Blue tongue skinks are smart, inquisitive and can be tamed. And what is even more important, your blue tongue skink can bond with you – it will take a while, but the results will amaze you. In this post, you will learn how to handle a blue tongue skink properly, why handling is important, and what to do if a blue tongue skink pees or poops on you while handling.
To handle a blue tongue skink, you will need to approach it slowly, so it is aware of your presence. And then to handle a blue tongue skink, it is important to support its whole body with your hands/arms, or it will be scared.
Is handling a blue tongue skink important?
Even though blue tongue skinks are solitary creatures, they need human interaction for bonding and to satisfy their curiosity. Most blue tongue skinks are very curious and enjoy being outside their tank for various activities once they become tame.
Regular handling sessions will help you bond with the skink and tame it. If you don’t regularly handle your blue tongue, it can become hostile and bored.
Not handling will also cause your blue tongue to stay scared of you. This way, it will never become tame. Blue tongue skinks need interaction to become and stay tame.
Even handling in a small quiet room is not enough – make sure to take it to a busier spot of the house. This way, your blue tongue skink will get used to a normal environment. It will then allow you to take it to places without it stressing and trying to run away.
How long can I handle a blue tongue skink for?
When you just bring your blue tongue skink home, leave it alone and don’t handle for 2-3 weeks. For wild caught animals – 4 weeks. After that, start with 1-3 minute handling sessions, and build your way up to 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes over weeks.
In general, you can handle your blue tongue skink for as long as your blue tongue is comfortable for, but make sure to keep it warm. Often, 20-60 minutes should be enough per handling session.
How to handle your blue tongue skink properly?
When handling a blue tongue skink, make sure to support its whole body. Don’t hold it at the chest region only – you need to support the whole body, including the tail. The best way to do this is to place a blue tongue on your arm so that it lays on you. You can even place it against your body for extra support.
The tail should be supported to at least half of its length. Another way to hold a blue tongue skink is to hold it at the back (near hind legs) and supports its front with your hand. Handling a baby blue tongue is easier, and it might even fit inside of your hands.
Just before you start handling your blue tongue, don’t put your hands from its back or come suddenly – they don’t like that. Instead, let your blue tongue climb on your hand, and make sure it sees you approaching.
Make sure to teach everyone at home to handle a blue tongue skink correctly – otherwise it might end badly. Make sure the person handling a blue tongue is not scared and won’t drop the lizard.
It’s a better idea to let children and those who are unsure to sit down and hand them the skink for handling on a lap. You don’t want your blue tongue skink to fall – this will break its bones and might cause concussion.
If you don’t support your blue tongue skink when handling, it will become extremely uncomfortable. It will wiggle its tail, trying to get in a comfortable pose. Also, it will pee or poop on you.
“Blue tongue skink pees on me when I handle it”
A blue tongue skink is likely to pee or poop on you if you are not holding it correctly or if it’s scared. If a blue tongue has peed or pooped on you, don’t panic or throw the skink.
Stay calm and don’t make any sudden movements, or it will stress out your skink. Then wash you hands and change your clothes. Blue tongue skink’s pee shouldn’t smell at all.
If your blue tongue skink has peed on you, don’t put it back in the tank straight away. Putting the skink in the tank will tell it that it’ll be returned to the cage whenever it pees on you.
If your blue tongue has peed on you few times when handling – this is a stress response. This happens when you are not handling or supporting its body correctly. It also happens a lot with new blue tongue skinks.
Don’t start handling your blue tongue for at least 2 weeks (4 weeks for wild caught) after you get it. After that, start short handling sessions and increase them gradually. 5-10 minute handling at a time is enough for the first few weeks.
Blue tongue skink is hissing and huffing?
If your blue tongue is being defensive, it will hiss, huff and display its open mouth to you. All of this would mean that your blue tongue skink is scared. Have you let your blue tongue acclimatize before starting handling sessions?
Wild blue tongue skinks especially tend to get defensive when you try to handle them in the beginning. It can take up to 2-3 months for wild caught blue tongue skinks to get somewhat comfortable with you.
You can offer treats to your blue tongue skink before handling. It should help build trust and start associating you with positive things. Use soft tip tweezers like this to offer treats, as blue tongue skinks can bite your fingers and knuckles.
You should also wear thick gloves, such as MIG welding gloves like these to prevent bites. Wearing gloves will also boost your confidence, so that you don’t flinch or drop your blue tongue if it hisses or bites you.
Some species such as Tanimbars, tend to be feistier and more aggressive. While you can tame them too, some will stay more defensive that other species.
Thanks for reading this post! Please take time to read the complete blue tongue skink taming and bonding guide as well.