Blue Tongue Skink Care Calculators & Charts
Last updated: · Reviewed against sources listed below
Blue tongue skink care comes down to a few numbers: how often to feed, the right mix of protein and greens, a hot basking spot and a roomy floor. This blue tongue skink care sheet puts them in one place, with a feeding planner that works from your skink’s age.
Quick facts
- Adult length
- 15–24 in38–61 cm
- Lifespan
- 15–20 years
- Adult weight
- 280–510 g (10–18 oz)280–510 g
- Diet
- Omnivore (greens + protein)
- Basking spot
- 92–105°F33–41°C
- Humidity
- 30–50%
Blue Tongue Skink calculators
Lizard Insect Feeding Calculator
How many insects per feeding, how often, and what to buy each week.
Reptile Age & Growth Estimator
Estimate age from length or weight, and check growth against normal ranges.
Reptile Enclosure Size Calculator
Minimum and recommended tank size, plus a gallons-to-dimensions converter.
Reptile Temperature & Humidity Checker
Enter your readings to see what is too hot, too cold or just right.
Blue Tongue Skink charts and guides
Blue Tongue Skink Feeding Chart
How much and how often to feed at every age.
Blue Tongue Skink Growth Chart
Typical length and weight by age.
Blue Tongue Skink Enclosure Setup
Tank size, hides, lighting and substrate.
Blue Tongue Skink Temperature & Humidity
Basking, cool-side and night ranges.
Blue Tongue Skink FAQ
Answers to common feeding and care questions.
Blue tongue skink care at a glance
Blue tongue skinks (Tiliqua) are large, calm lizards from Australia and New Guinea, famous for the bright blue tongue they flash when startled. The northern blue tongue (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia) is the most common pet type: adults average about 17 inches and can reach 22–24 in56–61 cm, and weigh 280–510 g (10–18 oz)280–510 g. With good care, 15–20 years is typical, and some live longer.
Diet. Blue tongue skinks are omnivores. They eat greens, vegetables and some fruit, plus animal protein such as insects, snails and cooked lean meat. Young skinks need more protein; adults eat more plants.
Heat. Give a basking spot of about 92–105°F33–41°C, a cool side of 70–85°F21–29°C, and nights of about 65–75°F18–24°C. Run every heat source on a thermostat.
Humidity. Northern and other Australian blue tongues like fairly dry air, about 30–50%. Indonesian types come from tropical forests and need 60–80%, so check which type you have.
Space. Blue tongues walk and dig rather than climb, so floor space and deep substrate matter most. An adult needs at least 48 × 24 inches of floor, and more is better.
Northern or Indonesian?
Pet blue tongues fall into two groups. Australian types, including the northern, eastern and blotched blue tongues, are captive-bred, usually very tame, and need drier air. Indonesian types, such as the classic and Merauke blue tongues, are often imported, can be more nervous at first, and need much higher humidity. The numbers on this site are for the northern blue tongue unless noted, and the temperature and humidity guide explains how to adjust for Indonesian skinks.
How our tools help
Enter your skink’s age in the feeding calculator to see how often to feed, the portion size and the right mix of protein, greens and fruit. Track growth with the blue tongue skink growth chart, size the enclosure with the enclosure calculator, and check your readings with the temperature and humidity checker.
Common beginner mistakes
- Too much fruit. Fruit is a treat. Keep it to no more than about 10% of the diet; the rest should be protein and greens.
- A small, cramped tank. Blue tongues are big, active walkers. A 20-gallon tank is fine for a baby but far too small for an adult.
- Guessing the humidity. Northern and Indonesian skinks need very different humidity. Check which type you have and measure with a digital hygrometer.
- Housing two together. Blue tongues are territorial and often fight. Keep one skink per enclosure.
- Overfeeding adults. Adults need far less food than growing skinks. Feeding them daily leads to obesity.
Recommended blue tongue skink gear
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4×2×2 ft enclosure or larger
The minimum floor space for an adult; front doors make feeding easy.
Check price on AmazonLinear T5 HO UVB fixture
Supports vitamin D3 and calcium use; covers about half the enclosure.
Check price on AmazonHalogen basking bulb and thermostat
Creates the hot basking spot blue tongues need, safely controlled.
Check price on AmazonDeep digging substrate
Blue tongues burrow; a soil and sand mix 4–6 inches deep suits northerns.
Check price on AmazonDigital thermometer and hygrometer
Checks the basking spot and the humidity for your skink’s type.
Check price on AmazonSources
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo — Northern Blue-tongued Skink
- LafeberVet — Basic Information Sheet: Northern Blue-Tongued Skink
- Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic — Blue-Tongued Skink Care Guide
- ReptiFiles — Blue Tongue Skink Care Guide
- ReptiFiles — Blue Tongue Skink Temperatures, UVB & Humidity
Where sources disagree we show the range they share. See our sources and methodology for how every number is checked.