If you love reptile pets, you might have stumbled on this beautiful blue-tongue Skink, which forms a great pet and company. While researching this friendly reptile pet, a question may arise: How much are Blue-Tongue Skinks? This question is asked mainly on our forum, and therefore, through this article, we will tell you how much a blue-tongue skink would cost.
Several factors are involved in the price of Blue-tongue skinks, including age, breed, look, and morphology. The average price of the blue-tongue Skink ranges from $150 to $5000+. To know more about the overall cost of the blue-tongue Skink and the factors affecting the cost, continue to read this article.
Below is a cost list of the Blue-tongue skinks based on their species.
Cost Based on Variety
Please remember that the rarest the species you want to opt for, the more expensive the cost of the Blue-Tongue Skink would be! The most commonly found species of this reptile is the Northern Blue-tongue Skink, which can be found easily in the price range of $150-$250. On the contrary, rare reptile species would cost more than $5000 in some cases, showing that the Skink type greatly affects its price. Below is a short cost list of blue tongue skinks to give you an overall idea of the cost of this reptile.
| Blue-Tongue Skink | Cost | Cost Type |
| Indonesian Blue Tongue-skink cost | Price range $150-$400 | Common species Cost |
| Australian Blue tongue skinks | price range $150-$975 | Common species cost |
| Centralian & Shinglebacks blue tongues skink | $5000 | Maintenance Cost |
| Food and health care cost | $40/month | Maintenance cost |
Some of the Indonesian and Australian blue tongue skinks morphs are given below.
Indonesian Blue-tongue skinks
Scientifically known as Tiliqua Gigas, these Indonesian blue-tongue skinks are found on Indonesian lands. This species is found in the wild, and exportation allowance has made this available worldwide.
This species is not very expensive and can be found in the pet store for adoption. The price of this species ranges from $150-$400. Some morphs of the Indonesian Blue-tongue skinks are listed below.
1. Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
If you are a beginner and have no experience with reptile pets, this must be the best option for you. This species is readily available, stays calmer, and is less costly. The average cost of this species is around $200-$350.
2. Tanimbar Blue Tongue Skink
It is one of the most beautiful species of blue-tongue skinks and grows a maximum of 18 inches till adulthood. The price of this species is also affordable, ranging around $150.
3. Kei Island Blue-Tongue Skink
This type of blue-tongue Skinks are also exported from Indonesia, and the price of this species is up to $350.
4. Classic Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink
Classic is always better! These skinks get up to 50cm in full-length capacity, with a price range up to $200.
5. Irian Jaya Blue-tongue Skink
This species is not found abundantly and is listed in the name of the rarest species of this reptile. The cost of this species ranges between $250-$400.
6. Halmahera Blue Tongue Skink
These blue tongue skinks also come under the list of small-sized species and are the third smallest species after classic Indonesian and pygmy. These skins are long and lean, with a price range between $200-369 depending on the age of this reptile.
Australian Blue-Tongue Skink cost
The Australian Blue-tongue skinks are pretty expensive compared to the Indonesian subspecies of the skinks because of strict import rules in the US. These Skinks come from hot lands of Australia and hence require high temperatures, with an atmospheric temperature of 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit and a basking spot of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. As there are import prohibitions, this species is only found captive-bred and expensive.
1. Northern Blue-Tongue skink
The cost of Northern blue-tongue Skink ranges from $150-$649 from babies to adults. Other rare species of northern blue-tongue Skink, which are highly colored or rare morphs, such as Sunrise caramel northern, and T+ Albino, range from $649-$700.
2. Sunrise Camel Northern
This species of Bluetongue skink is entirely white, with light patterns on the body. It is a rare species that combines 25% caramel and 75% sunrise morphs of northern blue tongue skinks. Its features list the sunrise caramel blue-tongue skinks, one of the highly-priced reptiles with a price range of $850-$975
3. Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
This species of Blue-tongue skinks is as large as the northern blue-tongue skinks. Their size can reach up to 2 feet in adulthood. An adult eastern blue tongue skink ranges from $400.
4. Western Blue-Tongue Skink
This breed is also rare and not readily available in the market, with a price range of $500.
5. Adelaide Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink
The Pygmy blue tongue skink is the smallest species of this reptile and is not readily available in the market. The price of this species is $100 and can differ based on age.
After the breed and cost of the Skink based on the variety, the price of a blue tongue skink depends on several other factors such as age, location of import, sex, and health costs. Some of these factors are enlisted below.
Do Blue Tongue Skinks Cost The Same All Over America?
Living at different locations in America dramatically affects the price of the Blue Tongue Skinks. These reptiles are not locally available in North America, so the residents of this locality need to get an exported breed which is quite expensive.
