Folkvang Exotics

04/18/2025

I love the red colors Eris has 🥰

Merauke blue tongue skink

04/16/2025

Penny, our first Captive Bred Merauke blue tongue skink.

This wonderfully orange girl is from the original Sue Bee line, produced by Blue's Brothers Blue Tongue Skinks. Her father, Slater, was produced by Sue Bee herself. Her grandmother is the one and only Xyla. Her mother is a beautiful import named Marty.

We are incredibly grateful to have a skink produced by Mick, who is also a direct offspring from a genuine Sue Bee production. I couldn't have ever asked for a skink with such a meaningful lineage.

We have some wonderful future outcrossing plans, and we are incredibly grateful to be able to continue the Sue Bee Line! 🥰

04/11/2025

Hekate, one of our Merauke blue tongues, has been showing signs that she's nearing labor! 🤞 for a safe delivery, soon-to-be mama! 🤰

Here's a snapshot of her during feeding. Pic curtesy of Fergy Bekk 🥰

04/10/2025

Here is our 2025 Peters Banded Skink (Scincopus fasciatus spp) care guide!🥳🦎

When they have trust in you and are established in their environment, they can be incredibly curious. We have found they actually enjoy exploring once they feel comfortable!

If their environment is too empty, that can also contribute to anorexia.

Please let us know if anyone has any questions!

What skink species do you think we should cover next? 🤔 Let us know below! 👇

04/07/2025

Rodan, our male Weber's Sailfin Dragon, showing his displeasure that we turned the heat and lights on, which woke him up. 🐉

He is quite dark in the mornings to help him absorb that heat and warm up. Otherwise, he is a beautiful green and yellow with some teal accents.

We can't wait to pair him with the high yellow and green female borrowed from Dalton Bilecki at Total Fauna! Fingers crossed for successful USCBB Webers over the next few years between us!

04/05/2025

New Research Suggests Canned Food May Not Be Ideal for Blue Tongue Skinks

Research was done on the biodigestibility of insect-based diets and commercial diets in Tiliqua scincoides intermedia by Amy Bitter DVM. She used high calcium dubia, low calcium dubia, and canned cat food. The cat food was a recommendation from the breeder they purchased the skinks from for this research.

This is a TL;DR of the information I received from Amy Bitter DVM and Thomas Boyer DVM, DABVP (Cofounder of ARAV and the creator of the Journal of Herpetological Medicine) is attached.

New Research Suggests Canned Food May Not Be Ideal for Blue Tongue Skinks

Research was done on the biodigestibility of insect-based diets and commercial diets in Tiliqua scincoides intermedia by Amy Bitter DVM. She used high calcium dubia, low calcium dubia, and canned cat food. The cat food was a recommendation from the breeder they purchased the skinks from for this research.

This is a TL;DR of the information I received from Amy Bitter DVM and Thomas Boyer DVM, DABVP (Cofounder of ARAV and the creator of the Journal of Herpetological Medicine) is attached.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xLhOREwiPDzebxqOmoXFHTWGKAVwybNT/view?usp=sharing

04/04/2025

Hephaestus, one of our male Merauke blue tongues, after eating his meal, shows us how he utilizes one of his burrows we created!

In the wild, blue tongue skinks are known for burying themselves in the substrate or utilizing the burrows of other animals. To mimic those burrows, we utilize logs, cork bark, and other reptile-safe wood to build a sturdy, natural hide. We then cover it with dirt and pat it down around it to ensure it stays sturdy and in place. We provide at least two exit points for these burrows, with a personal aim for three or four. To top it off, we place above-ground hides and multiple fake plants for them to hide in and climb around, which overall provides a further sense of security.

Keep in mind the native ranges of your skinks! Indonesian blue tongues prefer a large amount of clutter and places to hide. Australian blue tongues also love clutter and places to hide, but may have more open basking spaces or platforms around the enclosure.

Blue tongue skinks can be surprisingly active animals in the wild. They have chemical sensors in their tongues that collect odor particles in the air. They then bring this to the Jacobson's organ on the roof of their mouth to process the smell. We want those tongues flicking, as this means they are thinking and processing their environment!

We recommend switching up the enclosure every couple of months, but make sure you use the same hides so the enclosure still smells like your skink's territory. We also recommend adding new objects or replacing an object with something new every now and then, as this provides them something new to investigate.

If your skink is hiding excessively, it may need more clutter. If your skink is excessively wall surfing or pacing, then it may need more clutter, more enrichment, or even a larger space to provide even more things to explore and investigate.
KEEP IN MIND: there are also other reasons that can cause this behavior, such as too low or too high temperatures, stress from being in a new home, or even hormones. Overall, focus on the behavior of YOUR skink!

