Tanimbar blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea)

Short answers

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

120×60×50 cm.

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

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 38 °C, at night 21–24 °C.

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

UVB: Essential (UVB 6–10 %).

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

Life expectancy: 20–25 years.

Tanimbar 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

21–24 °C

Basking spot

38 °C

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 6–10 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×50 cm

Substrate

Bark mulch or coco humus, hides

Feeding

Food

A mixed diet: vegetables, fruit, insects

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

35–45 cm

Life expectancy

20–25 years

Origin

The Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Single keeping. The sources describe blue-tongued skinks as solitary ground dwellers with no group behaviour; group keeping is not documented. For breeding bring the animals together briefly in a controlled way and separate them again afterwards. A pair or group would risk disputes over hides and basking spots, which the sources however do not describe in detail.

Notes

Smaller and usually more nervous than the Australian forms, with a strikingly pale head. Wild-caught animals are often parasitised.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Tanimbar blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea) in the marketplace →

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
• Merauke blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua gigas evanescens) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Tanimbar blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×50 cm), substrate (Bark mulch or coco humus, 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.