What Do You Need for a Blue Tongue Skink? (Shopping List)

To make things a little easier for you, we’ve crafted a comprehensive list of the supplies you’ll need to keep a blue tongued skink happy and healthy.

Blue Tongue Skinks are often considered great “starter reptiles,” and for good reason. They’re curious, friendly, and simply irresistible. However, don’t let their charm fool you into thinking they’re low-maintenance pets.

Like all pets, they require time, attention, and a bit of an investment. From their unique housing needs to their specific dietary requirements, there’s more to their care than meets the eye.

So, if you’re ready to jump in and commit to ensuring the well-being of your future Blue Tongue Skink, we’re here to guide you.

Below is a list of things you will need to take care of a blue tongued skink.

Blue Tongue Skink Supplies

• Enclosure – Front-opening 48″x24″x24″ enclosure
• Substrate – Reptichip
• Heat Source – Halogen heat bulb
• UVB Light – Zoo Med 2 Pack of T5 HO ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Lamps
• Thermometer/Hygrometer – Zoo Med Thermometer Humidity Gauge
• Hides – Lizard, Snake or Reptile Hide
• Plants – PietyPet Reptile Plants
• Water Dish – Zoo Med Repti Ramp Bowl
• Food Dish – Zoo Med Reptile Rock Food Dish
• Flat Basking Stone – easily available for free
• Infrared Temperature Gun – Etekcity Infrared Thermometer
• Digital Timer – Power strip with programmable digital timer
• Food – Zoo Med 3 Cans of Zoo Menu Blue Tongue Skin
• Supplements – Rep-Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3
• Multivitamins – Herptivite Multivitamin
• Reptile Humidifier – Evergreen Reptile Humidifier/Fogger

1. Enclosure

A blue tongue skink requires a spacious and sturdy enclosure. Blue tongue skinks need at least a 75-gallon enclosure. Many people recommend a 40-gallon breeder but in my opinion, a 40-gallon is simply not enough for them. Because they can grow up to 30 inches. Remember, the bigger the better.

A product that I personally use and recommend is the Zen Habitat Reptile Enclosure. It has front window ventilation to reduce humidity, and the front doors allow easy access for maintenance. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s spacious and designed for reptiles, ensuring that your pet is safe and comfortable.

We recommend:

• Front-opening 48″x24″x24″ enclosure

2. Substrate

Substrate is basically the “flooring” in your skink’s enclosure. It’s vital to choose a substrate that mimics their natural environment to keep your pet comfortable.

The Indonesian and the northern blue tongue skinks require different humidity levels inside their enclosure. For a northern specie, you will need to use something that can hold humidity well. You can use cypress mulch, Raptor bark, eco earth, Spagna moss, or a mix of all these for Indonesian. For a northern, you use something like Aspen because it doesn’t need to hold humidity as much.

We recommend:

• Reptichip
• The BioDude Terra Firma
• Natural Reptile Bedding

3. Heat Source

Blue tongue skinks need warmth for their survival, as it helps them digest their food and regulate their body temperature.

We recommend getting an overhead heat source as opposed to heat pads for blue tongue skinks. They like to bask so an overhead heat source is definitely a good choice. You can buy either a basking bulb or use a ceramic heat emitter.

We recommend:

• Halogen heat bulb

4. UVB Lights

For blue tongue skinks, a UVB light is optional but we always recommend getting one to be on the safe side.

Sunlight plays a crucial role in the health of blue tongue skinks, helping them produce Vitamin D3, which is necessary for calcium absorption. The Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Mini Compact Fluorescent Lamp is a great choice that emits appropriate UVB levels for your skink.

We recommend:

• Zoo Med 2 Pack of T5 HO ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Lamps

5. Thermometer/Hygrometer

Temperature and humidity are critical factors in your skink’s environment. The Indonesian species require a much higher basking temperature than the northern species. The Indonesian skinks need around 100 degrees while the northern do fine at about 90 degrees.

To properly gauge the temperature inside the enclosure you will need a thermometer. A thermometer and hygrometer combo, like the Zoo Med Digital Thermometer and Humidity Gauge, is a must-have to ensure these factors are at optimal levels. It’s easy to use, accurate, and provides constant readings so you can adjust the environment as needed.

