This Weekend—Snakes Alive!

This month we’re featuring the blue-tongued skink, sometimes called the blue-tongued lizard. There are eight species in the genus Tiliqua. Their tongues are bright blue, hence the name. The most common of these blue-tongued lizards is the eastern blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides).

Many skinks are found in Australia, but some species are found in Tasmania and New Guinea.

These creatures are viviparous, meaning they give live birth instead of laying eggs. They have between five and fifteen offspring usually every two years. Their lifespan is up to 20 years, and they grow to 20 inches long.

Their tail can be broken off when they are threatened by predators and it will partly regrow, but it will never be as large as it was before.

Blue-tongued Skinks are omnivores, eating chopped vegetables, fruit, greens, crickets, super worms, phoenix worms, and even baby mice.

Their cage should have two temperature zones with the cool end 70–80 degrees and the basking zone 90–100 degrees. A UVA/UVB bulb is best to use for the basking area. Blue-tongued Skinks are usually docile and can make a good unusual pet.

Our Snakes Alive workshop featuring these unique creatures will be held this Saturday and next, August 20 and 27, at 11:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 1:00, 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00 PM. Visit our online Events Calendar for more information about this and other workshops at the Creation Museum.