Tiliqua scincoides
Blue-Tongued Skink
Blue-tongued skinks are sturdy, docile lizards that make one of the more approachable reptile pets thanks to their calm temperament, provided their basking and UVB needs are met precisely.
ScincidaeLifespan 15–20 years, sometimes longerCare complexity 3/5Suitable for beginners
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Tiliqua scincoides
- Family
- Scincidae
- Origin
- Australia and parts of New Guinea
- Lifespan
- 15–20 years, sometimes longer
- Adult size
- 45–60 cm
- Weight
- 300–700 g
- Temperament
- Calm, generally docile and tolerant of gentle handling once settled
- Activity level
- Low to moderate; a ground-dwelling forager
- Social needs
- Low; best kept alone, as adults can be aggressive toward each other
- Intelligence
- Good learning ability for feeding routines and recognises its keeper
- Noise
- Silent, occasional hissing when threatened
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 120 x 60 x 45 cm enclosure for one adult, with a secure lid
- Space requirement
- Wide floor area more important than height, given its ground-dwelling nature
- Temperature
- Basking spot 30–35°C, cool end 22–25°C
- Humidity
- 40–60%
- Exercise
- Floor space to walk and explore, with sturdy hides and basking sites
- Grooming
- Not applicable; requires appropriately rough surfaces to aid shedding
Diet and feeding
Omnivorous: lean meat or quality dog food, vegetables, and some fruit and snails
Behaviour and compatibility
Slow deliberate walking, tongue-flicking to investigate, digging and basking
- With children
- Good with calm, supervised older children due to its docile nature
- With other animals
- House alone; not to be mixed with other reptiles
- Training difficulty
- Low to moderate; becomes hand-tame with regular calm handling
Health
- Metabolic bone disease from poor UVB or calcium provision
- Obesity
- Respiratory infections
- Parasites
Needs a reptile vet for UVB, diet and shedding checks; wellness exams are valuable
Special care requirements
Correct UVB lighting and calcium supplementation are essential to prevent bone disease