Merauke blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua gigas evanescens)

Short answers

Merauke blue-tongued skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

180×80×80 cm for a single animal, more is better (Swiss recommendation: 7× snout–vent length in length, 4× in width, 3× in height).

Merauke blue-tongued skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 38 °C, at night 22–24 °C.

Merauke blue-tongued skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 6–10 %).

Merauke blue-tongued skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years on average, over 30 years with good care.

Merauke blue-tongued skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

22–24 °C

Basking spot

38 °C

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 6–10 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

180×80×80 cm for a single animal, more is better (Swiss recommendation: 7× snout–vent length in length, 4× in width, 3× in height)

Substrate

Damp coco humus or bark mulch, hides

Feeding

Food

Mixed diet: roughly half plant-based (leafy greens, vegetables, little fruit), half animal-based (insects, snails, high-quality wet food, boiled egg)

Feeding interval

adults 1–2×/week, subadults 3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

55–75 cm total length (the longest of all blue-tongued skink forms; tail makes up about half, snout–vent length 30–35 cm)

Life expectancy

15–20 years on average, over 30 years with good care

Origin

Southern New Guinea (Merauke)

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them strictly singly. Territorial: males in particular fight in earnest and injure their heads and limbs in the process. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

The longest blue-tongue form, with a long tail. It needs more humidity than the Australian relatives.

Do you keep this species?

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Merauke blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua gigas evanescens) currently offered

• Blauzungenskink evanescens – Bad Kreuznach · 199 €

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Related species

• Centralian blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua multifasciata) – Intermediate
• Common blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides) – Beginner
• Halmahera blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua gigas gigas) – Intermediate
• Indonesian blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua gigas) – Beginner to intermediate
• Irian Jaya blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua sp. „Irian Jaya") – Intermediate
• Kei Island blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua gigas keyensis) – Intermediate
• Shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa) – Intermediate
• Northern blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Merauke blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua gigas evanescens) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (180×80×80 cm for a single animal, more is better (Swiss recommendation: 7× snout–vent length in length, 4× in width, 3× in height)), substrate (Damp coco humus or bark mulch, hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.