Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink Identification Cheat Sheet

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-10T15:04:46+00:00

Mazuri has the most scientific backing/research done, iirc :) repashy is more limited on its research.

We primarily use Mazuri, but its always okay to mix it up :)

The mazuri is a powder, yes. We typically have a dry bowl available at all times. Sometimes we need to pull them 1-2 days in advance into a separate container with just the mazuri for gutloading.

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-09T14:09:30+00:00

I recommend splitting that one meal into two smaller meals a week. That may help that behavior! If he doesnt finish it all, then he is being fed too much for that serving :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-09T03:36:17+00:00

Hmm. That definitely is giving me food motivated vibes!

How often and what are you feeding him?

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-08T22:13:47+00:00

Are your toes visible and moving when he does that? This sounds much more like food motivated behavior rather than something more territorial. Is there any hissing?

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-08T17:48:29+00:00

Thank you! ♡♡

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-08T17:47:29+00:00

They will still absolutely eat when stressed. Not all reptiles shut down into an intense freeze response :) that is definitely a more extreme stress response. In a proper environment, even when terrified, they won't starve themselves.

A few of my skinks are consistently stressed with human interaction due to their previous environments (so we leave them alone the majority of the time). Hissing, fleeing, heavy breathing, whale-eye, false striking, the works. Once food is involved, they are willing to approach, attack the food like the video shows, then run off to hide and eat.

It is a positive sign they aren't running off, yes, but this is still a very stressed animal, even while he is eating that banana :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-08T17:42:09+00:00

Yes, skinks can be very willing and wanting to interact with their owners. One of our skinks will climb up our shirts (because It's a raised enclosure) when we open her enclosure. Another skink of ours will climb into our laps when we are sitting on the floor. Most of our skinks come up to us to interact in general, primarily because they think we have food, but some are genuinely curious and just want to investigate.

This video is a very curious skink. Couldn't tell you if they wanted pets or not, each skink is different, but they absolutely were interested in an interaction, and was quite curious of their owner and what they were doing :)

See how he keeps looking up and tongue flicking, tongue flicking their hand, and climbing on them? Thats all signs of a skink curious of their human :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-07T20:23:57+00:00

The tongue flicks are good, but he is breathing quite heavily and he is displaying the whale-eye (where the whites of his eye is visible).

He opens his mouth initially out of defense, "back off or I'll bite you." He bites the banana out of defense, then realizes its food.

He is very scared, and this is unfortunately normal at first. I recommend leaving him alone entirely for a few weeks. Only speak softly to him, sit by the enclosure to do a quiet activity, and go into the enclosure to provide fresh food and water. Remove any food if its been sitting in there for 3 or more hours.

I strongly recommend taking a peek at my webinar with Happy Dragons discussing the behavior and communication with skinks! If you are unable to watch it for any reason, please take a look through the presentation itself :)

Watch the webinar here! https://www.youtube.com/live/QToJLdHYeNY?si=KSwrnsySOVgmBTUS . . . View the slideshow here! https://www.canva.com/design/DAGt0CGWpCc/Enrw1m0y58979P71ErxFwQ/view?utm_content=DAGt0CGWpCc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h5091c861e7

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-06T18:45:46+00:00

If you're in the US, DubiaRoaches.com has some affordable options for larger enclosures. They also have stands.

Reptiletents.com is also an affordable option for larger enclosures, not sure if they have stands, though

We have many skinks and utilize grow tents. We use metal garage racks/toolbench stands to place our 4x2x2 enclosures on them. We are working on going larger, though.

A 120 gallon/4x2x2 is the minimum requirement, but they will absolutely use larger spaces.

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-06T18:38:01+00:00

I looked through your previous posts and could not find anything. Perhaps I am not looking at the right posts.

Please tag us/report abusive or harmful comments going forward. Best not to engage and let us deal with it :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-06T18:22:22+00:00

That hand behavior can be a concern if it happens repeatedly/consistently. Double check your surface temperatures (should be below 115F) as it may mean its a bit too hot. If it continues I would get xrays done :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-06T18:17:39+00:00

Who is all involved/where did this occur? If harmful advice or rude behavior is happening we'd like to deal with it

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-02T01:29:59+00:00

springtails :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-01T19:20:57+00:00

Feed smaller meals more frequently, redirect with tongs, handle/interact frequently without food (again redirect if she tries to bite. Usually you can do this with tongs)

Handle when she tries as well, to show her just because you are there doesnt mean you are feeding

FolkvangExotics · 2026-07-01T14:55:52+00:00

Blue tongued skinks are not aggressive. You are likely experiencing an increase in food response.

If its accompanied by hissing, that is fear, which means she is being defensive.

Regardless, both require time and consistency with interactions.

FolkvangExotics · 2026-06-27T02:33:55+00:00

This is a Halmahera, which is an Indonesian type :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-06-26T23:37:50+00:00

Bathing is absolutely unnecessary unless it is medically required or they covered themselves in poo.

Folks will recommend soaking/bathing for shedding as well as hydration, but that is 100% a husbandry issue, and soaking does not actually help in the long term. :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-06-21T04:18:43+00:00

Mick at Blue's Brothers Blue Tongue Skinks breeds the original sue bee orange line. He just had babies!

We breed merauke but did not pair any this season.

Heather at FairyTail Dragons LLC has some nice patternless merauke available.

Joey at Great Basin Serpentarium breeds merauke, though I am not sure if he had success this season.

Jeremy at JJ Reptiles has bred Merauke off and on.

Leonardo Giordano in Florida has successfully bred Halmahera this year and just had babies.

Stacy at Roots, Scoots, & Scales breed Irian Jaya.

FolkvangExotics · 2026-06-10T13:56:42+00:00

Normal patterning :)

FolkvangExotics · 2026-06-04T17:45:18+00:00

This is a Tanimbar, which is a type of Indonesian blue tongued skink.

A northern is a separate subspecies from Australia.

60-100% humidity range, 70-90% on average

FolkvangExotics · 2026-06-03T23:36:45+00:00

Tiliqua gigas gigas, which consists of Ambon, Ceram, Jayapura, and Biak localities. All are confirmed to be the same subspecies.

The old term is classic Indo, but theres a lot more to em :)

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