BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hi, I have been on this site reading the caresheet and forums for more than a year. I was thinking I wanted to get a baby blue tongue this summer. I don't know if I want a northern or an IJ. Is there any size difference between these? sorry for the banana. I couldn't help it!

I guess the title should have been "I'm new to posting".

Is there any size difference between an IJ and a northern?

I'm partial to northerns and would definetly recommed getting one of Ray's. Northerns get a little bigger then IJ but both are sweet, calm and make great first skinks.

I'd say the biggest determining factor would be the looks. I personally think Northers are prettier, but thats just me. You can also get a normal northern or a caramel norther from Ray or Andrew if you want one. They cost a little more but they're worth it.

Here are some links to let you know the difference between the Irian and the Northern.
The Northern
http://bluetongueskinks.net/bnorth.htm

The Irian
http://bluetongueskinks.net/irian.htm

Hope this helps and

A lurker turned poster! Well, the good thing about lurking is it allows you to see the gamut of the personalities and information before you speak up. Then you can determine if you think we're full of crap or not.

Ray has excellent animals and prices. He's a guy who will make SURE you're happy.

KW

I think I want to get an IJ. The darker colors are more appealing to me for some reason. Plus, I'm on kind of a tight budget with only $270 to spend. $150 for the skink (including shipping) about $50 for the tank, and that leaves $70 left to spend on supplies like substrate and the like. If I got a northern, I would only have $20 left and I don't think that is realistic. However, I may be able to scrape up $40 more if I am lucky.

An IJ is still a great choice. I have one and he's a great little guy!

Buy Australian!!!

A good tip is to spend half of what you save in total on the animal and vivarium. If you spend $300, you should have had $600 saved. Why? Vet bills get expensive, especially on exotic pets. If you can't pay for the animal's care in an instant emergency, you haven't prepared quite enough.

KW

I have more money! The rest is in the bank. The bank I go to is hardly ever open though, so I don't want to pick up my money unless I need to. Also, do you have to have a vet check them out when you get them, or only if they are sick?
I am plenty prepared. I have been reading on the for over a year, and know pretty much everything on the caresheet.

I figured you were prepared, but being a seasoned pet seller in one capacity or another in my life, that seems to be the overlooked part that comes up because it's an indirect part of the care. We all think optimistically we'll have a happy, healthy pet always, and for that matter, we all wish that is the case all the time. The caresheet probably *should* (glares at Zach) readily mention that somewhere...

If you get a bluey from a breeder on this site, I'm sure you'll be okay without an initial vet checkup, but it's never a bad idea. If you get a bluey from a pet store, as I'm sure you've read, there's a potential for problems later down the road from the animal possibly being wild-caught. Which then a vet visit is essential.



KW

Thanks! I will keep that in mind. How fast do you think someone would have to get a baby IJ before the breeders on this site already sold them all? I might have to wait untill about mid-june untill i can even start talking to anyone.

That all depends on the fine balance of supply and demand.

KW