc2
B Roll Lens amzn.to/3aDi5wl
Microphone amzn.to/2KpeoQ6
Mic Stand amzn.to/2VT6zHv
Drone amzn.to/2S254Wo

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Do you have a Blue Tongue Skink? WIll you ever own one?

[@seanc350z]

I just bought a blue tongue skink yesterday! He is a baby and his name is Littlefoot

[@bennett30]

I really want a blue tongued skink but my parents said I can't but I will when I'm older or if I convince my parents because I already take care of 10 pets

[@bittyb0t]

i was actually watching this video to scheme about my next big reptile. i have an old bearded dragon who is making 8 years this year, so i am kind of planning for the future. though he is very healthy and could have a couple more years in store!

[@isimiel3405]

i knda want a potato ngl

[@Rokh357]

I found a breeder in arizona and will probably be getting one next month or august

[@sandraezesky5310]

I have a Northern, he comes when I call him and has he has free rein of the room when I am home. Getting him was the best decision I’ve ever made.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I love the Blueys

[@ziko1642]

How did u teach him to go to u when u call him?

[@Nike_IV]

@@ziko1642 idk, but I’m going too try it

[@thiccdaddycuckerburg277]

@@ziko1642 I don’t have one but I would assume teaching them to associate their name being called with food would work like it does on cats and dogs

[@lukebriggs9948]

Northerns look pretty cool

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

"Did he just call me a potato?" LOL

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

He is my little potato

[@dob1106]

Most under rated reptile channel when people discover you you'll be one of the biggest reptile channels

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Thank you I really appreciate the kind words

[@anotherhuman3866]

@@dob1106 hi I know that wasnt addressed at me but what did you do? Did you buy it?

[@EmmysPets]

a entire video with irwin? *yes please.*

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

he is the man!

[@Nike_IV]

*an

[@neilking3733]

It's got a blue tongue coz of that blueberry Gatorade. A case, a closed.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

dude, don't tell his secrets!

[@ljl9552]

The sausage that ate a jolly rancher and blueberry Gatorade

[@mackenziekarsonovich1073]

When I finally move I want to get a blue tongued skink. They are so adorable with those dinky little arms and they seem like such docile dudes. I’d love to get a juvenile and raise it someday.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

they are so amazing

[@dionewotton4630]

We have them in our backyard

[@Zer-db1bp]

I’m about to move across the USA and plan to get one once I’m established in a few weeks.

[@albatraozgirl]

​@@dionewotton4630 LUCKY!

[@the_elf_pixie]

So happy you explain tank sizes as the best to spoil them with. I have a 65gal and was told it would be perfect for a skink but after you saying a 75 is a minimum gives me more knowledge and time to find a better enclosure before I ever get one!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

You are so welcome! thanks for watching :)

[@idkfornow4262]

I swear that one day I will own one these little guys and name him Mr. Sausage!💙

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

wicked name!

[@jacksonreaka9266]

I'll name mine bob

[@boomarang3018]

That is literally amazing 😂 I might call mine sausage roll if I get one jaha

[@nemodafish1891]

@@WickensWickedReptiles can I get one from Petco or PetSmart?

[@MastemaJack]

@@nemodafish1891 I wouldn't recommend getting animals from those places

[@ForgetWinter]

I kind of wish you would have talked about the sneezing - hands down one of the cutest sounds.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

so true! Irwin does this often

[@blanchybaby]

What’s this? 😀

[@irThumper]

Right?? When I first got iur boy I didn't know about this, and when he sneezed I jumped, lol. Then I freaked because I thought he was getting sick. Once I found out it was perfectly normal I loved his little sneezes, lol.

[@gnd333]

I love that Irwin just chilled in your hands the entire time 🥹

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

he's the man!

[@mycobacteriem2540]

i've never kept retiles, but am definitely gonna look more into blue tongues for whenever im ready for a pet. can't keep one now, but i could see myself with one as a lil lizard companion

[@user-or2vt6si1r]

I got an Indonesian about a year ago. We bought her(?) At a discount because she was aggressive and the keepers at the store were scared of her. I love her. I call her my little dragon because if she could breathe fire I wouldn't have a face right now. She's an adolescent (about 8 inches long) in a huge enclosure that I plan to upgrade sometime in the future. Sounds strange, but I actually prefer aggressive reptiles. I have very little fear these days as an experienced keeper

[@crystalmetheny1773]

I don't care what it takes, I'm definitely getting one. I made up my mind almost a year ago😊😊😊😊

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Right on! they are amazing

[@I_love_dr_stone]

Pink tounged skinks are another greatly underrated one, from what I've heard!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

yes Pink Tongues are also awesome!

