BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I have attached a few pics of my BTS and an individual at a local pet store...not kept in the best conditions, but looks Indo like mine (if they ARE Indo)? I would like help identifying them...I will try to get more pics for looking for help sexing as well...

Fenix in his new home:


Fenix Top View for Species Identification (Indo)???:


Fenix Full Body for help in identification:


"Mystery" skink at a local pet store...Indo as well??? Possible purchase:




I look forward to receiving input from the forum as to likely species and, if possible from these pics, likely sex of the individuals. Just had Fenix given to me and have become very interested in BTS since that time...I have actually entertained obtaining one for some years, owning (raising, keeping, and breeding) MANY types of reptiles in my relatively short life so far...

By the way, are there any more reputable breeders that may be able to match me with the correct species as Fenix here? From all the research I have done he/she truly appears to be Indonesian (dark black legs) with the possibility of Merauke (only due to the "speckled" lines), so I would guess I am looking for a Indo breeder unless proven otherwise? Fenix is kinda sassy, hissing and throwing a fit until I pick him up, but he never bites and hasn't "peed" on me yet, though the previous owner said that was common.

hi, nice bluey! sorry im not familar with these species but i think its an indo other people on the forum will no

Nice pics!
Your one looks indo
Not to sure about the one in the pet store though...
Im sure others can help you out


f.C

hum tough one @.@ its not that easy lol took me a while to figure mine out but hum did ya check the site for all the species? they show pics and clues and so on

Your bluey looks indo to me. The one at the pet store looks IJ or maybe IJ X. Sexing them is something you will have to do over time. Check the care sheet for details on sexing and virtually everything else you need to know to start you off. If you are planning on breeding it's best to purchase from a breeder of captive bred skinks as opposed to buying thru a pet store. Pet stores usually know little about the skinks they have.

Fenix is very cute. Don't forget to send us

and if ya need a skink from abreeder ya at the right spot XD lol im sure you cna find what you want here =p

The pet store one looks IJish to me.

Goodmorning everyone! Thanks for all your input and advice on my topic. Didn't think I would get so many replies so quickly! Yeah, I figured sexing would be something I would have to just "try out" with intros, waiting to see plugs (or exposed "parts"), and all that good stuff. I have been looking at the site and checking on the care, indentification, breeding, and all the necessary items (read the whole thing about 4 times before I joined). I was pretty sure Fenix (my BTS) was an Indonesian and I was kinda hoping this other one would be a good partner for him/her...they have it in a very small tank (looks bigger than 10g but smaller than 20g...?)with only one hide, no basking lamp (only an undertank heater! Though they have a UVB lamp on top at least) and gave me some shoddy advice, about 80% of it contradicting what I read here. Plus, the "pet shop BT" was SO docile and calm compared to Fenix...it would make a better introduction to those looking at my animals, I think...though I tend to enjoy Fenix's little attitude (never bites and won't "pee" on me...yet). As usual the person helping me was a teen, about the age I was at when I was a true "reptile freak" before I had to move off to college and couldn't afford my favorite hobby anymore! 8-( At any rate, I know that I should only look for reputable breeders when contemplating breeding...of course I am just looking for an excuse to get another one now...my girlfriend kinda objected to the first one, but that was a "rescue" by some means... 8-)

Again, thanks for all the replies so far with all the advise and input.

By the way, I have been unable to locate any Indonesian breeders on here....well, any that have animals for sale...anyone know of anyone that might be selling this year? Maybe Indo's just don't "feel" the year 2007? 8-)

OH, another quick question...the store I bought my new terrarium for Fenix sold me Cypress Mulch for bedding (seems to be common for BTS in pet stores) I read that it isn't "bad" but not recommended due to moisture issues? I have half the cage with ReptiBark, which Fenix has had for his whole life as far as I know (last owner used it) and he seems to stay on that side and bury himself in the ReptiBark. That side HAPPENS to be the side with the heat lamp, is that biasing the results or should I NIX the cypress mulch and try Aspen on one side now (bought a few cubic feet for that). I am kinda letting him chose what he likes best by observation...don't want to bias the results too much, but having 2 heat lamps isn't ideal either, so...? Any thoughts?

Your's: Indo
Their's: IJ

NomadOfTheHills wrote:Your's: Indo
Their's: IJ

Great! Thanks Nomad! I think I will have to realize that it's not gonna happen the way I hoped. On the other hand...after holding the pet store BT, I am still contemplating buying him/her for the fun of it! Really nice disposition and could use a better home! Too bad my home is so small... Hmmm, this will make the decision more complicated even though so many here say not to buy from pet stores. Well, I will probably eventually realize that I shouldn't...it was a nice visit, though!

I have another question...if I have two BTS and both are male, is it a problem to have them in visual range of each other even if they can NOT physically touch/hurt each other, i.e. in two glass/acrylic terrariums side by side?

Choosing bedding for BTS is usually based on trial and error. Everyone has a different opinion so you will just have to try them and see what works for you. As far as keeping 2 males in visual range of each other I wouldn't. It could cause them stress. The BTS at the pet store could be extremely docile because it's cold due to the lack of a heat lamp. They need to bask to digest their food so it sounds like the poor guy is suffering from bad husbandry.

Tattoo wrote:Choosing bedding for BTS is usually based on trial and error. Everyone has a different opinion so you will just have to try them and see what works for you. As far as keeping 2 males in visual range of each other I wouldn't. It could cause them stress. The BTS at the pet store could be extremely docile because it's cold due to the lack of a heat lamp. They need to bask to digest their food so it sounds like the poor guy is suffering from bad husbandry.

Understood in regards to the bedding...I hope he likes the Aspen, it is cheaper!

About the BTS in the store...yeah, I guess that would partially explain why he/she seemed to be a bit more active after sitting in my warm hands for a while...never squirmed in my hands, though...

This is helping me think thrice about the purchase...very good for me!

Save your $$$ buy a top notch pet if you are limited for space and you really want to breed down the road. Having a breeder to fall back on with questions and problems is very valuable. As to bedding ... I use aspen and have loved it so far.

well hope ya find a solution and nice to know ya rescued a poor skink in need and now phenix(sorry if i misspelled it dont hiss at me for that please!) has a loving home and hopefully your girlfriend will love the bts as much as you haha! and yea i always wondered for bedding =_= its sorta expensive cough i wish i could just use the same bedding as i use for my guinea pigs id save alot but bah ill stay with the usual reptile bark type thing bedding

Many keepers use Aspen for their BTS, and it works well. Get the shaved variety (thin wafers) and not the shaved (tiny sharp bits) if possible. That goes the same for the reptiBark products. There are also many other options, including carpet, CareFresh, paper towel, and more.

Fatal_S wrote:Many keepers use Aspen for their BTS, and it works well. Get the shaved variety (thin wafers) and not the shaved (tiny sharp bits) if possible. That goes the same for the reptiBark products. There are also many other options, including carpet, CareFresh, paper towel, and more.

Great! I will try the aspen in half of the tank next change...hope that Fenix likes them as much as I do for their cost! Thanks for the advise! Looked at carefresh...spitwads are not too interesting as a decorative type bedding for me... Just not my style, I guess...ReptiBark looks nice, but is expensive...I think Fenix likes it best so far, but I need to do a proper comparison somehow...I think the $ comparo might take the bacon, though...

NomadOfTheHills wrote:Your's: Indo
Their's: IJ

Bingo. Your Indo is a real gorgeous bird....if you can find a mate for him/her, that'd be sweet!

I don't like carefresh either, and I actually don't recommend it as a substrate because it's so soft. When a BTS "walks on pillows" for long periods of time I think it can weaken their bones.