Furthermore, the state breeders of your locality would also cost a high amount for different species of the Blue-Tongue skinks based on other species.
Export Location
The origin of the Blue-Tongue Skink is from Australia, Indonesia, and other areas closer to these. People residing in the vicinity of these states or anywhere closer have a chance of getting these at cheap rates.
These reptiles are exported to the other parts of the world from these areas and cost much higher than their regular prices because of shipping and export charges.
Bringing Home a New Blue Tongue Skink: One-Time Costs
The highest you might pay for owning a blue-tongue skink is when you bring it home or purchase it. The price may vary depending on the species you are buying, the location of purchase, mode of purchase, and the age of the Skink. The skinks can be found in pet shops, breeders, or adopted. It’s scarce to see one of these reptiles free.
Free
While looking for a blue-tongue skink, you must be ready to pay a handsome amount to get a good one from the market, as no one gives it for free. Reptile pet lovers know the exotic needs of these reptiles well, and it’s very rare for them to give it out to someone for rehoming.
However, in some rare cases, the reptile owners give out their blue-tongue skinks for free on sites such as eBay and Facebook. This method is not recommended yet; you can take your chance by getting your hands on a free reptile.
Adoption
The Blue-Tongue Skinks could also be found for adoption in your locality, as some of the reptile pet owners, who for some reason are unable to take care of the Skink, give it out for adoption.
In this case, you don’t have to run for a cage set up and can get one along with the reptile from the previous owners. The price of the Skink depends on the type or species you are adopting, but on average, the cost of the Skink for adoption ranges from $150-$500.
Breeder
The breeder is the most reliable source of getting a healthy blue-tongue skink. Depending on the species or type of the Skink, the price can get exorbitant, ranging up to $5000. However, the breeders provide the exact estimate depending on the type you want to get.
Initial Setup and Supplies
Getting a Blue-tongue skink from a reliable source is not enough to have a reptile pet. You need to ensure the well-being of the Skink by setting up an environment that is a close imitation of nature, where the Skink has grown.
Several supplies need to be purchased with the blue tongue skink, including the cage, UVB lights, Basking spot, hiding spot, which may add a significant number of expenses to your budget. It is one of the reasons why people give away their Blue-Tongue reptiles for adoption.
The price range of the initial setup and essentials required for the Blue-tongue Skink ranges from $500-$700. So, it’s recommended not to purchase a skink if you cannot afford the initial setup expenses.
List of Blue Tongue Skinks Care Supplies and Costs
A list of blue-skink care supplies along with their cost is given below to give you an idea of the expenses that you may have to afford once you purchase a Blue-Tongue Skink.
| Tank | $100-$500 |
| Halogen Heat Bulb | $15-20 |
| Dome Lamp | $30 |
| Basking Stone | $15 |
| Infrared Temperature Gun | $25 |
| Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer | $15-25 |
| UVB Bulb and Fixture | $50-75 |
| Reptile Humidifiers | $50 |
| Substrate | $30 |
| Moss | $15 |
| Food Dish | $5 |
| Large Water Dish | $20 |
| Tank Decoration | $30 |
| 2 Caves | $30 |
| Supplements | $35 |
| Food | $30 |
How Much Does a Blue Tongue Skink Set-up Cost?
An essential part of owning a blue-tongue skink is setting up a cage for the Skink in your home to replicate the natural environment where the Skink came from.
For this, the owners need to set up a proper cage with suitable temperature, humidity, and other components. The cost of setting up the cage of the blue-skink ranges from $500-$700. The enclosure must be arranged before you buy a skink to have a seamless movement of the reptile without disturbing him.
Following are the must-haves for setting up a Blue-Tongue Skink’s cage in your home.
Vivarium
Getting a robust and durable vivarium is essential for bringing a blue-tongue skink home. The size of the vivarium must be enough for the ideal movement of the reptile for daily activities.
The ideal size of an adult blue-tongue skink is 120 gallons to keep your reptile happy.
Furthermore, the vivarium must have glass walls to give you a clear view of the reptile inside the vivarium and a mesh top to allow airflow. The price of the vivarium varies depending on the size and other features, such as quality of glass, locking system, length, and much more, yet on an average scale, the price may range from $250-$350.
Temperature Gradient and Light
Being the natives of the hot lands of Australia, these cold-blooded reptiles require high temperatures for survival in captivity. Therefore, an essential part of setting up a cage for the blue-tongue Skink is to manage the temperature changes for this reptile.
Therefore, a temperature gradient is required in the cage of the Blue-tongue Skink, allowing the reptile to warm up and cool down as needed. For this reason, a basking area is installed in the enclosures, under the UVB lights, where the reptile can lay down and get the required warmth.
