BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

My little guy just threw up. Looked like half digested crickets. Could it possibly be that he ate too much? I had noticed him drinking a lot of water today too. But yesterday he really pigged out on the crickets. I think he ate 4-5 med/large ones.

You might want to rethink the crickets. They have little nutritional value for Blueys and are harder to digest. If you check the caresheet there are many great food suggestions that are far more beneficial for your pet.

He's been eating superworms and mealworms as well. I had a few left over crickets from my bearded dragon and decided to let him have them. They're not a staple in his diet.

While the nutritional value of crickets may be low, the digestion is not a problem. More than likely your blueys sucked down too much water and got bloated. My recommendation is to keep and eye on him/her and keep the food and water up. If he/she keeps throwing up, take it to a vet.

Also, Crickets are in fact good to give to your bluey. They help the blueys hunting instincts stay sharp and it also gives them something to do.

In the wild, Blueys ALWAYS eat crickets and other various bugs and snails. They are a part of their natural diet and wont cause any problems.

I hope I've been a help.

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Throwing up isn't a big deal and happens every now and again with some skinks. It's not a usual thing however, so if it keeps happening something is up.

throwing up could be a sign of intestinal parasites or a bluey that is too hot or too cold.

I would be a little concerned.

A vet visit (as already suggested) would not hurt. (except the wallet).

Zach, how often do yours throw up? I have never seen this and don't see how its not a big deal?

Its an indication of health or husbandry problems.


What is your basking temperature brooksie?

NomadOfTheHills wrote:Zach, how often do yours throw up? I have never seen this and don't see how its not a big deal?

Its an indication of health or husbandry problems.


What is your basking temperature brooksie?

I disagree. Well, I should say that you are indeed right so I don't fully disagree. It definitely *could* be an indiccation of health or husbrandy issues, but it doesn't have to be. Having a BTS year after year, I think he's bound to have an upset stomach at some point during those many years. Some certain food doesn't mix well, temperatures were not ideal at the time of food eaten, food was slightly spoiled....any number of things. It doesn't mean your skink is sick and needs to be rushed to the vet for emergency treatment that will cost over a hundred bucks. That's why I say if your BTS throws up, watch him carefully, and if he doesn't throw up again, your BTS is more than likely perfectly ok. If he throws up two or three more times, and you possibly notice other other signs, THEN begin to worry and consider making a vet appt. Slurpy more than once has drank WAY too much water and has spit it back up (nothing but water). Now, had he eaten food that day, which has happened, a little food comes up too. For a newbie, this could be cause for extraordinarily alarm!! But nothing is wrong! He just drank too much for whatever reason. I have 10 BTS and have seen regurgitation several times over the years. I have never been to the vet once, but wouldn't hesitate for a second to go if I felt there was a real problem.

What do you think?

And don't get me wrong; I'm not saying throwing up is normal at all. I just don't think it means your BTS is sick necessarily. Just like you or me...sometimes things just don't mix well -- we eat too much, we drink too much, we're tired...stressed.......and we throw up!

I agree, I don't think it necessarily means they are sick, and not a huge call for alarm, but it is something to watch.

NomadOfTheHills wrote:I agree, I don't think it necessarily means they are sick, and not a huge call for alarm, but it is something to watch.

Yeah, definitely.

We agreed again, dude, we are 2 for 2!