By Blue Tailed Skinks are fascinating, colorful lizards that make for captivating pets. With their eye-catching blue tails and unique habits, these creatures can be an excellent addition to your collection of exotic reptiles. This comprehensive care sheet and species profile will guide you through everything you need to know about Blue Tailed Skinks, including diet, habitat, and tank setup.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Blue Tailed Skinks
Blue Tailed Skinks are small, short-limbed lizards known for their vibrant blue tails and distinctive markings. There are several species that fall under the common name “Blue Tailed Skink,” with the Pacific Blue Tailed Skink (Emoia caeruleocauda) and the American Blue Tailed Skink, also known as the Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), being the most popular in the pet trade.
These species share many similarities in terms of appearance, diet, and habitat requirements, making their care relatively straightforward for reptile enthusiasts. With proper care and attention, these captivating creatures can thrive in captivity and provide endless entertainment.
Blue Tailed Skink Appearance and Identification
Pacific Blue Tailed Skink
The Pacific Blue Tailed Skink is characterized by its stunning blue tail, black or brown body, and cream-colored stripes that run from the head to the tail. The underside is usually beige or brown, with males occasionally developing orange chins as a breeding display. Adults can grow up to 6 inches in total length, with the tail accounting for around 60% of this.
American Blue Tailed Skink
The American Blue Tailed Skink, or Five-Lined Skink, has a similar appearance to the Pacific Blue Tailed Skink, but with five distinct lines running down its body. Two of these lines converge on the head, making it easy to distinguish between the two species. Adult American Blue Tailed Skinks can reach up to 8.5 inches in length.
Quick Visual Identifier
To help identify your Blue Tailed Skink, look for the following features:
- Pacific Blue Tailed Skink: Stripes uniformly follow down from the head
- American Blue Tailed Skink: Five distinct lines down the body with two converging on the head
Blue Tailed Skink Natural Habitat
Blue Tailed Skinks are found in different regions depending on the species. The Pacific Blue Tailed Skink is native to Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, New Guinea, and many Pacific Islands. In contrast, the American Blue Tailed Skink is found in the United States, stretching as far west as Missouri, as far south as Florida, and even in some parts of Canada.
In the wild, these skinks inhabit hardwood forests, edges of thick bush, and rocky areas. They are often found on the ground, in trees, on logs, in brush piles, and under leaves. Both species are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night.
Diet and Feeding
Blue Tailed Skinks are primarily insectivores, meaning their diet consists mainly of small insects and other arthropods. In the wild, they feed on a variety of insects, including spiders, earthworms, snails, flies, beetles, locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers. The Pacific Blue Tailed Skink is known to occasionally eat ripe fruit, making it somewhat omnivorous.
In captivity, Blue Tailed Skinks should be fed a diet of live insects, such as:
- Crickets
- Dubia roaches
- Earthworms
- Mealworms
- Waxworms
- Drosophila fruit flies
It’s essential to provide your skink with gut-loaded insects (insects fed nutritious foods before being offered to your reptile) and dusted with calcium powder to ensure proper nutrition. A varied diet will help prevent potential health issues, such as metabolic bone disease, which can result from a lack of calcium and vitamin D3.
Housing and Tank Setup
When setting up a suitable enclosure for your Blue Tailed Skink, it’s essential to provide a natural-looking environment that allows them to exercise, hide, and exhibit their natural behaviors. A 20-25 gallon terrarium is the minimum recommended size for a single adult skink, with more space required if housing multiple individuals.
Substrate
A proper substrate is necessary for maintaining humidity and allowing your skink to burrow. Suitable substrates include coconut fiber, humus, or orchid bark, with a depth of at least a few inches.
Décor and Enrichment
Blue Tailed Skinks are semi-arboreal, meaning they spend time both on the ground and in trees. Provide your skink with ample climbing opportunities using branches, logs, and rocks. Additionally, include live plants and hiding spots such as cork bark and dense foliage to create a secure and natural environment.
Temperature and Lighting
Blue Tailed Skinks require proper heating and lighting to thrive in captivity. A temperature gradient should be maintained within the enclosure, with a basking spot reaching temperatures of 90-95°F for Pacific Blue Tailed Skinks and 110°F for American Blue Tailed Skinks. The cool end of the habitat should range between 72-82°F, depending on the species.
UVB lighting is essential for Blue Tailed Skinks, as it helps them synthesize vitamin D3 and metabolize calcium. Provide 10-12 hours of UVB light daily, and be sure to replace the bulb according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Humidity and Water
Maintaining proper humidity levels is crucial for Blue Tailed Skinks, with a range of 60-80% required for optimal health. This can be achieved through daily or twice-daily misting, as well as placing a water bowl in the enclosure. A reptile fogger can also be used to help regulate humidity levels.
It’s essential to provide clean, chlorine-free water for your skink to drink and soak in. Change the water daily to ensure cleanliness.
Social Needs and Cohabitation
Blue Tailed Skinks can be housed together under certain conditions. Males are territorial and may fight, so it’s crucial to avoid housing multiple males together. Females can coexist peacefully, and a single male can live with a group of females. However, if you choose to keep just one Blue Tailed Skink, they do not require social interaction for their well-being.
Handling and Interaction
While Blue Tailed Skinks are not typically aggressive, they are fast and skittish, making handling them outside of their enclosure a challenge. Captive-bred individuals may be more docile than their wild-caught counterparts, but it’s essential to handle your skink gently and with care to avoid causing stress or injury. These skinks are best suited as display animals rather than pets for frequent handling.
Breeding
Breeding Blue Tailed Skinks in captivity can be challenging but rewarding. Both species are polygamous, with males breeding with multiple females. Females lay eggs in nests, with the American Blue Tailed Skink laying 5-13 eggs and the Pacific Blue Tailed Skink laying 2-6 eggs. If you choose to breed your skinks, be prepared to separate adults from hatchlings to prevent cannibalism.
Health and Potential Issues
To keep your Blue Tailed Skink healthy, it’s essential to maintain proper temperature, humidity, and diet, as well as regular cleaning of the enclosure. Potential health issues to watch for include metabolic bone disease, bite injuries from cohabitation, obesity, and parasites. Monitoring your skink’s appearance and behavior for any changes can help catch potential problems early and ensure their continued health.
Conclusion
Blue Tailed Skinks are captivating, colorful reptiles that can make excellent pets for those willing to provide the proper care and attention. With this comprehensive guide, you’ll have all the information you need to ensure your Blue Tailed Skink thrives in captivity. By providing a suitable environment, diet, and monitoring their health, you’ll be able to enjoy the unique beauty and fascinating behaviors of these incredible creatures.