RecoveryLizards
Blue-tongue skink care guide
Tiliqua spp.
A heavy, ground-hugging omnivore that burrows. Floor space and deep substrate matter; height is largely wasted on them.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
Blue-tongue skink enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult blue-tongue skink should live in at least 72" L × 24" W × 24" H; we build toward 96" L × 36" W × 24" H (8 × 3 × 2 ft, roughly 24 sq ft of floor and about a 359-gallon glass equivalent).
8x3ft is the realistic target for an adult.
- Hatchling / baby
- 48" L × 24" W × 18" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 16" H
- Juvenile
- 72" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 48" L × 24" W × 18" H
- Adult
- 96" L × 36" W × 24" H recommended · min 72" L × 24" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
Halogen flood over a flat basking area, on a dimming thermostat.
- Basking / warm surface
- 95–105°F surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 85–90°F ambient
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–80°F ambient
- Night
- 65–75°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: T5 UVB 10–12% for Australian species, 6% for Indonesian (UVI 3–5). Run lights on a 12–14 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target Australian 40–60%; Indonesian 70–80%. Match the locality — Indonesian skinks need consistently damp substrate.
Substrate and depth
Topsoil / coco / sand mix. Depth: 5–6 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Large hide they can wedge into
- Flat basking stone
- Deep diggable substrate
- Shallow water bowl big enough to soak
Build list
- 6–8ft enclosure — Adults are heavy-bodied roamers.
- T5 UVB (strength by locality) + halogen — Diurnal baskers with a high UV requirement.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bulk soil mix (6in depth) — They burrow, and shallow bedding causes stress.
Blue-tongue skink FAQ
How big should an adult Blue-tongue skink enclosure be?
At least 72" L × 24" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 96" L × 36" W × 24" H — about 8 × 3 × 2 ft, or a 359-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Blue-tongue skink need?
Basking or warm surface 95–105°F surface, warm side 85–90°F ambient, cool side 70–80°F ambient, night 65–75°F. Halogen flood over a flat basking area, on a dimming thermostat.
Does a Blue-tongue skink need UVB?
T5 UVB 10–12% for Australian species, 6% for Indonesian (UVI 3–5). Photoperiod: 12–14 hours.
What humidity does a Blue-tongue skink need?
Australian 40–60%; Indonesian 70–80%. Match the locality — Indonesian skinks need consistently damp substrate.
What substrate is best for a Blue-tongue skink?
Topsoil / coco / sand mix, at a depth of 5–6 in.
How big does a Blue-tongue skink enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 48" L × 24" W × 18" H recommended, minimum 36" L × 18" W × 16" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own blue-tongue skink record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.