How to Care for a Blue-Tongued Lizard

Popular as house pets, blue tongue lizards, also known as blue tongue skinks, are large, docile lizards. Their large bodies and slowness of pace make them excellent pets for even children, as they are more sturdy than many other types of lizards. Blue tongue lizards adapt well to human companionship, and have a reputation for having a friendly, curious disposition. These lizards are very low-maintenance animals, needing only minimal upkeep for care, and can live upwards of 20 years.

Things You'll Need

  • Blue tongue lizard
  • Enclosure
  • Lid
  • Heat lamp
  • UV light
  • Substrate
  • Heat rock
  • Hiding box
  • Branches
  • Food dish
  • Water dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide the lizard an appropriate enclosure and lid. Blue tongue lizards are very large and will require an aquarium or other enclosure approximately 55 gallons or larger. The enclosure should be in a horizontal orientation, as blue tongue lizards are land-dwelling and need a great deal of ground space. Metal mesh aquariums lids are made specifically for reptiles, as they provide both security and ventilation. Make sure the lid can be latched or locked, as blue tongue lizards can become curious and escape their cages.

    • 2

      Set up the enclosure for the lizard's comfort. Select a substrate that will keep your lizard comfortable, but will not cause a choking hazard if consumed. Some substrates appropriate for larger lizards include sand and coconut husk fiber. Fill the enclosure with 3 to 5 inches of substrate. Include a hiding box for the lizard to prevent it from becoming stressed. Set up food and water dishes, which should be larger and weighted to keep the lizard from tipping them over. Add in plants or branches as points of interest for the lizard, but do not create any large obstacles. Blue tongue lizards have very small legs and feet and cannot navigate large obstructions.

    • 3

      Set up the heat lamp and rock. The heat lamp should rest on top of the lid for the cage, where it will heat approximately half the cage without being accessible to the lizard. Set the heat or basking rock in the warm half of the enclosure to encourage the lizard to bask.

    • 4

      Set up the UV light. Lizards require access to UV light in order to develop in a healthy manner. These lights are available at pet shops, and should be mounted opposite of the heat lamp. Allow your lizard access to sunlight during the day, and UV light in the evening hours.

    • 5

      Feed your lizard an appropriate diet. Blue tongue lizards eat a variety of foods from snails, hard-boiled eggs and lean meats to soft fruit and vegetables such as grapes, apples and bananas, and greens. Offer an adult blue tongue lizards five bite-sized pieces of food three times per week. Younger animals should be fed daily, with the same five-bite rule. Be careful not to overfeed your lizard.

    • 6

      Provide fresh, clean water. The lizard will need water not only for drinking, but for soaking when it comes time to shed its skin. Make sure the water is always very clean.

    • 7

      Moisturize your lizard's skin during shedding. If your lizard is healthy, it will have little trouble shedding its old skin. When your lizard is ready to shed, you will notice a dull, milky coloring to your lizard's skin and eyes. Do not handle the lizard during this time, as you could damage the new skin. If you notice the lizard having trouble shedding skin in problem areas such as around the toes, soak the areas in mildly warm water for a couple a minutes. Do not attempt to remove any loose skin.

    • 8

      Handle your blue tongue lizard with care. When lifting or carrying the lizard, be careful to always support its front and back legs. Do not approach it too quickly, or you may startle the lizard and get bitten. Take care not to drop or startle your lizard if you are carrying it.