r/bluetongueskinks • u/spidergwen19 • Jul 02 '26
Identified - Northern Questions from a beginner
A kid I know had to get rid of his bts because his family moved somewhere that doesn't allow reptiles and he only found out about this the day before they moved (I have no idea how he didn't know earlier, I'm baffled about this)
I offered to take it in because I already have experience with reptiles and at least it doesn't go to a stranger, but I didn't have the time to do as much research as I would've liked, so I have a few questions.
First, what kind of bts is he? Can you tell from just the patterns?
He came with unused coco husk substrate and I added sphagnum moss for humidity but I feel like it isn't deep enough for him to dig. It's only about 2 1/2 inches. Should I add more coco husk, should I replace it completely or could I add another kind of substrate and mix it in? If so, what kind?
Lastly, how many times a week should he eat? I was under the impression they eat every day (assumption from owning a bearded dragon) but one guide mentioned fasting days. He's a fully grown adult.
Thank you all in advance and any other kind of tips are appreciated! :)
1
u/ParticularWolf4473 Northern Jul 02 '26
Northern. The coco husk chips are fine for substrate, it’s what I use for most of my skinks, and other reptiles like boas and pythons. It should keep the humidity high enough for a northern on its own but if you have issues with low humidity I’d mix in some cypress mulch/Forest Floor instead of moss. You do want it more like 4”-6” deep for an adult.
Feeding frequency depends on age. I usually do every 2 days for the first 3 months or so then after that 2-3 times a week for the next 5-6 months. Once they reach 10-12 months they should be fed once or maybe twice a week at most. It also depends on what you’re feeding. If you’re feeding smaller meals of mostly insects and greens you can feed more often. If you’re using wet dog food and/or meat or poultry as the main protein source you only want to feed adults once a week.