Indonesian blue-tongued skink
Tiliqua gigas
There is moderate risk associated with keeping this species as a pet, as explained below. Prospective pet owners should research if they can safely keep the animal for its lifetime, including housing, proper food and veterinary care, and be sure it came from a legal source and can be kept as a pet in their jurisdiction.
© Shutterstock
Assessment results
Moderate risk
Conservation | Moderate risk
This animal is likely to be threatened by extinction in the wild, and/or it is subject to international trade controls due to demand in the pet trade. Please check that the animal you want comes from a reputable seller or rescue center that follows best practices when they source their animals. Learn more about wildlife conservation and the pet trade.
Legality | Low risk
This animal is not currently protected by any national laws or import restrictions. Exotic pet ownership, however, is regulated at the state, county, or city level, so check your jurisdiction to see if you can own it.
Human and public health | Moderate risk
It is likely that this animal is a potential threat to human or public health, either due to potential zoonotic diseases or due to physical attributes that can harm humans. Learn more about animal-related illness and injuries.
Invasiveness | Low risk
This species would not likely impact native biodiversity or habitats. However, never release a pet into the wild for any reason.
Animal welfare | Moderate risk
Care, diet, and housing needs of this species are either insufficiently known or difficult, making it hard to ensure it has a good quality of life for its lifetime. Learn more about the challenges with exotic pet welfare.
⚠️ Important considerations
- Indonesian blue-tongued skinks are highly demanded for pet trade. They are not widely captive bred, so most individuals in trade are likely wild caught, which has an unknown impact on the population trends. Please note that there are many species of blue-tongued skinks, and they are not often distinguished in the pet trade.
- Most reptiles carry salmonella in their intestinal tract and may not be suitable for young children or immuno-compromised individuals. Always practice good hygiene and handwashing around skinks.
- Indonesian blue-tongue skink housing and diet needs require additional knowledge and effort. They need a tall glass 20-gallon vivarium with plenty of branches and vines for climbing, places to hide and rest during the day, and good ventilation. Their enclosure needs a gradient of temperatures (75-85ºF on the cool end and 100-105ºF on the warm end, and not dropping below 70 ºF at night) in their environment to be able to regulate their own body temperature, proper humidity (60-80%), and proper amounts of UVA and UVB light from a lamp on a normal light-dark cycle, to ensure good health. They are prone to metabolic bone disease without UV light exposure and enough calcium and vitamin D3. The substrate used in their environment is important and should not be something they could ingest.
- As with all pet reptiles, ensure there is access to a veterinarian that specializes in reptiles and consult them about proper habitat setup, diet, and care. Find a reptile vet near you.
Basic information
Taxonomy:
Squamata, Scincidae
Lifespan:
15-20 years
Weight:
~1.5 lbs. (0.68 kg)
Size:
18-24 in. (45-61 cm)
Native range and habitat:
Tropical forests of New Guinea
Diet:
Insects, mixed leafy greens, and flowers. Vitamin and mineral supplementation is important in captivity
Activity and behavior:
- Solitary animals that should be housed alone and are most active during the day
© WWF-Japan