In addition to this, too much warmth can also be a threat to the reptile, for which there should be a hiding spot where the reptile can hide to take some rest from the heat and cool down for some time.
Heating lamps and UVB lights are installed to maintain the temperature gradient in the cage. The temperature gradient must be 75-88 degrees Fahrenheit, with a basking area of 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heating lamps inside the cage maintain this temperature gradient. The UVB lights are installed to provide the required amount of Vitamin D3 to the reptile, which further helps in the absorption of calcium in the body of the blue-tongue Skink. The overall heating and lighting setup inside the cage may cost around $100, including heating lamps, bulbs, and bulb fixtures.
Humidity
Humidity is another essential to check and set up in the cage of the Blue-tongue Skink before you bring it home. These reptiles come from highly humid areas, for which the enclosures must be set accordingly.
The ideal humidity inside the cage must be around 35%-45%, which can be obtained by the right amount of light, heat, and water bowl inside the enclosure of the Skink. You can check and maintain the ideal humidity level inside the enclosure by using the digital hygrometer and thermometer.
A recommended approach for setting up an ideal environment in the cage is by installing one thermometer and hygrometer on either side of the cage to keep an eye on the temperature and humidity changes and adjust both environmental factors according to the requirements of the Blue-Tongue Skink.
The overall cost of buying a thermometer and hygrometer for your reptile’s cage is around $5-$20 for one end of the cage.
Costs For Blue Tongue Skink Substrates
This substrate is also known as the flooring or bedding of the enclosure, which your reptile is living in. The Blue-tongue skinks are love to burrow 5-6 inches deep in the soft ground, for which you must provide a similar flooring to the lizards for their natural activity of burrowing. The substrate must be safe, comfortable, and absorbing to ensure the waste of the Skink is absorbed. Furthermore, ensure to buy a substrate that is not in small pieces, as it may cause contraction and digestion complications upon ingestion.
Some suitable Blue-tongue skink’s enclosure options are cypress mulch, newspaper, and Aspen wood shavings, with a cost ranging from $10-$30. it would be best to keep in mind that the substrate is required to change every couple of weeks while cleaning the tank, which means you may spend a similar amount getting the substrate after every cleaning.
Substrates to avoid
You must avoid some substrates as a matter of caution because they do not provide enough absorption or fulfill the humidity needs. Substrates such as sand, pine/cedar wood products, refresh rodent bedding can be ineffective and cause serious health issues in case of ingestions.
How Much Does a Blue Tongue Skink Cost Per Month?
The story or expenses do not end after you have bought the Blue-Tongue Skink and have set up a cage for the reptile. You need to spend some amount on the maintenance and well-being of this reptile lizard every month. Compared to the initial owning and cage setup charges, the charges of the reptile’s care are not that high.
If your blue-skink is not having any health issues, most of the amount you’ll be spending would be on the lizard’s food, which is quite affordable.
Health Care
Even if your pet is completely healthy, you must take it to the vet once a month for a regular checkup. It will ensure the health and well-being of the reptile and will reduce the chances of serious illness in the long run. An overall expense of regular health care would be around 0-20$ per month for a healthy blue-tongue skink.
Food
To keep your Blue-tongue Skink healthy, you need to feed it well. A balanced diet that covers the ideal nutrition needs would be suitable for the Skink. You may set the ratio of protein and veggies depending on the age of your blue-tongue lizard. Since these reptiles are omnivores, a balanced proportion of insects and veggies would keep him fit as a fiddle. The diet of the blue tongue skink may cost you up to $50 per month.
Vitamins And Calcium Powder Supplements
An essential part of Blue skinks’ diet is the vitamin and calcium powder supplement. In the wild, this reptile eats everything and has access to unlimited natural resources that can fulfill the needs of all the nutrients. However, in captivity, the responsibility lies on the shoulders of the owner. It is impossible to provide all the nutrients to this reptile through a diet. For this reason, you need to add calcium and nutrients supplements to the Skink diet to keep it fit and healthy.
Grooming
Grooming doesn’t cost you a bit on the pocket but may cost some of your time. Being low maintenance and friendly, this reptile doesn’t take a lot of effort for grooming. A well-settled environment will allow the Skink to groom itself without any trouble.
Medications and Vet Visit
Now medication and vet visits are not very frequent, yet, you must add them to the list of the overall expense of the Blue-tongue lizard. If your pet lizard falls sick, you may have to visit the vet, who can cost you up to $100-$150. Furthermore, if your Skink is not healthy, you might need to spend on the medicines and supplements of the Blue-tongue lizard.
