BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I decided to compile the pic's I've been taking each month to record Sammy's size. I know she was around 7 inches in length when I first got her. Can't remember the in-between lengths but today she was 11 1/2 inches long.



Above is Zach holding her in June.



This one above is the one I took in July to show her tail tip.



This one above is from August.



This last pic is from today at 11 1/2 inches. Not bad for the runt of the litter! Can't wait to see her at 1 year! Does anyone know when the northern bluey's actually stop growing?

She's looking great! Bluey's do most of their growing in the first 18 months (it might be a bit longer in the wild) but I don't think they every stop growing. I think it's just not as noticeable. Spike was about 22 two inches at the year and a half mark. He's now a little more then 3 years old and just measured in at 23 inches.

So they keep growing ... like old peoples ear lobes and noses?

So they keep growing ... like old peoples ear lobes and noses?

Tattoo, you crack me up!

Hi Jenn! I have a question for ya. I know adult bluey's eventually eat 3 or 4 times a week but did any of your bluey's switch to every-other-day meals as young as 3 months? It just seems like Sammy isn't very interested in eating as much.

My eastern Saphira did! Christopher was a little older but he switched to eating 3 times a week at a younger age as well.

Wow, I saw those pictures of Sammy and for a second thought that Sebastian must be a shrimpie!! But then I picked him up and realized that my baby boy is growing up much faster than I realized. I'll get his stats for you soon. It'll be interesting to compare growth rates on these guys since they're half siblings....

Jenn wrote:She's looking great! Bluey's do most of their growing in the first 18 months (it might be a bit longer in the wild) but I don't think they every stop growing. I think it's just not as noticeable. Spike was about 22 two inches at the year and a half mark. He's now a little more then 3 years old and just measured in at 23 inches.

23 inches, GEEZ!

Thanks for the updates, it looks like his tail is capping off without trouble....

LOL, i love reading the growth rates of other peoples skinks. But i can say my boy is finally growing!
He is now 9 inches, he was born 14th march 2007.

Kristy

kris21 wrote:LOL, i love reading the growth rates of other peoples skinks. But i can say my boy is finally growing!
He is now 9 inches, he was born 14th march 2007.

Kristy

What was he when you first got him?

Ya know, when I read the title to this thread, I though Sammy had a tumor! Boy was I relieved to see that its merely about her length/size/pattern of growth!

Ya know, when I read the title to this thread, I though Sammy had a tumor! Boy was I relieved to see that its merely about her length/size/pattern of growth!

I had to laugh when I read this.

It really is interesting to see the different growth rates! I wonder, has anyone done any research or does anyone know where the facts about average skink growth rates can be found? When I got Otis on June 17, 2007, he was merely 6 inches long. Now at about four months, he's grown to 16 inches. Holy cow! I wonder, is this normal or unusual?

Tony

You want to know an amazing fact? Both my tannies and my northern are the same age, yet the northern is 14 inches long while the tannies aren't even 5 inches. It's a huge difference in size and weight. Once I get to a point where I can breed, I plan to measure and weigh all my babies as they begin to grow, then compare the results. Maybe some other breeders here have already done this? As is I believe the northerns grow amazingly fast for the first year and a half, then plateau, with only slight growth after that. Tannies on the other hand will grow slowly but keep growing until a later age. I'll try to get some pictures to compare these guys, along with any more I get.

They are all different and on different diets,temp's,set ups,exercise and so on, the only thing thats fact, is they grow!!!

Leigh wrote:They are all different and on different diets,temp's,set ups,exercise and so on, the only thing thats fact, is they grow!!!

Yep, exactly. It entirely depends on what, and how often they're fed. If you feed babies every single day and they eat it, they will be HUGE in one year. However, if you only feed them a couple times a week, they could very well end up half the size, or even less. Many breeders who have tons of babies will hold off feeding to keep the babies small to make maintenance more manageable. I don't particularly like that idea, but every other day feedings, or even every day for babies is fine, but keep a close eye on their weight -- they tend to get fat...especially with an excess amount of cat food in the diet.

SailleSkinklover wrote:Ya know, when I read the title to this thread, I though Sammy had a tumor! Boy was I relieved to see that its merely about her length/size/pattern of growth!

I didn't even think of it like that until now, that's funny.

When I got Otis on June 17, 2007, he was merely 6 inches long. Now at about four months, he's grown to 16 inches. Holy cow! I wonder, is this normal or unusual?

What are your feeding Otis and how often?

Leigh wrote:

kris21 wrote:LOL, i love reading the growth rates of other peoples skinks. But i can say my boy is finally growing!
He is now 9 inches, he was born 14th march 2007.

Kristy

What was he when you first got him?

About 6 inches i think. I tired feeding everyday and he just doesn't wanna do it. Maybe when it warms up a bit he will eat more often but for now its every 2nd or 3rd day with the odd snail on the off days.

Kris

Kris,

I think your Eastern is growing just fine. (He is an Eastern, right?) Like someone said, every bluey has it's own growth cycle and eventually they all get to be full grown it's just a matter of when.

My eastern grew at a much slower rate and at 2 years is about 18 inches.