The Friendly Bluetongue Lizards

According to 'A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia', there are six species of bluetongue and shingleback lizards in the genus Tiliqua in Australia.

Common Blue-tongue -- Tiliqua scincoides
Found in northern, eastern and southern Australia. Adults are about 45-60 cm long.

Blotched Blue-tongue -- Tiliqua nigrolutea
Found in Victoria, Tasmania and parts of NSW. Adults grow to about 35-45 cm.

Western Blue-tongue -- Tiliqua occipitalis
Found in southern parts of Western Australia, in South Australia and in western NSW. May grow longer than 45 cm.

Centralian Blue-tongue -- Tiliqua multifasciata
Found in north-western and northern-central parts of Australia. Grows to about 40-45 cm.

Pigmy Blue-tongue -- Tiliqua adelaidensis
Known only from a few areas around Adelaide in South Australia and had been thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1992. Adults less than 17.5 cm long.

Shingleback -- Tiliqua rugosa
Found in southern parts of Western and South Australia, in Victoria, NSW and southern Queensland. Adults grow to about 35-40 cm.

Remember that you need to buy a blue tongue from a pet shop or private breeder to keep one as a pet in Australia. Ask your state government department about your local reptile keeping laws and whether you need to have a licence to keep a blue tongue in your state.

Blue tongue lizards can live for 20 to 30 years so be prepared for a long term pet!

Blue tongues are one of the most friendly types of lizards. They learn to recognise their owner and many become very tame and can be carried around rather like a dog or cat. They love to explore their surroundings and their inquisitive ways can be very entertaining.

When baby blue tongues are born they look like miniature adults -- about 10 to 15 cm long. They do not hatch from eggs as many other reptiles do. There may be as many as 25 babies in a litter of blue tongues.

Blue tongues are omnivores -- that is they eat both plant and animal foods. Suitable foods include raw red meat, snails, crickets, minced vegetables (peas, beans, carrot) and fruits (rock melon, strawberry, kiwifruit, grapes, banana). Take care to avoid giving your blue tongue snails that may have come into contact with snail bait.

Foods high in calcium should be favoured as these lizards need a good supply of calcium for bone growth. However, your blue tongue will have his own ideas on his diet and often develops distinct dietary preferences. Calcium supplements are a good idea for growing blue tongues.

Blue tongues also need to have access to a bowl of fresh drinking water at all times.

Blue tongue lizards need a reasonable amount of space to live in. Two adults would need an enclosure with a floor space of about 1m x 60cm and a height of 60cm.

You need to set up a heat gradient in the box so that they can bask under a heat lamp at one end and cool off at the other end of their living area. Blue tongues also benefit from UV lighting or regular basking in direct sunlight.

It is a very good idea to join a local reptile or herpetology club so that you can meet other people who keep reptiles and learn how to care for your blue tongue lizard.