Health
Brumation, parasites, MBD, mites, obesity, respiratory infection, scale rot, and stuck shed.
In the wild, animals that act sick or injured are the animals that get eaten, so reptiles have become very good at disguising when they’re feeling ill. It is your responsibility as a reptile owner to prevent illness, and be able to tell when your skink gets sick or injured. This is a brief guide to preventing, recognizing, and treating some of the most common illnesses and conditions seen in captive blue tongue skinks.
Some things you can do to keep tabs on your blue tongue skink’s health:
- Weigh them weekly – sudden weight loss often indicates illness.
- Keep a weekly record of weight, feeding habits, behavior, shedding, etc.
- Prepare a reptile first-aid kit so you won’t be left scrambling if your skink becomes sick or injured
If you’re looking for a reptile veterinarian near you, I recommend checking out ReptiFiles’ Reptile Vet Directory first.
If you need help with sexing your blue tongue skink (a notoriously difficult task with most skink species), Phenome Genetics now offers genetic testing!
Disclaimer: I am not a reptile veterinarian nor a reptile health expert. The contents of these pages are to be used as guidelines, not professional medical advice. If you have an emergency, call an experienced reptile veterinarian immediately.