We recommend:

• Zoo Med Labs Digital Thermometer Humidity Gauge

6. Hiding Spots

It is also very important to provide a few hiding places for your skink inside the enclosure where they can hide whenever they want. Just like us, blue tongue skinks need their privacy too! That’s where hiding spots come in. These give your skink a sense of security and a place to retreat when they need some quiet time.

I recommend the Exo Terra Reptile Den. They’re natural-looking, blend seamlessly with the enclosure’s environment, and are perfect for providing that much-needed hiding spot.

We recommend:

• Lizard, Snake or Reptile Hide
• Exo Terra Reptile Den

7. Plants

Including some non-toxic live or artificial plants in the enclosure not only enhances its aesthetics but also provides a more natural, enriched environment. Blue tongue skinks are curious animals and they love to climb. That is why you will need to put a few plants inside its enclosure.

I recommend the PietyPet Reptile Plants for reptiles. They’re easy to clean, safe for your skink, and they also add a lovely aesthetic touch to your enclosure.

We recommend:

• PietyPet Reptile Plants
• AQUA KT Reptile Corner Branch Terrarium Plant

8. Water Dish

Staying hydrated is vital for your skink’s health. A water dish provides a constant supply of water, ensuring your pet stays hydrated. Keep a water dish inside the enclosure at all times because blue tongue skinks drink a lot of water.

The Zoo Med Repti Ramp Bowl is my personal choice – it’s easy to clean, looks natural, and is sturdy enough so it doesn’t tip over.

We recommend:

• Zoo Med Repti Ramp Bowl

9. Food Dish

Your blue tongue skink needs a place to enjoy its meals. You will also need a food dish inside your blue tongue skink enclosure so the food doesn’t mix up with the substrate. A shallow dish, such as the Zoo Med Reptile Rock Food Dish, works perfectly. It’s durable, looks natural in the enclosure, and it’s just the right size for your skink’s meals.

We recommend:

• Zoo Med Reptile Rock Food Dish

10. Flat Basking Stone

A basking stone provides a spot for your skink to soak up the heat and regulate its body temperature. You can use a rock or a log. Try searching in your surroundings, I am sure you will find something that will both look better and serve the purpose.

11. Infrared Temperature Gun

An infrared temperature gun, like the Etekcity Infrared Thermometer 774, can be a handy tool to measure the exact temperature of specific spots within the enclosure. It allows you to take quick readings without disturbing your skink, especially useful for checking basking spot temperatures. I find it an essential part of my toolkit!

We recommend:

• Etekcity Infrared Thermometer 774

12. Digital Timer

To replicate a natural environment, a power strip with a programmable digital timer is incredibly useful. The BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector with Mechanical Timer can help automate lighting, heating, and humidity controls. By setting regular day-night cycles, you’ll help your skink maintain its natural behaviors.

We recommend:

• BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector with Mechanical Timer

13. Food

Blue tongue skinks are omnivores, so a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, and proteins is essential. Their diet should consist of 40% protein 50% veggies and 10% fruit.

The Zoo Med 3 Cans of Zoo Menu Blue Tongue Skin is a great supplement to fresh food. This diet offers a nice mix of all the nutrients your skink needs for a healthy life.

We recommend:

• Zoo Med 3 Cans of Zoo Menu Blue Tongue Skin

14. Supplements & Multivitamins

To complement their diet, you’ll need a good supplement. I personally use the Rep-Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3 and Herptivite Multivitamin. These ensure my skinks are getting all the nutrients they need, particularly calcium and Vitamin D3, which are crucial for their bone health.

We recommend:

• Rep-Cal Calcium with Vitamin D3
• Herptivite Multivitamin

15. Reptile Humidifier (for Indonesian Species)

If you’re caring for an Indonesian species, they require a higher humidity level than Australian species. A reptile humidifier like the Evergreen Pet Supplies Reptile Humidifier/Fogger can help maintain appropriate humidity levels, promoting healthy shedding and respiratory health.

We recommend:

• Evergreen Pet Supplies Reptile Humidifier/Fogger