[@darkye_]

There’s a difference? (Besides the tounge)

[@antjecramer5324]

I have an indonesian bluey! He's in a 20 gallon right now, since he's so small, but we're planning on building him a 2x6 (For refrence, he's about the size of a leopard gecko right now!). I give him UVB just to be safe, and plenty of sphagnum moss for humidity.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

very cool that's awesome

[@tinaleighton6390]

I have a northern blue tongue skink named Dobby. He is great! His enclosure is 6‘ x 2‘.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

that's awesome! great name

[@xx3creations70]

I’ve wanted a skink since fourth grade since I held one at an animal event for school. I’ve been doing research ever since (it’s been around 4/5 years) and I’m starting to finally save up for one so hopefully I do get, and I’ve always wanted a northern, so I’ll aim for one of them. This video really helps!

[@mothemonster9454]

Did u get one yet?

[@shelbiefreeman4928]

same! a guy brought lots of animals when i was literally in kindergarten and the blue tongue skink he showed us was my favorite. I’ve wanted one since

[@olliehayes8204]

This is my dream reptile 🦎

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

mine too, so happy I've got one

[@crypticarts7132]

Its mine as well! And soon I'll be saving up to get one! Since I did alot of research on them!

[@shamrock6008]

I'm planning on getting another one. I had one about 15 years ago who passed after maybe 4 years, it was already an adult when I bought it. Such a nice reptile to handle and feed, he would hiss only if you grabbed her back initially. I always scooped him belly first and he never minded.

[@NoName-ds5uq]

I don’t have one, but I see them wild quite a bit in Tasmania. The Blue Tongues we have are a bit smaller than that one(maybe up to 30cm/12inches) and the temperatures you’re talking about are higher than we commonly get here. We also have much smaller and slender skinks up to maybe 13cm/5 inches that live almost everywhere where they can bask and I’ve seen them often in summer in alpine areas covered by snow for months in winter too.

[@katie-hw8eb]

“He is a *UNIT* of a blue tongued skink.”

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

I saw a video on some Aussie breeders channel, somebody last name of Ball, and his blueys are mind boggling. The amount of insane morphs and stuff they have down there is nuts. Solid black ones, all white ones, and tons in between

[@jolla9963]

Shingle Backs are the coolest of all the blue tongues, they're just trippy critters. Where I live, blue tongues are in my backyard, and I have to check for them before mowing the grass. They're not pets just wild life that come and go. Dogs, cats and chooks leave them be as they go about their blue tongue business. I still get excited when I see big fat girl skinks, knowing there will soon be more.

[@hatetheusername]

thank you for this! i’ve been looking into these for a while and am seriously considering getting one maybe next year when i get my hands on a stackable vivarium

[@adraawhitemoon8995]

I've been doing research for a beardie for 3 months and you're making me rethink my choice 😂 they're both on my bucket list!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

beardies are great but I mean BTS are so awesome

[@jamesosborne7007]

100% get a blue tongue

[@decklanprosser4022]

hello i have just managed to buy one and the info in this video has helped alot thank you so much i will be subbing and watching more videos as they come along thank you

[@jonathanarms6287]

Again another spectacular video of yours thank you for the awesome content

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks so much for watching :)

[@loyalbeast3082]

I loved this video helped me do some research very good video i was just wording what substrate did you use and the link of it thank you!!

[@corald3638]

Blue tongue vs beardie as beginner pet video would be great

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Coming soon!

[@58Fishing]

I love the fact you respond to all your comments. Love your channel and one of my fav reptile channels. Hope to have a zoo someday and I live vicasriously through you for the time being 😂🤷🏻‍♂️ keep up the good work!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Maybe one day! thanks so much for watching!

[@cospaws8810]

The reptile I didn’t know I wanted. 😍 Will definitely be doing more research for one down the road

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Glad I could help!

[@Ash-hi5hy]

You've just cemented my love for Bluies!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

The best! they are so cool

[@tinaleighton6390]

Maybe people think they’re hard to care for because many of them are wild caught. Don’t get a wild caught one. Save up the money and take the time to find a captive bred one.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

perhaps that could be it

[@liamsstudio_44]

Nice profile pic

[@crepooscul]

I have an Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink. Definitely needs the larger enclosure you mentioned for a better temperature gradient if anything. She now hides in multiple places.

[@lemons_2234]

I’m looking into getting one of em! My dream reptile!!!

