blue tongued skink a good choice?

Question
I am a college student and have been missing having some sort of critter around to care for. I've started seriously considering the idea of getting some sort of reptilian companion, and after doing some research, a blue tongued skink has seemed the best option so far.

However, I am hesitant that "the best option" may not be good enough. As much as I would love to have a skink, or any other pet, I have a grasp of the realities of potential difficulties in doing so. So what I'm asking for is a reality check. Could I care for a skink?

My main draw to the BTS is their hardiness and diet. I could easily acquire fresh produce/meats/(catfood?) to feed it regularly. I already have a 30-ish gallon tank with sturdy lid and clamps, and hood light from my past leopard gecko years.

My main concerns are veterinary care and transportation, and this is where I need a reality check. On a college campus, without a car (at least for my next year), I obviously do not have ready access to a vet. If I was desperate, I could probably make a connection with a professor in my dept (Wildlife conservation), but that's a big if. Also, I live 6 hours away from the university I attend, and take a bus or train home and back for breaks- I would need to somehow carry the skink with me each of these times, in varying temperatures.

Do you think this is a feasable idea? Do you have any suggestions for making it work/ other options for a reptile college companion?

Answer
Hi Melissa,

I can certainly empathize with your situation. I remember that acquiring a critter of some sort being a big priority of mine when I left home for school many years ago. I ended up getting a rat, wonderful pets but short-lived.

I am a big fan of BTS's and think that is a very wise choice for your situation. They are certainly easier to feed without having to rely on a pet store. They also generally tolerate handling very well and have very good interactive "pet quality". BT's do grow to a fairly large size and are not climbers so enclosure floor space is more important then height. You didn't mention the dimensions of your 30 ish gallon tank but a floor space of around 36 X 18 inches would be required for an adult. Fortunately, BT's tend to be very good candidates for exercise time outside their cage as well if your enclosure is on the small side.

Kudos to you for thinking ahead to any required veterinary care but I wouldn't let that inconvenience be the deciding factor.You will find a way if the need arises. Check out the site Herp Vet connection for a vet near you.  I keep one of those collapsible, insulated, camping/picnic containers on hand with a pillow case, aerated plastic shoe box and a microwaveable heat gel pack in the closet for just such emergencies. Those chemical hand warmers can also be used but keep in mind that they consume oxygen as part of the heating process. Just keeping the travel container at room temperature is sufficient rather then trying to actually "heat it". I encountered far more tragedies from over-heated (and oxygen deprived) travel containers then from under-heated ones when I worked in retail and received reptile shipments.

As you already know, Bt's are quite hardy. Your best defense against needing veterinary care in the first place is to make sure that you acquire a captive bred and born animal. There are still alot of Indonesian imports on the market with the usual problem of intestinal parasites that you definitely want to avoid. I would steer clear of the chain pet stores and try to source out a reputable breeder who specializes in BT's.

As for going home, the advantage of reptile pets is their slower metabolism and the fact that sub-adults and adults can easily go several days without food and not suffer any hardship.  Lights and heating etc can easily be put on an automatic timer, which are cheap. I'm sure you will find someone who is staying on campus who won't mind dropping in some pre-prepared catfood and/or fruit while you are gone. Otherwise, skinks are pretty layed back and the same soft-sided cooler and box arrangement should work fine for your travels home. They may fuss for a bit at first but the pillow case and darkness tends to make them quite calm so they really don't require a lot of space when traveling.  One of those Rubbermaid storage bins can be used as a temporary housing once you are home.
I don't drive either and you wouldn't believe the types of critters that I have taken on public transport, neither would the people sitting next to me if they would have known!


This is my favourite site for Blue tongue info, you have probably already seen it.

http://www.bluetongueskinks.net/care.htm

The one other reptile that I might suggest is a Uromastyx. They have a similar personality and primarily veggie diet although a few insects should be provided. In your situation a small number of large mealworms would be quite easy to keep on hand for either. Large mealworms are quiet, easy to look after, long-lived and not smelly or escape prone.

This is a great site for info on Uro's.

http://www.deerfernfarms.com/Uromastyx_Care.htm