Skink Roommates

[kaijubait]

Hey guys,
Been ages since I've been on this board. I had a hard drive die on me some months ago - this causing my absence, and now I'm back with two computers!
Anyway, what brings me back here is this question - someone who runs a reptile rescue claims that they have a horde of species they're trying to adopt out (no list available, unfortunately - I was told to just come to them with my request). I don't have any room for a new set-up, and don't relish buying the extra lights and such, so I thought I might take him up if there's anything that I can safely house with Godot (my female IJ). She's currently by herself in a 40 gal viv and is doing very well. I've heard differening opinions on this subject. Obviously something that requires a different enviroment - like a Chinese Water Dragon, Green Amoeva or Chameleon, is out of the question. I've been told that beared dragons and BTS can be housed together with no problems, then other people have told me almost nothing can be housed with a BTS except another BTS of the opposite sex.
So let's hear some opinions before I make a potential mistake.

[SailleSkinklover]

I keep hearing that Blueys are best by themselves, unless you are specifically breeding them, and even then, they need supervision as mating can and does sometimes get quite rough!
I've never heard of Blueys being housed with other species though. I wonder what could happen if two females of different species, (Beardie and Bluey) were kept together?
Me personally? I wouldn't put anything in with Chuffer on a permanent basis: I'd probably only let a female Merauke near him, and I think then, I'd put him in her enclosure, not the other way around, and only then, carefully supervised!

[Jenn]

Blue tongue skinks should be housed alone. Reptiles are an investment so unless you can afford to purchase the lights and things for a new reptile, I don't recommend getting one.

[SailleSkinklover]

Well said, Jenn! I just re-read the post, andI agree, if you don't have the room or the money for the stuff, then don't take on the extra responsibility. What would happen if you got another Bluey, enclosed them together, then they started tearing each other up? You'd need the room for the second Bluey to be alone.
I know its hard, because I'm a total softie for rescuing. But the limit has to be drawn at what is best for the current family members!

[Zach]

Blue tongue skinks should be housed alone. Reptiles are an investment so unless you can afford to purchase the lights and things for a new reptile, I don't recommend getting one.

100% correct. And there's really no "opinions". Any opinions in support of housing other animals with BTS are either completely ignorant, or they do it themselves and have been lucky. BTS are solitary in the wild and will likely attack anything you put in the cage with it. You should also never house BTS together either, even if you have the opposite. The male, during breeding season, can mate the female senseless over and over again because she simply has no place to run and escape like she would in the wild. All breeding attempts should 100% supervised and then separated. On top of all that, competition becomes a problem. Competition for the hides, the hot spot and just space in general. BTS command a HUGE space when in the wild, and a 40 gallon tank is just WAY too small to house more than one of any animal unless they are bugs or tiny anoles or something.

And Jenn is right again, if you can't afford a new setup, and that includes lights and everything you need, DO NOT buy another animal!! This is what dirty dealers do. They just combine all the animals they have into different cages and many die from attacks, lack of heating space because one guards the area and becomes territorial so one animal lives its life in terror but can't tell you -- that's why so many animals look beat up or are in poor condition at reptiles shows.....

We just had a post a few days back about a person who had two blueys housed together for TWO YEARS. He came home one day to find one torn apart and bleeding. After TWO YEARS. It's NOT worth the risk. Link to that thread: http://bluetongueskinks.net/forum/viewt ... highlight=

Please don't take offense to my post! I just want to convey what I absolutely know for a fact about these blue tongued skinks -- they are all I deal with, and the only animals I own. Good luck!!

[kaijubait]

OK, that's the kind of feedback I as looking for, and I've made my decision. You can probably guess what it was.

I have to wonder now at those first people who told me it would be OK. I've come to the conclusion that they were telling me anything they could to get me to buy another lizard. Glad I decided to put it off!

[Zach]

Kudos to you getting a second opinion!