![]() ![]() Housing Blue Tailed SkinksĪlthough the American blue tailed skink and the Pacific blue tailed skink live in different parts of the world, the lizards’ climates and living conditions are similar. Prevent fighting and biting by housing one male with three or four females, rather than multiple males. Male blue tailed skinks are known for displaying aggressive behavior toward one another. In the wild, the skink spends most of its time hunting for food and hiding from predators.īlue tailed skinks are a sociable species, so you can house several skinks in the same enclosure. The lizards prefer not to be handled, so they’re best as a display-only species.Īs a diurnal species, the blue tailed skink is most active during the day, and sleeps during the night. Captive-bred blue tailed skinks are docile and calm, while wild-caught skinks are more likely to be skittish and aggressive. The blue tailed skink is an active lizard that enjoys climbing and basking in its habitat. In the wild, American blue tailed skinks live up to 6 years, while Pacific blue tailed skinks live for about 7 years. In captivity, both skink species live up to 10 years. Female skinks are about half an inch smaller than males. ![]() American blue tailed skinks are slightly bigger, reaching 8.5 inches long in the wild. The Pacific blue tailed skink is the smaller blue tailed skink species, growing as long as 6 inches. There are several color morphs of blue tailed skinks, including a variation with a bright green tail, and a dark-colored variation. The American blue tailed skink’s bright blue tail changes color to grayish brown when the lizard becomes sexually mature. Pacific blue tailed skinks have separate horizontal stripes across the entire length of their bodies, while American blue tailed skinks have horizontal stripes that merge together at the back of their heads. The lizards both have dark gray to brown or black bodies with light-colored stripes that run from snout to tail. Skinks can intentionally lose and regrow their tails, so if a predator catches them by the tail, they can escape and survive. The brightly colored tail is designed to attract a predator’s attention. The American blue tailed skink and the Pacific blue tailed skink have similar appearances and are both named for their bright blue tails. The lizards enjoy basking on logs and piles of brush. ![]() Blue tailed skinks are semi-arboreal and climb trees to hide from predators. The lizards are found in trees, on logs, under leaves, on the ground, and in brush piles. The Pacific blue tailed skink is endemic to Australia’s Christmas Island and is now found in areas across Indonesia, New Guinea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands.īoth skink species live in areas of thick forest and rocky terrain. The American blue tailed skink is found across the Eastern United States, from Missouri to Florida, and parts of South-Eastern Canada. Choosing and Buying a Blue Tailed Skink Blue Tailed Skink Overview Common name Blue tailed skink, blue tail skink, five-lined skink Scientific name Emoia caeruleocauda (Pacific blue tailed skink), Plestiodon fasciatus (American blue tailed skink) Natural habitat Woodland and urban areas in Eastern United States, Australia, New Guinea, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, and Indonesia Adult size 6–8.5 inches Average lifespan 6–10 years Diet Omnivore Housing Minimum 20 gallons per skink, 72–82☏ air temperature, 60%–80% humidity Experience Beginner–intermediate Origin.
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