Well eventually I would like to get a Blue Tongue Skink. Thats what I wanted before Lucy came along.lol
I want to get some questions answered BEFORE I get one which might be a ways away but better to be prepared I think.
I have been drooling over the website Blue Tongue Skink.net for about a year and a half lol
I want to get the tank that they recommend "the critter keeper" tank thats more long than deep. Would the screen lid be okay for the light to get to the animal or should I make a screen lid for it?
I wanted to either get a MVB bulb or order 2 mega rays (I always get 2 in case 1 burns out)
I wish they had a caresheet on here for them.
What are you guys feeding yours?
What are you using for a substrate?
They recommend using aspen but I would think that it would get everywhere in the water dish and in their food and into them! It just scares me.
Do they like a lot of hides??
Anything that you could tell me would be greatly appreiciated darn I cant spell LOL
Thanks!
If I can think of any more questions I will post them

It's been a long while since I had mine. I'll let Lacey answer your questions. I'm sure she'll be along in a bit.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

The screen that comes with the tank should be fine they really don't climb well with their stubby little legs. I feed mine all the greens that you would give a bearded dragon or Iggy and insects, at about a 2:1 ratio per every other or third day mattering on how their eating at the moment so they don't get overweight.

Mine really like thier hides but will also burrow in the substrate most the time or go in the hide then burrow under there. I'use mainly chopped hemp bedding aspen is hard to find here or too much. I find the chopped hemp is about the same as shredded aspen though not quite as fine.

I really can't say much more about them the're great pets smart and will make you smile alot with thier personality.

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Do you feed them outside of the enclosure?
Do they ever eat the substrate?

I am not sure what you are talking about. The "Critter Keepers" that I am familiar with are in no way big enough for a Blue Tongue Skink!
When I had mine I kept him on aspen and he loved to burrow into it. Long sections of PVC pipe were also appreciated. I fed the same greens that I feed my iguana and Bearded Dragons along with insects and a commercial alligator chow.
Though bites are not common, be aware that they do have VERY strong jaws as they are adapted to crushing snail shells. I once heard being bitten by a bluey described as "like putting your thumb on a table and hitting it with a hammer"!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

LOL Merlin I didnt even realize yes I have a "kritter keeper" with gutloaded mealworms in it its TINY
This is called a "Critter Cage" its 3 ft long, 2 ft wide and 1 ft tall
Did you have a problem with them eating the substrate?
What is alligator food? Darn I cant remember what you wrote lol

Oh yes I know about the bites too...I used to have pre-hensile tailed skinks before having a kid....I never got bit but I knew when to let them be by there behavior!
I had to give them back to my breeder when I got pregnant...it was hard lol

Only captive bred for me

The bowl I used was deep enough that I didn't have to worry about the aspen getting in.
Alligator chow is a commercial pelleted food.
The owner of our local herp specialty store, Alligator Alley, actually has alligators so he keeps it on hand.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

You can trust the caresheet over on Blue Tongue Skink.net. It's a good sheet, I just don't like the layout of the site. Bleh. I was asked to make a caresheet for the site, I just haven't made it yet. Too Busy.
If you get the critter cage and you want to use UVB lights the screen is so fine that the UVB wont get through.

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

What would you suggest then about the screen?
Have you had any problems with them accidentally eating the substrate? Aspen ?