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Introduction

At one time almost completely ignored by lizard keepers, blue-tongued skinks (part of the genus Tiliqua), with their distinctive berry-blue tongues, have become extremely popular. While most blue-tongued species exhibit a certain amount of variability in both pattern and color, those with greater variability—the Eastern (T. s. scincoides) and Blotched (T. nigrolutea), for example—can fetch exceptionally high prices whenever they become available.

Today, members of the blue-tongue family are generally considered the most popular, intelligent, and undemanding of pet lizards. Because they are slow moving (due to their short limbs), quickly tamed, and trustworthy in the presence of children, blue-tongued skinks are suitable for even first-time lizard keepers, both young and old. In addition, these reptiles only occasionally need live food, which is good news for those who don’t like the thought of having to bring crickets, roaches, and other insects into their homes.

These interesting and relatively hardy lizards eat a variety of foods, are easy to maintain in very basic set-ups, and usually settle down quickly and live for many years in captivity, growing into medium-size, submissive, approachable, and clever pets. That said, you’ll need to take some simple measures right from the start if you want caring for your skink to be trouble-free.

Whether you are an advanced keeper or a beginner, this book gives you all of the information you’ll need to care for and reproduce these wonderful reptiles