If you’re interested in getting a reptile pet but are unsure of where to start, then you may want to consider the blue-tailed skink. Blue-tailed skinks are small, hardy lizards that make great pets for reptile beginners. Here’s everything you need to know about blue-tailed skinks so that you can decide if they’re the right pet for you.
Housing and Habitat Requirements
Blue-tailed skinks are native to woodland and urban areas in the eastern United States, Australia, New Guinea, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, and Indonesia. In captivity, they can live up to 10 years. They grow to be 6–8.5 inches long as adults.
For housing, blue-tailed skinks need a minimum of 20 gallons per skink. The enclosure temperature should be kept between 72–82°F with a basking spot of 90–95°F. Blue-tailed skinks also require 60%–80% humidity and between 10 and 12 hours of lighting per day.
Diet and Nutrition Requirements
Blue-tailed skinks are mostly carnivorous. In the wild, their diet consists of insects, small mammals, and fruits and vegetables. In captivity, common food items for blue-tailed skinks include crickets, mealworms, pinkie mice, earthworms. It’s important to dust food items with calcium powder several times a week to ensure your pet stays healthy. Dehydration is also a concern for blue-tailed skinks so be sure to provide a water dish that is large enough for your pet to soak in if it chooses to do so.
Behavioral Considerations
Blue-tailed skinks are generally docile lizards but they prefer not to be handled too frequently as this can stress them out. They are also known to be escape artists so it’s important that their enclosure is secure. When handling blue-tailed skanks it’s important to support their entire body so that they don’t feel like they’re going to fall—this will help reduce their stress levels. Skilled reptile handlers may be able to train their blue-tailed skink to accept occasional handling but this is not recommended for beginners.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a small reptile pet that is relatively low-maintenance then the blue-tailed skink may be a good option for you. They are hardy lizards that can thrive in a wide range of habitats and climates. They are also relatively easy to care for in terms of diet and housing requirements. The biggest consideration with blue-tailed skinks is their behavioral quirks—they don’t like to be handled too much and have a tendency to escape from enclosure so it’s important that their habitat is secure.. Overall, though, blue-tailedskinks make great petsfor reptile beginnersand anyone who is looking for an easy-to-care-for reptilian companion.