Blue Tongue Skinks can be kept as a pet for a long time as long as a proper nutritive diet is ensured by their parents. Some of the listed dietary items which are loved by bluetongue include Meat, Eggs, Insects, Vegetables, Fruits, Cat & Dog foods, and flowers of various kinds. In this article, we will shed light on the types of plants & flowers that blue tongue skinks eat while in wild as part of their diet and their nutritional and health benefits as well.
Plants can and should be a part of the regular diet for the blue tongue skinks while the feeding of flowers should only be limited as treats. A moderate feeding of plants is recommended in most cases to avoid stomach and digestive issues.
The plants once put in the tank for feeding purposes must be monitored as changes in stool are a sign of unfavorable reaction. We have presented a list of the 5 best plants that are entirely safe for the consumption of blue tongue skinks while they are the captivity.
The Best Plant To Be Consumed By Blue Tongue Skinks
The following list of plants is best to feed the blue tongue skinks when they are at home. However, care must be taken and a constant observation has to be maintained of the poop and stool of the skinks, as it tells the digestive condition. The feeding of plants to your lovely reptile can cause a deficiency of water in some cases. The faeces of the skinks become runny while eating those plants. So you have to make some changes to the plants in the vivarium.
The 5 Best Plants For Blue Tongue Skinks
Aloe Vera
This plant is non-toxic and can be included in the tank of your pet skink without any worry. However, overeating of aloe-Vera can cause digestive problems. So it is better to feed them with this plant in moderation, as excessive feeding can lead to diarrhea.
In addition, if the small quantity of this plant is proved to be unhealthy for your reptile then it is wise to completely remove the plant from the tank and go for a suitable substitute.
Parsley
The proteins are an essential part of the diet of reptiles likewise; blue tongue skinks also require a lot of protein as part of their daily intake. Thus, parsley can help meet the demand for protein for blue tongue skinks. The amount of protein is not so sufficient in parsley but it can still benefit the skinks.
It must be remembered that a larger intake of parsley is occasionally needed for the skinks as the expectant mothers need a lot of protein for their newborn babies.
Rosemary
The widely consumed plant by the skinks is the rosemary as it is a good source of calcium for the blue tongue skinks.
In addition, an appreciable ratio of phosphorus is also present in the rosemary plant which is also vital for bone strength.
Oregano
The skinks love to munch on the oregano plant as it is also an appropriate source of calcium. Blue tongue skinks are omnivores so nature so it’s ok to feed them oregano plants as part of their dietary needs. The growth rate of this works well so as a pet parent you can cultivate this herb in your backyard as well, and it will quickly replenish stocks.
Red Rooster Ornamental Grass
Some plants are needed for your blue tongue skinks to look at something that reminds them of wild habitat. Red rooster ornamental grass is one of the plants. This is found in the natural locale of the skinks, which makes it one of the best addition to the vivarium of blue tongue skinks.
Best Live Plants For Blue Tongue Skinks
There are some unique benefits of placing the live plants inside the skinks’ vivarium. If wisely chosen these plants can help the skinks to feel like their natural wild habitat where they can jump, thrive, and climb with those plants freely. However, the choice of plants should be according to the weight handling capacity of the skinks. The plants should be non-toxic so that they can be safely consumed. Plus, the plants which are live should be organic as well. They must not contain any artificial fertilizers or pesticides. The best live plants that can be a good decoration for the skink vivarium include;
- Opuntia Danicolor Spineless Plant
- Assorted Aloe or Succulents
- Elephant feed mini Jade
Toxic Plants/Foods For Blue Tongue Skinks
Plants like avocado, onion, eggplant, buttercups, potatoes, and tulips are considered at high risk for blue tongue skinks due to their higher levels of toxicity. The feeding of these plants must be avoided.
Flowers That Are Best For Blue Tongue Skinks
Flowers are not the regular diet of blue tongue skinks due to their lacking nutrition values. Therefore the flowers should always be given as a form of a treat. The beard blue tongue skinks are choosy to eat flowers thus only roses and orchids can be fed to them. However, for the general blue tongue skinks species, the following listed flowers can be added as an additive to their regular diet.
- Roses
- Orchids
- Carnations
- Hibiscus
- Peperomia
- Sunflower
- Spider Plants
- Dandelions
- Geraniums
Final Words
Flowers are not a large part of the regular diet of the blue tongue skinks in the wild as they rely more upon flowers, but they can be fed as treats in captivity. So make use of the flowers that we have suggested, not only taste good but also boost the health and immune system of the skinks. The skinks in captivity should be given a variable diet as this will increase the chances of better health like their cousins that are out in the wild.