[@pugoverlord9482]

I only discovered your channel a week ago and I already want a blue tongue.I won't do that yet for obvious reasons but I love these videos.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

thanks so much for watching

[@mattcamara6103]

Picking up my first BTS (Irian Jaya) next week, super excited, been working on the enclosure and experimenting with the heat and humidity over last couple months getting it just right!

[@seanhenry7062]

I took in a northern a few months ago for free bc the owner couldn’t accommodate him anymore. He said it was about 10-12 when he got him and he kept him for about 8 years. Surprisingly he’s in great health other than a couple toes missing from not having the correct humidity. He’s living his best life now!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

that's so great to hear!

[@Spooki3Boogie]

Great guide! I adore my northern , they are so curious and entertaining we plan to get another next year!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

thank you, that's awesome!

[@isakkilkki]

Did you got another? It’s “next year” lol

[@shannons8394]

I just got my first BTS on your recommendation. She is a northern, and I fell in love the second I saw her! ❤️

[@jazzyplaysx6193]

I’m planning on getting one around December and I’m so excited

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

that's awesome!

[@kitsune0rei]

They are so neat! I've been seeing more on them so that makes me happy. Maybe one day. Skinks are rad.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

They are!

[@starbyray7828]

Irwin is fantastic! Subscribed. I would love to own a Blue Tongue Skink

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

thanks! :)

[@stargage13]

My original next was a chameleon. May have to change to a blue tongue instead♡. They have one for sale where we got our corn snake. Guess I'm going to have to start looking for stuff to get an enclosure together. Dude he is so cool!!!! Our leopard gecko is so hard to get out to hold now. She hides all the time in her bioactive enclosure. Thanks for all the information and the entertaining video!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

thanks for watching! Bllue Tongues are for sure easier to manage than a Chameleon

[@dylanwhite1212]

Hey man just found your channel and love all your animals I live in Aus and had a eastern I found in the wild he was a monster 55 cm brutus, amazing animals and so interactive 👌

[@dylanwhite1212]

Even wild had him hand trained within a week he was so cool, unfortunately he died a month ago been wanting another one ever since

[@velvet1371]

I really want one of these lil dudes. I thought to watch the video to learn more about these adorable little friends.

[@martalech6371]

We just got a one month old CBB northern he's is so cute!! Here in.NJ he was 350 $. We have several other reptiles and birds but always wanted a blue tongue. Great video!

[@albino4men]

No way! I just got a blue tongue skink and named it Irwin and wanted to watch your video on it that’s so funny!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

so cool!!

[@albino4men]

@@WickensWickedReptiles woah a reply from Adam himself! Love the videos and I inspire to one day be able to be as committed as you to the field 🙏

[@albino4men]

@@WickensWickedReptiles I also posted a pic of the little guy/gal in discord 🙏 cutie for sure

[@Zxtiuo]

I might get a skink soon! I'm very excited for these little cuties

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Please do!

[@solo10711]

I’m an Australian and I got my Eastern Blue Tongue Skink -a rare sub-species to find in the US- for $140 ($90usd)

[@paolamaher6808]

I own eastern blue tongue he is my first ever reptile best choice ever

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

very cool!

[@arianakukic9568]

I am most definitely gonna get one! (I have done a ton.... of research) and hope you get one Jan 3rd

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I hope so too!

[@wtwolfe]

I've never wanted a Blue Tongued Skink but now I am, darn it!

[@magickaldust1213]

Absolute UNIT

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

for sure!

[@Scoonie]

Cant wait to get mine :D

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

they are so great!

[@Zoe_Reynolds]

I love your vids! Your the reason i have my creasted geko. I am also a fan of Diamond! I have a bearded dragon to and her name is Scarlett.

[@ForestOfEmeralds]

Did anyone else notice the little snek head popping up behind him in the enclosure at the 5 minute mark? Lmao "Oh its Adam maybe he has fuds? Oh wait he has Irwin nvm"

[@tribex11]

Awesome vid as always. Will be getting one at some point but here in Ireland they're also expensive at about €400 so some saving required

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

you won't regret it

[@tribex11]

@@WickensWickedReptiles well it only took me 3 months but thanks in part to this vid I now have my very own BTS called Dink, short for Skinky Dink 😂 Had to come back to rewatch this vid 👏👍

[@callicat704]

Perfect timing, just bought a Northern :) Can’t wait for them to arrive next week!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

you will, they are amazing

[@Jcf10124]

Where did you buy?