04/01/2025

Tongues out Tuesday with Apollo! 👅

We hope everyone has a blue-tiful month! 🦎😆

03/31/2025

Hekate, one of our gravid Merauke blue tongues this season🤰🫶

03/24/2025

Studies on dogs concerning grain-free dog foods proven to be harmful suggests they may not be as safe for our reptiles are previously thought

Grain-Free dog food has been a common recommendation for blue tongue skinks for years.

WE DO HAVE PENDING SPECIES-SPECIFIC STUDIES :)

Until these studies get published, it would be logical to apply the information we do have to current practices. If that's ever changed, which I'm actively monitoring, then it will definitely be addressed again. Then I can formally admit my mistake or add more relevant data to support my stance.

People need to understand this "opinion" is based on information available and recommendations from some of the most reputable exotic vet med sources. It's the most we can do without those specific studies, which is just waiting to be released. It's both logical and illogical to apply them without those specific studies but at the same time it's reckless to disregard the information.

**People actually actively avoid using catnip with reptiles because of data related to cats and birds despite no reports of effects on reptiles. It's the same principles**

Sources:

Dr Thomas BoyerDVM, DABVP, R&A, Cofounder of the ARAV (Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians)) AND creator of the Journal of Herpetological Medicine

1. United States Food and Drug Administration. FDA provides third status report on investigation into potential connection between certain diets and cases of canine heart disease; June 27, 2019. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-provides-third-status-report-investigation-potential-connection-between-certain-diets-and-cases.
2. Walker AL, DeFrancesco TC, Bonagura JD, Keene BW, Meurs KM, Tou SP, Kurtz K, Aona B, Barron L, McManamey A, Robertson J, Adin DB. Association of diet with clinical outcomes in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. J Vet Cardiol. 2022 Apr;40:99-109. doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2021.02.001. Epub 2021 Feb 18. PMID: 33741312.
3. Bakke, A.M., Wood, J., Salt, C. et al. Responses in randomised groups of healthy, adult Labrador retrievers fed grain-free diets with high legume inclusion for 30 days display commonalities with dogs with suspected dilated cardiomyopathy. BMC Vet Res 18, 157 (2022). [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03264-x](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03264-x)
4. [https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy-february](https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy-february)

03/22/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended our webinar today on our evidence-based blue tongue skink nutrition!

For those that couldn't attend, that is okay! Here is the recording on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/live/qsjVZVtedgI?si=Fo_ICq0_0Fljfp8G

Here is the slideshow from the webinar, including all of our sources ♡

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kST1RtaaWDQKZbnmYiqqICKPngu05hcGrmhzwLrO9dQ/edit?usp=drivesdk

We will be posting high quality versions of the food lists early next week :)

Thanks for joining our exclusive live broadcast. Feel free to share your questions and interact with other participants in the chat.

03/20/2025

We have some incredible input and evidence based information that we can't wait to share with the world!

Can't wait to see everyone there!

03/11/2025

Join us for our first free Webinar with HappyDragons as we explore the natural diet of Blue Tongue Skinks and how to apply it to their care in captivity!

📅 **Date**: Saturday, March 22
🕕 **Time**: 6PM EST | 3PM PST
📌** RSVP Link**: https://Folkvang.eventbrite.com

The webinar will cover:
-What we know about their wild diet
-Aspects of their anatomy
-Food options for a balanced, naturalistic diet
-Common diet-related health issues and how to prevent them
-Expert insights, including quotes from a former ARAV president

Stick around for a **live Q&A** at the end to get your questions answered!

Hope to see you there!

03/05/2025

More Gizmo appreciation! ✨

We are absolutely in love with her high yellow overall. Even her belly is peachy rather than an orange or pink. Allowing her to be yellow overall 🫶

We can't wait to continue working with this line and produce more yellow Merauke!

03/04/2025

Want some expert guidance on your reptile care? Join the HappyDragons Discord and fill out the Care Improvement Goals form in the announcements channel to get a FREE custom care plan tailored to your reptile! 🔗 https://discord.gg/happydragons 🔗

03/02/2025

Andromeda has successfully lost 70 grams on her current weight loss journey! We are averaging about 1% of her initial weight lost each month. 🥳

We and our vet have tried a few different methods over the last 3 years, but our current method seems to be quite successful and healthy! ✨

Once we are confident with this method and it's safety and get confirmation from our veterinarian, we will be posting an informative video on weight management.

02/26/2025

Gizmo - high yellow holdback from 2023. She is our only holdback at this time. 🦎

Strongly leaning female at this time. Absolutely in love with her!

Parents are Peach and Apollo