BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

As we discussed in a previous thread, Chunka was previously identified as an indo, but she has some meruake traits as well, so I'm not 100% sure. Booger is clearly an indo, so I've included some pics of both for comparison. As you can see Chunka is like 3 times bigger than booger, although lengthwise they are almost equal. Booger's tail seems extremely long compared to Chunkas. Booger's legs are almost completely jet black, and Chunka's have some specks. Obviously the species in question are very similar, so let me know what you guys think. Each picture of Chunka is followed by a picture of Booger in a similar pose.








These next ones of Booger were too cute not to include. He wants to play guitar just like his daddy

Wow, they are both beautiful! When does Chunka's new cd come out? I love that.

I'm going to guess meruake but I really have no clue. I'm just going by her tail, it sure is a long one!

Oops, I just realized I was looking at the wrong tail! There goes all I know about it out the window.

heehee...yeah Booger's the one with the long skinny and the one playing guitar

oops...long skinny TAIL i mean! LOL

I'd say Chunka is without a doubt Merauke....and I'd say Booger is Indo.

One thing to remember is that Indo's don't necessarily have short tails -- they can be very long as well.

so they wouldn't be a good pair to mate, huh?

So what is the strongest trait for meruake...just shear size and speckled legs?

Check out the temporal scales. They're in another thread about Lilly the Skink. Tell us how it turns out.

Fatal_S wrote:Check out the temporal scales. They're in another thread about Lilly the Skink. Tell us how it turns out.

Yep, she's got 5 and he's got 4. I guess I get to submit her for the "calling all blotched, meraukes and IJ's" dealio

Id definately say you have one of each. The head scales are something zach came up with - I can't comment on seeing as i haven't actually held and kept either species however from what i know and have seen in pics - meraukes are always longer - They have really long tails!!!

Blotch wrote:Id definately say you have one of each. The head scales are something zach came up with - I can't comment on seeing as i haven't actually held and kept either species however from what i know and have seen in pics - meraukes are always longer - They have really long tails!!!

Actually, it's mentioned in the bluey bible!

PICJESS wrote:so they wouldn't be a good pair to mate, huh?

It's hard to say. The temporal scales don't say for sure; it really seems to be just another clue. Both are very similar animals. I personally don't think it would be a big deal. It wouldn't be different than breeding an eastern from the north and an eastern from the south. Because essentially, neither of these 2 specimens look to be 100% Indo or Merauke. Another "in-betweener"!

Well if I ever get around to breeding them I'll just call them "gigas" babies

PICJESS wrote:Well if I ever get around to breeding them I'll just call them "gigas" babies

That's what we just call a lot of the wild caughts, because so many (probably the majority) are "halfer's". One of the reasons the naming of the merauke is debated...

Looks like Chunka needs her nails clipped! At least in the back from I can see...

I was wondering how long it was gonna take for you to tell me that Zach! Yes, her's grow so fast. I clip them probably once a month (they even bleed) but it's tough to keep up!

Moe's grow fast too...and they always seem to grow sideways even when short.

hey guys! newbie here. I just bought an indo myself just a few hours ago. hehe im wondering if chunka and booger are of the same age? Because chunka is HUGE compared to lil booger! both beautiful tho buddy.

spoon1 wrote:hey guys! newbie here. I just bought an indo myself just a few hours ago. hehe im wondering if chunka and booger are of the same age? Because chunka is HUGE compared to lil booger! both beautiful tho buddy.

Have your own thread and introduce your self there,you'll get a proper welcome, hi for now...