Buyer question
Is an Irian Jaya blue-tongue skink good for beginners?
It can be: our Animal Library rates the Irian Jaya blue-tongue skink 3 out of 5 for beginners (better as a second lizard).
Source: the Irian Jaya blue-tongue skink page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Irian Jaya blue-tongue skink in the Animal Library
The detail
Irian Jaya blue-tongue skinks come from Indonesian New Guinea and are large, variable lizards with light bands and a bright blue tongue. Many in the trade are imported, and their exact locality and ancestry are not always clear.
- Best fit
- Keepers ready for a larger lizard
- Handling
- 3 out of 5 (Can be defensive at first)
- Setup complexity
- 4 out of 5 (Humidity, UVB, heat)
- Feeding ease
- 4 out of 5 (Varied omnivore diet)
What to weigh
Imported Irian Jayas often arrive stressed and carrying parasites, and some are defensive at first. A captive-bred, screened animal costs more upfront and saves trouble later.