[@callicat704]

John Fellon Great Basin Serpentarium. I think they are all sold out on blueys so check out ReptileMountain and ThomasSkinks

[@Jcf10124]

Calli Cat thanks!

[@ceciliaageofaquarius1225]

Them?

[@lincolnlegit7548]

So cool you got me to want to get one

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I love em

[@lincolnlegit7548]

Ya they look so cut

[@lincolnlegit7548]

Cute

[@kendraorndorff7642]

Very helpful information for my Indonesian blue tongue skink, have had her for about 5 days now. I did order a fogger to help get the humidity up. I live in New Mexico, a very dry place. Thank you!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

yes in NM humidity might be a challenge

[@kendraorndorff7642]

I ended up ordering a PVC Zen Habitat, can't wait to get it for my girl!

[@SupremeGecko]

Great video Adam. Not sure why more people don't keep them. Maybe this will help.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I hope so :)

[@Hicks_echos401]

Has me wanting one actually and Luke from lizard morphs in Australia has some nice ones

[@creepygallery3303]

That's an epic looking lizard. My first "pet" reptile was a Eastern Blue-tongue, I still get brick red blue-tongues in my yard from time to time.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

that's so cool!

[@KristenRobertskris10lr]

Let me guess... *Australia*

[@creepygallery3303]

@@KristenRobertskris10lr Indeed Australia.

[@KristenRobertskris10lr]

Creepy Gallery yeah!👍

[@xero1845]

I love blue tongues I can’t wait because I’m getting one soon!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

very awesome

[@FisherKot11235]

My northern is almost 14. I got her when I was in 8th grade

[@MrPeter924]

Nice video cool pet Reptiles

[@thereptileguy]

i have 2 baby Eastern Blueys, and they are the best!

[@kitty0576]

I'm hoping to get one of these when I scrounge up the money for all the supplies I need this summer!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

wicked!

[@Bear-or5tq]

just got my first blue tongue skink today!! :D

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

congrats!!!

[@karmajangchup]

Irwin is super cool!

[@tpdomino3524]

I am getting a female northern soon, thinking of naming her Dave. Nice video!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Good choice! Dave is a great Lady name!

[@liamsstudio_44]

@@WickensWickedReptiles chads a good lady name tooo

[@C0smo_626]

What are your thoughts on king snakes? I’ve just never heard your opinion on them and I’m just curious😁. I love your content and I’d love a blue tongue skink someday!

[@silentmaggot3696]

getting a 90 gallon tomorrow, planning to put one of these guys in it

[@BlueSpams]

Someone described blue tongues as one of those lizards that look very intimidating and angry, just going by their face. But they’re actually very chill and sweet.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

basically!

[@lyzzidc]

dude, I just got 2 shinglebacks, they've been on my bucket list for a while, and I bloody love them. Hopefully one day I can also get some normal blue tongues to be friends with them. but my skinks are CONVINCED they are bearded dragons, and I've had to both make climbing safer but also keep them from climbing out of their raised garden bed (indoor) enclosure, because they climb up to stick their head up to get my attention to come out and sit with me, and if I don't come fast enough one of them climbs out

[@momangus7791]

I just came across this channel, I love your lighthearted content and you seem so content in the videos that i’ve seen *subscribe*

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Glad you enjoy it! thanks :)

[@stargage13]

Yes! Blue tounge video!!!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

BTS are so cool

[@stargage13]

My daughter just goes "you have his shirt" yes!

[@randomuser8660]

I am totally going to get one of these cute baguettes-with legs someday 😤

[@baronarian]

thanks for this care guide! very helpful! im planing to get myself a northern, and as i never had reptiles before, im a little unsure when it comes to the lighting part. in want to install a t5 pro 12%uvb and 30% uva arcadia lamp to provide the needed uv values. in addition i want to install two infrared ceramic heating bulbs without any light, to get sure i have the right measurements on both cool and warm side. as im new to this topic im afraid to provide not enough light or to forget something. i would love to hear your experienced opinion, thanks!!

[@ThePokemonBeader]

I really wanna get one! These guys are great ^^ one of my friends has another friend who has one named Pops and he called blue tongues Lizard Garfield ^^

[@cainsmyth53]

Been looking at skinks for a couple years now doing alot of research to the point I'd say I'm ready. Unfortunately I live in Ireland and I've never seen one anywhere 😂

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

too bad, they are so great!

