Blue Tongue Skink Feeding Chart by Age
Last updated: · Reviewed against sources listed below
This blue tongue skink feeding chart shows how often to feed at every age and what to feed. Babies eat daily, juveniles 3–4 times a week and adults 2–3 times a week. Each meal is about the size of the skink’s head, and the diet shifts from mostly protein to mostly greens as it grows.
Feeding plan
- Per feeding
- How often
- Buy per week
- Meals per week
- Insects : greens
This is the same calculator as our lizard insect feeding calculator, preset for blue tongue skinks.
Blue Tongue Skink feeding chart
Portions are about the size of your skink’s head. Protein includes insects, snails and cooked lean meat or egg; the plant part should be mostly dark leafy greens and vegetables.
| Age | Portion | How often | Diet mix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 0–3 months | a portion about the size of its head | once a day | 70–80% protein, 20–30% greens and vegetables, fruit no more than 10% |
| Juvenile 4–11 months | a portion about the size of its head | 3–4 times a week | 70–80% protein, 20–30% greens and vegetables, fruit no more than 10% |
| Adult 12+ months | 1–2 tablespoons, about the size of its head | 2–3 times a week | 40–50% protein, 50–60% greens and vegetables, fruit no more than 10% |
What do blue tongue skinks eat?
Wild blue tongues eat insects, snails, carrion, fruit, berries, flowers and leaves. In captivity, build every meal from two main parts:
- Protein: dubia roaches, crickets, superworms, snails, and cooked lean chicken, turkey or egg. Many keepers also use a high-quality, meat-based, grain-free dog or cat food as part of the protein.
- Greens and vegetables: dark leafy greens such as collard, mustard and dandelion greens, plus squash, bell pepper and green beans.
Fruit such as berries, papaya or mango can make up a small extra, no more than about 10% of the diet.
How much and how often
Offer a portion about the size of your skink’s head, roughly 1–2 tablespoons for an adult. Babies up to 3 months eat once a day. Juveniles from 4 to 11 months eat 3–4 times a week, and adults from 12 months eat 2–3 times a week.
The mix changes with age. Skinks under a year old need about 70–80% protein and 20–30% greens and vegetables. Adults do best on about 40–50% protein and 50–60% greens and vegetables. Our calculator shows the right plan for your skink’s age.
Weigh your skink every few weeks and compare it with the growth chart. Adults that get fat pads at the base of the tail or around the legs should be fed less often.
Calcium and supplements
Dust insects with calcium, and mix a little calcium into chopped greens. If you do not use UVB lighting, use calcium with vitamin D3; with good UVB, plain calcium is usually enough. A reptile multivitamin once a week for juveniles and about twice a month for adults covers other vitamins. Too much vitamin D3 or vitamin A can also cause harm, so follow the product label and ask your vet about the right plan.
Why is my blue tongue skink not eating?
Common reasons include a recent move, an upcoming shed, a basking spot that is too cool, and the cooler months, when many blue tongues eat less. Some skinks also become picky if they are offered favorite foods too often. Check the basking spot with an infrared thermometer, offer food in the late morning after your skink has warmed up, and try a different protein.
See a reptile vet if your skink loses more than about 10% of its body weight, refuses food for several weeks outside winter, has a swollen or soft jaw, shakes, or has trouble walking. These can be signs of metabolic bone disease or other illness.
What blue tongue skinks can and can’t eat
Good foods
- Dubia roaches, crickets and superworms (dusted)
- Snails and cooked lean chicken, turkey or egg
- Dark leafy greens: collard, mustard, dandelion
- Squash, bell pepper, green beans; berries as a treat
Avoid
- Avocado, onion, eggplant and rhubarb
- Citrus fruit, fruit seeds and pits
- Fireflies (lightning bugs) and wild-caught insects
- Raw meat and seasoned human food
- Fruit as more than about 10% of the diet
Frequently asked questions
Can blue tongue skinks eat dog food?
Many keepers use a high-quality, meat-based, grain-free dog or cat food as part of the protein. It should not be the only food. Mix it with greens and vegetables, and offer insects and other proteins for variety. Check that meat is the first ingredient and avoid foods with added onion or garlic.
How much fruit can a blue tongue skink have?
Keep fruit to no more than about 10% of the diet. Berries, papaya, mango and figs are good choices. Fruit is high in sugar and low in calcium, so too much can lead to weight gain and poor bone health. Avoid citrus, and never feed seeds or pits.
Do blue tongue skinks eat every day?
Babies up to 3 months eat every day. Juveniles eat 3–4 times a week and adults 2–3 times a week. Feeding adults daily usually leads to obesity. Offer fresh water every day, and remove leftover fresh food after a few hours.
Sources
- ReptiFiles — Blue Tongue Skink Food & Feeding
- Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic — Blue-Tongued Skink Care Guide
- LafeberVet — Basic Information Sheet: Northern Blue-Tongued Skink
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo — Northern Blue-tongued Skink
- LafeberVet — Nutritional Support in Reptiles
Where sources disagree we show the range they share. See our sources and methodology for how every number is checked.