Can You Keep a Blue-Tailed Skink as a Pet?

Blue-tailed skinks are small, slender lizards found in the forests of Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. They're known for their bright blue tails, which they use to attract mates and warn predators. Blue-tailed skinks can make interesting pets due to their friendly personalities and relatively easy care requirements.

Temperament and Behavior

Blue-tailed skinks are generally docile and easy-going lizards. They're not aggressive toward humans and can be handled without too much difficulty. Blue-tailed skinks are also quite active and curious, which makes them fun to watch.

Size and Lifespan

Adult blue-tailed skinks typically measure between 8 and 12 inches in length, including their tail. They have a lifespan of around 10 years in captivity.

Diet

Blue-tailed skinks are insectivores, meaning their diet consists primarily of insects. In captivity, they can be fed a variety of live insects, such as crickets, mealworms, and dubia roaches. Blue-tailed skinks also enjoy eating fruits and vegetables, so you can offer them a variety of these foods as well.

Housing

Blue-tailed skinks need a terrarium that's at least 20 gallons in size. The terrarium should have a secure lid and provide plenty of space for climbing and hiding. Blue-tailed skinks also need a basking spot where they can warm themselves up, as well as a cooler area where they can retreat to if they get too hot.

Substrate

The substrate for a blue-tailed skink's terrarium should be a mixture of sand and coconut husk. This substrate will help to keep the humidity levels up and provide a naturalistic environment for your skink.

Temperature and Humidity

Blue-tailed skinks need a temperature gradient in their terrarium, with a basking spot of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit and a cooler area of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity level in the terrarium should be around 60-80%. You can maintain the humidity level by misting the terrarium with water several times a day.

Health Care

Blue-tailed skinks are generally healthy lizards, but they can be susceptible to certain health problems, such as respiratory infections, skin infections, and parasites. It's important to take your blue-tailed skink to a veterinarian for regular checkups to ensure that they're healthy.

Conclusion

Blue-tailed skinks can make interesting and rewarding pets. They're relatively easy to care for and have friendly personalities. However, it's important to do your research before getting a blue-tailed skink to ensure that you can provide them with the proper care.