🦎 Vet’s 2025 Guide to Blue-Tongued Skink Care: Housing, Diet & Health for Aussie Icons 🌿☀️

By Dr. Duncan Houston, BVSc

Blue-tongued skinks are among Australia's most beloved reptiles. With their docile nature, distinctive blue tongue, and curious personalities, they make fantastic pets—especially for those new to reptile care. This 2025 guide covers everything you need to know to care for these resilient, friendly lizards, from setting up their habitat to long-term health management. 🌞🦎

📖 About Blue-Tongued Skinks

There are several species of blue-tongued skinks, but the most commonly kept as pets in Australia are the Eastern Blue-Tongue (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides) and Northern Blue-Tongue (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia). These skinks are ground-dwelling, omnivorous, and live 15–20 years with proper care. 🐾

🏠 Housing & Enclosure Setup

Proper enclosure design is key to their comfort and long-term wellbeing:

• Minimum Size: 120 x 60 x 60 cm enclosure for an adult skink.
• Substrate: Use newspaper, coconut husk, or bioactive bedding—avoid sand and loose mulch which can cause impaction.
• Hides: Provide at least two—one in the warm zone and one in the cool zone.
• Humidity: Maintain moderate humidity (30–50%); mist occasionally if needed.
• Cleaning: Spot clean daily and deep clean monthly.

☀️ Heating & Lighting

Being ectothermic, blue-tongues rely on external temperatures:

• Basking Spot: 33–38°C
• Cool End: 22–25°C
• Night Temp: Can drop to 18°C safely
• UVB Lighting: Required daily—use a 10.0 UVB tube and replace every 6–12 months
• Photoperiod: 10–14 hours of light per day depending on season

🍓 Diet & Feeding

Blue-tongued skinks are omnivores and need a balanced diet:

• Protein (40–50%): Insects (crickets, mealworms), boiled egg, lean cooked meats, dog food (occasional)
• Vegetables (40–50%): Greens (bok choy, kale, dandelion), carrot, pumpkin, squash
• Fruit (5–10%): Banana, berries, melon—used as treats
• Calcium & Vitamins: Dust food with calcium powder (3x/week) and multivitamins (1x/week)

🧠 Behaviour & Temperament

These skinks are intelligent and curious:

• Handling: They tolerate handling well if introduced early and gently.
• Signs of Stress: Hissing, puffing up, defensive body posture.
• Enrichment: Add logs, rocks, foraging puzzles, and rotate cage décor monthly.

🩺 Common Health Issues

• Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD): Caused by lack of calcium or UVB light—results in weak limbs, jaw deformities.
• Respiratory Infections: Often caused by low temps or high humidity—look for wheezing or mouth gaping.
• Parasites: Internal or external—get routine fecal checks and inspect for mites.
• Obesity: A common issue—limit fatty meats and overfeeding.

🧽 Hygiene & Maintenance

• Daily: Remove uneaten food and spot clean poop.
• Weekly: Replace substrate in dirty areas and clean water bowl.
• Monthly: Full enclosure clean with reptile-safe disinfectant.

🧳 Travel & Vet Visits

Use a well-ventilated plastic container lined with paper towel for transport. Keep them warm and secure during vet visits. Look for exotic vets experienced with reptiles.

📱 Resources & Support

• 💬 For expert reptile care, visit Ask A Vet or download the Ask A Vet app.
• 🌿 Shop heat lamps, hides, and substrate at Woopf.
• 🦎 Find reptile-safe calcium and supplements from Purrz.

With the right care and a calm environment, your blue-tongued skink can become a hardy, interactive pet and a proud ambassador of Australian reptiles. 🦎🌿