Truly Cold Blooded: Year-round, Outdoor Keeping of Eastern Blue-Tongued Skinks (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides) in The UK

Abstract

Blue-tongued skinks (genus Tiliqua) have always been a global ‘staple’ of the herpetological scene, due in no small part totheir size, docile nature, and relative ease of care. Here in the UK, the two captive-bred species most commonly encountered are Tiliqua gigas (Schneider, 1801) (various subspecies and localities) and Tiliqua scincoides (White, 1790) (primarily the northern subspecies, Tiliqua scincoides intermedia Mitchell, 1955). My interest in blue-tongued skinks was cemented during a brief stint of living in Gippsland, Australia, where my garden was frequented by eastern blue-tongued skinks (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides (White, 1790)). Upon returning to the UK, I was adamant to keep some of my own — but in a slightly different way than the commonly practiced norm.