Blue tongue skink tank/care?

Frostt · 03-27-17, 01:21 AM

Hey there! I was going to get a beardie but i've decided a blue tounge will be better for me.

The tank dimensions;
1200mm long (4ft)
360mm wide (1ft)
460mm high (1.5ft)

I have a heat mat under the tank that covers about a quarter of the tank, and i'll be getting a UVB light soon.

I'm planning to floor the whole thing with tiles of some sort.

On the cool side i have two terracota pot holders, that i plan to cover in hay, as well as a paper towel roll. On the hot side i have a teracotta pot that i plan to stuff with some hay as well.

How does this sound for a blue tongue skink?

Thank's!

dannybgoode · 03-27-17, 02:54 AM

Tank still not right for a bts. Much of what I put about the bearded set up applies here albeit temperatures, humidity and uv levels will be different the fact that your base set up is inappropriate remains.

Don't try and make an animal work with your existing empty viv. Start with the animal and build from there.

Frostt · 03-27-17, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

Tank still not right for a bts. Much of what I put about the bearded set up applies here albeit temperatures, humidity and uv levels will be different the fact that your base set up is inappropriate remains.

Don't try and make an animal work with your existing empty viv. Start with the animal and build from there.

So what do i need to change? Do i need to add a heat lamp?

Frostt · 03-27-17, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

Tank still not right for a bts. Much of what I put about the bearded set up applies here albeit temperatures, humidity and uv levels will be different the fact that your base set up is inappropriate remains.

Don't try and make an animal work with your existing empty viv. Start with the animal and build from there.

Okay, i have a heatlamp now that heats the area under it to around 30degrees (86degrees farnehiet)

dannybgoode · 03-27-17, 06:29 AM

You need a bigger tank!

LISA127 · 03-27-17, 06:39 AM

You do in fact need a bigger tank for an adult. If this is a baby it will work for a few months. Yes, you need a heat lamp to provide a basking spot of 95 to 100. Cool end ideally around 75. Night temps no lower than 70. Humidity depends on the type of bts skink you get. Tiles are appropriate for bearded and leopard geckos but not for BTS. They need deep substrate to burrow into.

dannybgoode · 03-27-17, 06:58 AM

Tiles are not appropriate for any reptile. In fact they have been shown to cause joint damage to geckos and are generally unhygienic.

BD''s like to burrow also.

Cricket1234 · 03-27-17, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

You need a bigger tank!

I thought a BTS could be kept in a 4ft by 1ft tank. I heard they could be kept in a 40 gallon, isn't that tank around 44 us gallons? And to give it more room, you could always find a way to flip the tank on its side. But they love to burrow as Danny said, definitely keep it in some sort of substrate. As for basking spot temp, make it around 100º F, just allow him to get out of the heat. Your hides seem good, as long as he can stay in the dark and out of sight. You also need a UV light, can't remember if you got one or not. A lack of UV can cause metabolic bone disease.
Good luck with your skunk, they are one of the best lizards in my opinion!

On a side note, BlueTongueSkinks.net is a great forum just about BTS.

Scubadiver59 · 03-27-17, 11:20 AM

Just make sure you get that "skunk" de-scented...smelly lizards can be a pain to deal with!

Frostt · 03-27-17, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LISA127

You do in fact need a bigger tank for an adult. If this is a baby it will work for a few months. Yes, you need a heat lamp to provide a basking spot of 95 to 100. Cool end ideally around 75. Night temps no lower than 70. Humidity depends on the type of bts skink you get. Tiles are appropriate for bearded and leopard geckos but not for BTS. They need deep substrate to burrow into.

The tank is 47 gals and i plan to let it roam around my room as well. It won't be just in there all the time

dannybgoode · 03-27-17, 03:23 PM

Doesn't alter the fact the Viv simply isn't big enough. 48" long is just about ok but the height and depth are not on by any means.

Don't try and keep something unsuitable - either buy a bigger Viv or choose and animal that is ok in that size enclosure.

chairman · 03-27-17, 05:14 PM

Blue tongue skink keepers in the United States recommend a 40 breeder tank, which have dimensions of 36" x 18".

Australian keepers recommend no smaller than 48" x 24".

The biggest consideration is that your skink will grow to 18" long, do you really want to house a heavy bodied animal in a cage that it cannot turn around in?

I've kept mine in 36" x 24" enclosures and 48" x 24" enclosures. My skinks never really use the space of the larger enclosures, they tend to find a favorite spot or two and just alternate between burying themselves in those places, but there's no harm in providing more space. Larger tanks actually make feeding easier, gives you more room to work with before they attack the food dish.

Cricket1234 · 03-27-17, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubadiver59

Just make sure you get that "skunk" de-scented...smelly lizards can be a pain to deal with!

Haha lol.....autocorrect

Cricket1234 · 03-27-17, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chairman

Blue tongue skink keepers in the United States recommend a 40 breeder tank, which have dimensions of 36" x 18".

Australian keepers recommend no smaller than 48" x 24".

The biggest consideration is that your skink will grow to 18" long, do you really want to house a heavy bodied animal in a cage that it cannot turn around in?

I've kept mine in 36" x 24" enclosures and 48" x 24" enclosures. My skinks never really use the space of the larger enclosures, they tend to find a favorite spot or two and just alternate between burying themselves in those places, but there's no harm in providing more space. Larger tanks actually make feeding easier, gives you more room to work with before they attack the food dish.

When I was doing research on getting on (I didn't end up getting one

) The info that came up was American. The Auzzies probably know best though, after all Blue Tongue Skinks come from Australia!

LISA127 · 03-27-17, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

Tiles are not appropriate for any reptile. In fact they have been shown to cause joint damage to geckos and are generally unhygienic.

BD''s like to burrow also.

I don't use tiles for geckos myself but many people do. The ones that do choose textured ones. I don't see how they'd be more unhygienic than anything else.

Bearded I do not keep....though many I know keep them on slate tiles as well. Since I don't keep them in have no idea if tiles are the best choice or not