Baby blue tongue lizards require a balanced diet consisting of minerals and nutrients. As a general overview of their diet, the following ratios are required in their meals. Please note that these differ vastly from those of an adult Blue Tongue Skink.
A significant portion of the baby skinks diet comes from proteins which are 70 percent.
Vegetables and fruits are 30 percent respectively (to the protein percentage) and can be split further into 20% vegetables and 10% fruit for clarification.
It sometimes becomes a headache to feed the new baby blue tongue skink at home as a new pet. In this article, we will try to cover various aspects of the diet of blue tongue skinks, which is beneficial for the reptile owners and skink parents.
Diet of baby blue tongue lizards when in wild
Baby skinks are considered babies until month 12. It is better to feed them more or less the same food they used to eat in the wild. This will make the feeding job easier and help the baby blue tongue lizards grow visibly in days.
The first twelve months are considered the baby phase for the blue tongue skinks. During this timeframe, they require a lot of proteins as a primary part of their diet, followed by a good mix of veggies and fruits.
Diet of baby blue tongue lizards as pets
Once you know what they eat in their natural habitat, the same pattern can be followed alongside some slight variations when the baby lizards are in captivity.
The first option that is widely adopted is feeding them a homemade diet. Secondly, they can be given conventional cat or dog food that your furry animals love to eat. We’ll cover each option with some nutritional analysis.
Blue Tongue Skink Homemade Diet
This option is simple, but it requires a balancing ratio of 70 to 30. The proteins should be double compared with fruits and vegetables. They should be prepared to try and keep their natural diet in the wild when possible.
Protein Content From Insects
Following Insects are some good sources of protein for the Blue Tongue Lizards;
- Dubai cockroaches
- Silkworms
- Locusts
- Wax moth larvae
- Calciworms
- Crickets
- Waxworms
- Fruit beetle grubs
These can be fed daily. Be cautious if you are providing the baby skinks with live insects. Once they have done feeding, immediately remove the uneaten insects from the cage, as they may bite the baby blue tongue skinks and harm them.
Moreover, another excellent protein source are snails. Some insects like waxworms increase the fatty content, so you should only feed them occasionally.
The amount of protein required by baby blue tongue skinks is a higher ratio than adults should be given due to their need to grow. If you feed them the right amount, they will grow to their full size. If the amount of protein is far less than they require, they are likely to end up with a severe bone disease known as “metabolic bone disease” or MBD.
Insects to avoid feeding Blue Tongue Skinks
Be mindful of the following insects, and make sure that you steer clear of them as they are either toxic or dangerous. These include:
- Fireflies
- Spiders
- Ladybugs
- Monarch butterflies and caterpillars
- Ants (some can bite)
- Centipedes
Vegetables, fruits, and greens
As you are feeding them a home-based diet, it should contain proper amounts of vegetables and fruits. Some vegetables for your little skink;
- Milk thistle
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Dandelion
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Broccoli
- Watercress
- Bell Pepper/Capsicum
- Celery
- Parsnips
- Sweet Potato/Yam
- Spring Green
The need for fruits can be fulfilled by taking the following list as a reference;
- Apples
- Bananas
- Pawpaw
- Pears
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
GeGenerally, alkaline fruits with a high, naturally occurring water content for electrolytes. To avoid contamination of its environment, the leftovers of uneaten fruits and vegetables should be taken out of their nest.
Cat and Dog food
Surprisingly, the baby skinks can be given the same food you give to your canine and feline buddies.
However, the lizards should have some tougher food to help strengthen their jaws, so avoid the natural temptation to constantly put soft food in front of them, as they cannot get the jaw exercise they need.
For that reason, dry cat food, which is roughly crushed is best suited. Be aware that cat food contains higher protein levels than dog food, so you should only give it to baby skinks. Too much protein could result in gout, a severe condition that affects the joints.
Finally, select the brands that avoid the foods that do not contain waste meat and bones as their by-products, and go with the brands with real natural ingredients.
The best feeding time and how to feed?
The best time to feed your pet baby skinks is roughly two hours after waking up. They can digest more due to their body having gotten fully up to speed with the daytime rhythm they have.
A feeder dish can be used to put the food in a large bowl. To avoid rotting and odor, the uneaten food should be replaced with new food.
How often to feed a baby to 6-month-old blue tongue skink
Up until the age of 6 months, you should be feeding them 2 to 3 times a day. They should be fed Up until the age of 6 months, you should be feeding them 2 to 3 times a day. They should be fed daily and then skipped one day a week to prevent overfeeding them and encourage their system to process fat reserves. Do provide a small portion of greens to provide some balance.
How often to feed a blue tongue skink over 6 months old
From 6 to 12 months of age, you can introduce vegetables to your skink’s diet in addition to insects and greens. However, it would be best if you reduced feeding to every other day.
The frequency of feeding declines more at the age of 8+ months to only 1 to 2 times in a week.
Feeding a Blue Tongue Skink over the age of 12 months
After your skink reaches a year old, continue feeding him insects, greens, and vegetables but After your skink reaches a year old, continue feeding him insects, greens, and vegetables but reduce the frequency to three times a week and alter the composition of his diet to 50% protein, 40% vegetables, and 10% fruit. The reason is that adult skinks require less protein than babies.
Any of the above scenarios can include fruit, but it shouldn’t account for more than 10% of the diet. It’s also advisable, when feeding fruit, to stick to berries as these are what form part of a skink’s natural diet.
Final thoughts
Baby blue tongue skinks are considered omnivores hence they eat an amalgamation of proteins and greens. As viable options, they can be fed with cat/dog food or with some homemade food. For cat and dog foods always select the good brands, and for the homemade diet, you must consider the dietary ratios properly. Always try your best to keep food sources fresh and natural, food should be free from any artificial ingredients and preservatives.
The diet should be a thriving one for your skinks and skinks are not just surviving on the diet. You can add some supplements as well.
Feeding and nurturing a baby blue is a thoroughly involved process, but it rewards you with a healthy and long living pet that you’ll get years of enjoyment interacting with.