However, this is not a monthly expense, and if your reptile is healthy, you don’t have to worry about this at all.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is optional yet essential because these pets are exotic, rare to find, hard to bring up, so in case of a severe illness or unfortunate death. You may ask for the insurance plans of the reptile from the place where you are buying them. The price of your pet’s insurance depends on the plan that seems suitable to you.
Environment Maintenance
Setting up the initial environment is not the end of it; you must clean and maintain the reptile’s environment every month to ensure the pet’s optimal health. To keep the blue-tongue lizard healthy and happy, you need to keep the environment inside the enclosure clean and tidy. You may require a paper towel for cleaning and even change the substrate at times. The overall
maintenance of the environment requires around 0-50$ per month.
Costs For Other Accessories
Entertaining a Blue-Tongue is one of the easiest tasks, which is why these reptiles are considered great pets. Like other reptiles, blue-tongue skinks enjoy their time basking in the sun and roaming around finding prey for themselves.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Blue Tongue Skinks
If your blue tongue skink is healthy, then most of your reptile’s expenses would be only of what you are feeding your pet. The overall expenses of the reptile would be up to 100$ per month, which may reach up to $300, including vet bills, insurance costs, and medications.
Do Adult Blue Tongue Skinks Cost More Than Babies?
Yes, the adult blue tongue skinks cost more than babies. As mentioned above, the age of the blue-tongue Skink greatly affects the price of this reptile because the breeders and pet owners have spent quite a long time taking care of the babies, feeding them, and tending to all their needs. For these reasons, the adults are sold at higher prices to compensate for their spending over time.
Owning a Blue Tongue Skinks On a Budget
If you are on a tight monthly budget and planning to purchase a Blue-Tongue Skink, it can cost you a great deal. However, once you have the initial setup installed and have purchased a Blue-Tongue Skink of your choice, the maintenance of the pet would not be a problem. The overall expenses of a Blue-Tongue skink are even less than a dog.
Saving Money on Blue Tongue Skinks Care
It is quite a tricky question how can you save money on Blue-Tongue Skink care. The most suggested approach for saving money is shopping with coupons, which is a very beneficial tip to shop for these reptiles. You can easily find these coupons in the grocery stores to help save money.
Where Can You Buy a Blue Tongue Skink?
If you are a reptile pet enthusiast, you might know the right door to knock for finding a blue-tongue skink. However, as these are trendy reptile pets, it is sometimes difficult to get them.
The blue-tongue Skink can be found online, in stores, and in exotic pet shops. Following is a detail of different platforms where you can find these reptiles.
Online
With digitization, all businesses have moved to an online platform, including reptile pet shops. One of the most convenient methods of finding the most suitable blue-tongue Skink and exploring different species is online. With several stores, and people offering Blue-tongue skinks sales of other species, you can easily find one that suits you best. However, one of the flaws that come with online shopping of exotic pets is that you have to pay exorbitant prices to ship the skinks.
Furthermore, ensuring the reliability of the online pet stores could also be hard sometimes and may have you lose a lot of money. Therefore, before making a purchase, the best thing is to ensure the reliability of the online pet shop to create a safe purchase.
Breeders
While searching for pet shops to get the ideal reptile pet for yourself, you may encounter the breeders. Nothing is better than buying your blue-tongue Skink from a breeder, as the breeders take good care of the well-being of these reptiles. It means the reptile that you might get would be healthy, happy, and well kept. So, the most recommended approach is to visit the breeders in your locality to get the Blue-Tongue Skink of your choice.
In-Store
The blue-tongue skinks could also be spotted in physical pet shops which sell exotic reptiles and pets. However, at times the pet shop owner is entirely unaware of the needs of these reptiles, which eventually results in unhealthy and depressed blue-tongue skinks.
So, when purchasing one from the pet stores, the best thing is to get the reptile checked by a vet to ensure its optimal health, otherwise, in case of a sick skink, the lifespan might be very short, and the Skink can die a short time after the purchase.
In the end, buying a blue tongue skink can be quite challenging, especially when looking for exotic species. The price of blue-tongue skinks varies depending on age, gender, morph, and export location. All these factors greatly impact the cost of the Blue-Tongue Lizard. Furthermore, the cost is not only limited to the reptile, the initial cost may include the whole enclosure set up for the reptile.
The Blue-Tongue Skink after the purchase is not as costly as it seems to be. With a healthy blue-tongue skink, the monthly maintenance and well-being of the reptile are even less than a dog, which means it’s quite affordable.
Finally, the process of finding the best Blue-Tongue skink under your price range and setting up the enclosure for the first time can be quite challenging and tiresome. However, with patience and effective research you can find the right one under your price range.
