Care Guide
Overview
- Common Name: Indonesian Blue-Tongued Skink
- Scientific Name: Tiliqua gigas gigas
- Origin: Indonesia
- Size: 18-24 inches
- Lifespan: 15-25 years with proper care
- Temperament: Generally docile, but can be defensive if stressed
Enclosure Setup
Tank Size
- Minimum: 4' x 2' x 2' (120 gallon equivelant) but larger is always better
Substrate
- Ideal Depth: 3-5 inches minimum
- Our Mixture: Soil sand and coconut fiber mix
Decor
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Temperature and Heating
Temperature Gradient
- Basking Spot: 95-105°F
- Warm side: 85-90°F
- Cool side: 75–80°F
- Night temps: Can drop to 70–75°F
Heating Equipment
- Halogen basking bulb (preferred)
- Ceramic heat emitter (if needed at night)
Humidity
- Target: 60-80% maintained with moist substrate, occasional misting, and a large water dish
Lighting
- UVB: Recommended (Not optional for best health)
- Use T5 HO 5.0-10.0 UVB strip
- Photoperiod: 10-12 hours daily
Diet
Proteins (40-50%)
- Insects (roaches, crickets, superworms)
- High-quality canned dog food (grain-free)
- Cooked eggs (rare treat)
Vegetables (40-50%)
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Dandelion greens
- Squash
- Green beans
Fruits (10% or less)
- Mango
- Papaya
- Blueberries
Feeding Schedule
- Adults: 2-3 feedings per week
- Juveniles: daily
Supplements
- Calcium:
- With D3: 2-3x per week
- Multivitamin: 1x per week
Water:
- Provide a large shallow water dish at all times, they may soak occasionally
Behavior and Handling
- Can become tame with consistent, gentle handling
- May hiss, puff up, or flatten body when stressed
- When Handling, avoid grabbing from above and make sure to support their entire body
Shedding
- Occurs in patches
To help:
- maintain a constant humidity
- provide rough surfaces
Health and Common Issues
Common Problems
- Respiratory infections: low temps/high humidity imbalance
- Metabolic Bone Disease: Lack of calcium/UVB
- Parasites: Most prevalent in wild caught individuals
These are common health problems but if your animal is sick or having issues PLEASE CONSULT A REPTILE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Key Care Tips
- Temp: 75–105°F gradient
- Humidity: 60–80%
- Diet: Omnivore (balanced protein + greens)
- UVB: Required
- Enclosure: Minimum 4x2x2 ft