Blue Tongue Skink Temperature & Humidity Guide
Last updated: · Reviewed against sources listed below
A northern blue tongue skink needs a basking spot of about 92–105°F, a cool side of 70–85°F, nights of about 65–75°F and humidity of 30–50%. Indonesian blue tongues need higher humidity, about 60–80%. Enter your readings in the checker above to see what needs adjusting.
Your readings
| Reading | Yours | Target | Status |
|---|
This is our temperature and humidity checker, preset for blue tongue skinks.
Blue Tongue Skink temperature and humidity chart
| Zone | Target range | How to measure |
|---|---|---|
| Basking spot | 92–105°F33–41°C | Infrared thermometer on the surface |
| Cool side | 70–85°F21–29°C | Digital probe at floor level |
| Night low | 65–75°F18–24°C | Digital probe, after lights out |
| Humidity | 30–50% | Digital hygrometer at animal level |
Temperature gradient
Blue tongues bask to warm up, then move to the cooler end or burrow. After a meal they bask more to digest. Give them a strong gradient across a long enclosure.
| Zone | Target |
|---|---|
| Basking spot (surface) | 92–105°F33–41°C |
| Cool side | 70–85°F21–29°C |
| Night | 65–75°F18–24°C |
| Humidity (northern) | 30–50% |
| Humidity (Indonesian) | 60–80% |
Veterinary guides give a basking spot of about 90–100°F, while keeper guides aim for a hotter surface of 100–105°F. Our range covers both; watch your skink, and if it gapes or avoids the basking spot, lower the temperature.
Humidity: northern vs Indonesian
Humidity depends on where your skink’s type comes from. Northern and other Australian blue tongues do well at about 30–50%, which most homes provide. Indonesian types come from humid tropical forests and need about 60–80%.
- Too dry: stuck shed, especially on the toes and tail tip. Add a humid hide with damp moss, or dampen the lower layer of substrate.
- Too wet: constantly damp substrate with poor airflow can cause skin infections and breathing problems, particularly in Australian types.
Use a digital hygrometer at skink level and check it at different times of day.
How to measure
Measure the basking surface with an infrared thermometer, and use digital probe thermometers at the warm and cool ends. A digital hygrometer in the middle of the enclosure shows humidity. Stick-on dial gauges are often several degrees off and should not be relied on.
UVB and day length
Blue tongues are active during the day and bask in open sun. Use a linear T5 high-output UVB tube over about half the enclosure, aiming for a UV index of about 3–4 at the basking spot, with shade elsewhere. Keep lights on for about 12 hours a day, and replace UVB tubes as the maker recommends.
Winter slowdown
Many blue tongues eat less and sleep more in late fall and winter, even when temperatures stay the same. Some keepers let adults brumate, a winter rest similar to hibernation, but this should only be done with healthy adults after a vet check. Keep offering food and weigh your skink regularly.
See a reptile vet if your skink breathes with its mouth open, wheezes, has bubbles or mucus at the nose, has stuck shed on the toes for more than a few days, or is losing weight.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature does a blue tongue skink need?
Aim for a basking surface of about 92–105°F, a cool side of 70–85°F and nights of about 65–75°F. Measure the basking surface with an infrared thermometer and run the bulb on a thermostat or dimmer. Our checker above shows what to change if a reading is off.
What humidity does a blue tongue skink need?
Northern and other Australian blue tongues need about 30–50% humidity, while Indonesian types need about 60–80%. Check which type you have. Too little humidity causes stuck shed; constantly wet substrate can cause skin and breathing problems.
Sources
- LafeberVet — Basic Information Sheet: Northern Blue-Tongued Skink
- Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic — Blue-Tongued Skink Care Guide
- ReptiFiles — Blue Tongue Skink Temperatures, UVB & Humidity
- Baines F. et al. (2016). How much UV-B does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 4(1): 42–63
Where sources disagree we show the range they share. See our sources and methodology for how every number is checked.