[@cainsmyth53]

@@WickensWickedReptiles can find bearded dragons everywhere you go! 😂 like the labrador of reptiles

[@familyguylver]

so i was gifted a skink because a family friend didn’t know/didnt have the time for him, his name is friend. thank you for this video. im also from up north (1 hr from the border) and the skink was bought for around $250 at a local rexpo.

[@brandonvandyke2334]

Do you think you could do a video on kenyan sand boa care, and/or a video on the Scheltopusik? There is so little "reliable" information on the scheltopusik and so few videos about them. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

Glass lizards are awesome

[@brandonvandyke2334]

We love ours! We've had him(?) Almost a year and hes great. He doesn't have that prickish personality they're known for, and eats like a champ. Thanks to him, if a finicky snake doesn't eat, or a hatchling chick doesn't make it, nothing goes to waste.

[@Dark111000]

The eastern blue tongues are very comon in Australia where I live, I have one in the back yard I feed an egg to every week or so to keep it around. It keeps the snail and insect population down a bit ... maybe.

[@zsworld6609]

I love my blues!

[@Lillymedusa107]

60 gallon tanks have the same floor space as a 75 gallon :) good way to save on verticals space they won’t use.

[@ReptileMountainTV]

Nice video! I 100% agree BTS are way better than Beardies! 👍🏼

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I think so too!

[@lifewithlaffy7931]

I picked a BTS over them more obvious reasons but I am still doing research on them

[@ryanboscoe9670]

I've got an eastern myself :) best bloody gut I've ever met!

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

very cool!

[@Goddesswolf]

I have a Halmahera Blue Tongue Skink (A subspecies of the Indonesian Blue Tongue), and one thing I wish I knew is that majority are wild caught. I bought mine from a reptile store that only had 1 in stock and he was 8 months at the time. I was informed much later that he was, in fact, wild caught. He is 12 months now, and despite him still being afraid of me, I still love my fat potato dearly. I hope to one day pet him without him hissing and whipping at me, and to hold him without squirming.

[@walnutgynneenderson4043]

Keep on trying!

[@rileydean3510]

I've been doing research and have been wanting to get a blue tongue Skink for years now. When you compared the care level to a bearded dragon ( I already have one of those) I was like okay, I'm getting one.

[@toddstrange9184]

Man now I want one

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

they are so cool!

[@lrw_gaming9761]

I got a Northern a few weeks ago and he is called Slinky. I payed out pieces of paper with names on them on the floor and let my ball python choose the name. He chose the best name

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

that's awesome!

[@laartje24]

Don't forget to check your local reptile sanctuary if you want a blue tongue. They end up there now and then because people can not care for them anymore because they become pretty big and fairly old.

[@khai7400]

I live in South east Asia so the humidity and temp isnt a big problem, they kinda expensive in Vietnam and they sold out everywhere :))

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

wow, very cool!

[@dennismattson1009]

I think Peters banded skinks are underrated also. I have two and always have been able to handle without being bit. Even let me touch their faces.

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

that's awesome

[@timphillips9954]

Just handled one of these for the first time. I live in Asia and I can get these for $ 70 adults. Very temped!

[@Ken-gn1lh]

Oh god i never realised how expensive these lizards actually are outside the country, here in indonesia these fellas cost 250,000 IDR which is roughly 16 dollars 💀💀 After watching this i got really tempted to own one but i think a bird and a tortoise is enough for me ( and plus my mom doesnt allow me to have them as pets lmaoo ) Great video and love from indo ❤️❤️🇮🇩🇮🇩

[@CaeruleaTigris]

Especially interesting to hear him talk about how expensive the Northerns are considering I got mine for free because his mother escaped from an outdoor enclosure and got knocked up by a wild lizard. I've also got multiple of them in my backyard (you can't take them from the wild, of course, but they're certainly out there)

[@Gabe-ik8ze]

I love blueys I just got a baby northern today

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

amazing!

[@jolla9963]

I have Blueys in the back yard, 3 I think, but could be more. Some days I see heaps, some I won't see any. And between the Blue Tongues and chooks, I rarely see any insect pests nor snails.

[@christinaserrone7023]

Hi Irwin is beautiful do you know if he is a Merauke or a Halamaher, can you tell me what your substrate consists of, I'm having a difficult time keeping up the humidity. Thank you for showing Irwin he is a good example why blue tongued skinks make such good pets, especially for a reptile enthusiast. I just got back into them after several years of keeping and breeding most of the Australian species. I also kept and bred the Pink tongues and Solomon Island skinks. I love the live bearers. Thank you again. Ing

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

I think Merauke but unsure. Pink tongues are also awesome