BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

just wondering if anyone does this. housing a male and female together. is this okay or can this work out possibly?

Depends on type of BTS, but generally it's a bad idea, as we often get cases where BTS live together for a while then suddenly get aggressive. Some experienced keepers will keep BTS together in groups.

IMO: No.

so it can be done? i will keep a good eye on the two of them. I have a 40 gallon breeder.

I don't own a skink, but I've done a ton of reading and since a 40g is basically the bare minimum you can keep ONE in, I suspect you probably shouldn't be keeping two in there...closely watched or not.
Think if you had to live in such close quarters with someone you probably don't even really like? Plus, they just aren't naturally made to live in groups and it's been proven that fights can break out even among a male and a female. I know you said you'd be watching, but obviously you can't watch every single minute of every single day...you'd go insane! In all seriousness, though, it can take only a minute for a foot to be bitten off or something else terrible...then I'm sure the vet bills would be much higher than the cost of another cage, ya know?

You will find general consensus and advice on this forum is that it's not a good idea, however it is more commonly practiced here in Aus.

I think it would depend on the nature of the individual skink. Some are quite docile and submissive, and some are dominant or even openly aggressive. I feel I could house two of mine together but the third one there would be no way. In any case, I'm not prepared to take the risk with any of them.

The risk is, it doesn't need to be continual or frequent fighting. Just one act of aggression, just one bite from their powerful jaws in the wrong spot is enough to do serious damage.

Just one bite, that's all it can take.

In the wild, they are solitary creatures who only come together to mate. Is it for your needs (ie lack of space or cash for an additional tank) or for their needs that you're considering it? If you're concerned they will be lonely on their own, don't be. They're not a communal animal by nature.

There was case only a while ago of 2 "best friend" skinks that had been together for years attacking and causing major damage to each other. Even experienced aus keepers will not house all skinks together. Some don't get along from the start, some don't get along in certain situations, and some get along fine until...

You risk the health and lives of your animals. And no, a 40g breeder is not big enough to house 2 skinks, you'd want something bigger, hopefully an outdoor pit, with plenty of places for one to hide from the other. However, I'm sure we have one or 2 members who will keep in smaller conditions ((*cough* Luke *cough* because I know you'll point out how successful you are at it)).

here in aus the only species i would not keep together are the westerns.


heheh and i have definitely kept more then one in an enclosure probably smaller then a 40 gallon with no problems at all :d

It is odd how northerns or easterns in aus seem to get along better than those in the US. I mean you guys keep more together with fewer fights, while we have fewer together with more fights.

Its the American way!


(I have to vote a resounding NO for keeping 2 together in a 40 gal breeder, personally.)

Not sure that people are keeping Northerns together in Aus to the same degree. Mainly Easterns and Blotchies.

one thing is species i have two shinglebacks housed together with no worries but there particular species are very docile, another thing is space in my outdoor pit i can house 8 blueys at a time with no worries, another thing would be to make 100% sure they are male and female or else you may have an issue

Can it be done? Sure. But with great risk in a 40b.

aye - i do it! And I've had ZERO problems. And i've done it for years!!! 40gallon (I don't do gallons) but if it's like a 2ft tank - I'll give a big NO!

Aussie skinks are cooler. Not as much inbreeding - therefore more mentally stable. If you believe that statement - cool, But It has no basis in fact. (Aussie skinks are cooler though)

As stated Blotchies and Easterns are fine together, Personally not sure about Northerns. Centralians seems fine together and Same with Stumpies. Westerns I have no idea abot - however general consensus says that they are frisky little buggers and can be pretty violent, so I wouldn't - not that you really need to worry about that one hey?

What type of Blueys are you talking about?

northerns in australia can be just as nasty as over in the states or elsewhere,ive had easterns accaisionly get mildly aggressive with each other as well,also westerns can definatly get nippy,only time i see my blotcheds get narky is 2 weeks in the breeding season where males,mostly young males,will chase and harrass other young males,there usually unsuccessful breeders as the big boys know what there doing,wait till the time is right,grab the right female and mate pretty much straight away,my young westerns usually bite each other if i put live food in with them,they just go nuts and bite at any movement,other wise the 4 of them are quite ok together,but ive heard of some being quite aggressive,like what has been said,they can just suddenly go troppo,even females can get highly aggressive and attack males,i believe there are no given rules to follow with them in regards to communal housing,each individual lizard is different,just like every keeper,i house most of mine together,including 7 rugosa asper stumpys in the same cage,they breed and have never shown aggression in over 12 years of keeping them in such a way,but a couple of them are young sub adult males so may have to be moved out in the next season or 2,which i intend to do anyways

NO dont try it! people in Aus (like Luke) have success, but there are many others in aus and the rest of the world who have horrific 'accidents.'

so basically, it's not worth the risk. especially in a 40gallon.

echoxxash wrote:I don't own a skink, but I've done a ton of reading and since a 40g is basically the bare minimum you can keep ONE in, I suspect you probably shouldn't be keeping two in there...closely watched or not.
Think if you had to live in such close quarters with someone you probably don't even really like? Plus, they just aren't naturally made to live in groups and it's been proven that fights can break out even among a male and a female. I know you said you'd be watching, but obviously you can't watch every single minute of every single day...you'd go insane! In all seriousness, though, it can take only a minute for a foot to be bitten off or something else terrible...then I'm sure the vet bills would be much higher than the cost of another cage, ya know?

I agree.

I get way too many emails from folks who wish they would have listened to ever advise housing together for any reason. It's always a risk no matter how docile they are at any given time with any given creature (including us). Big outdoor pits are the only means I advocate.

40 gallon? WAY too small.

i know northerns that still aggrresivly attack each other in really large out door pits in australia,its an individual thing with each lizard,somr species like northerns its more the rule that they will be aggressive

Did you say a mating pair? well she could get shagged to death if you/she were unlucky

Zach I would dare to say that you would never have had one of these reports from people who kept lowland blotchies together. They almost seem to seek out each others company.

The sentiment from other sites such as Aussie Pythons from previous postings are about warnings in relation to Northerns and their territorial behaviour. OF course there is no experience in Aus with other foreign - uuummm species -I'll call them variants .

Probably certainly no one with Blotched. But I'd still reckon to say if two males were kept in an indoor 40gallon tank......is it a risk?