Blue's Brothers Blue Tongue Skinks

10/15/2024

This little one is getting brighter by the day. And he could be yours! He is the last skink I have available for 2024.

09/16/2024

My final skink available for 2024. Shipping will soon be off the table as the weather cools overnight. Very friendly and curious little guy who will make a phenomenal pet or future breeder.

07/29/2024

TW: stillborn animal

I've been impatiently waiting all summer for this guy's impending arrival. The day finally came where my female Monkey Tail rushed me, mouth gaping as soon as the enclosure was opened. At that moment I knew but was devastated to find this one deceased moments later. I believe it was stillborn but mother was still faithfully guarding the body on the cage floor. Hopefully next year brings better luck. With the crackdown on exportation of the species, captive breeding becomes all the more important.

07/21/2024

Last 3 left for the year. They are all spectacularly colored and will eat right from my hand at the young age of just 3 months.

07/19/2024

This little guy is still available to those looking. An excellent example of the Merauke species who'd make a great breeder in the future or just an excellent pet with a friendly disposition.

06/18/2024

If you do not already, consider supporting USARK! Last year they successfully fought federal efforts to prevent the sales and movement of all exotic animals over state lines. I'm hopeful that they will be successful in this fight as well.

Read more at www.usark.org/24doe

In 2022, the Department of Energy (“Department”) passed a regulation that banned certain incandescent light bulbs. Light bulbs are deemed inefficient if they do not emit a certain amount of lumens per watt. Specifically, the rule prohibits the sale of “general service lamps” (GSLs) that do not meet a minimum efficacy standard of 45 lumens per watt (lm/W). This was meant to transition from less efficient bulbs to more efficient lighting, like LED bulbs.

Reptile (and bird) lighting is a specialty item and is not used for general-purpose lighting in homes and businesses. However, certain bulbs were reviewed solely on how many lumens they produced per watt. H**p keepers know that halogen and basking bulbs are not used in household lamps for general lighting.

At least one lighting manufacturer has been sharing valuable data with the Department, and changes to this ban are being sought. The Department shows promising signs of being reasonable regarding the concerns expressed with its openness to communications from lighting manufacturers and experts such as veterinarians, zookeepers, and professional h**petologists. The Department’s willingness to engage with stakeholders is welcome and appreciated. A review has been requested, and we remain hopeful that reason will prevail.

While most specialty lighting for reptiles and amphibians has not been included in this ban, many commonly used bulbs have been, including the list below. Bulbs similar to those below, no matter the company, fall under this ban and will be pulled from the market if the Department does not change its standing.

An effort to reverse this decision seems to be moving positively with the Department. Currently, we are encouraging legitimate experts and concerned h**p keepers to contact the Department. Experts, please send any data supporting the need for the types of bulbs below for animal welfare and sound husbandry. The Department needs to be provided with information.

Remember to be civil and professional! Acting otherwise will only hurt our cause. You can provide science and input about your animal welfare concerns to this email address: [email protected]

List of bulbs currently subject to the ban by the Department (some, but possibly not all):

basking spot lamps under 125W
daylight bulbs under 125W
halogen lamps under 125W
UVB compact fluorescent lamps
UVA compact fluorescent lamps

Below is a basic sample message.

Please edit it and feel free to expand. Be polite! You can easily edit to include other concerns, such as if you own birds.
Please do not just copy and paste. A bunch of the exact same message is not as effective as personalized emails.

email address: [email protected]

Department of Energy,

As a responsible reptile owner, I am very troubled after learning that specialty light bulbs that I use to keep my pets healthy will be banned. The ban on certain basking, heat, and UVA/UVB bulbs will create extreme animal welfare issues. Pet reptiles and birds, animals in zoos and conservation programs, and many others will suffer. Please listen to the experts who have contacted you regarding this issue. These bulbs are not used for general lighting and are needed to keep most reptiles healthy. Several million American homes have pet reptiles.

I support and appreciate the Department’s work to improve our energy efficiency and help the environment. These bulbs for reptiles should not be included in the ban or considered GSLs, as they are used only for specialized applications and not for everyday lighting applications. I ask that you do what is right for the animals and for good American pet owners by exempting these specialty light bulbs. Have a good day.

YOUR NAME

(If you are a professional in an animal-related field, please include your job or professional title. This includes veterinarians, biologists, zookeepers, researchers, professors/teachers, h**petologists, conservationists, etc.)

06/09/2024

Family of 4, one squeezed into the back.

05/27/2024

Happy first birthday to Popeye and to the rest of those from his litter!

05/26/2024

It was at this exact moment I knew I made a mistake 🤣

05/19/2024

Maybe my new favorite shirt which I'll surely be wearing at all the expos this summer! Arriving in conjunction with the the third baby Corucia I'm expecting in as many years.

05/18/2024

Congrats Jeremy. May 17th is a great day to be born! I'd know 😅. Happy to see you having such a productive year with these guys!

04/28/2024

Home Sweet Home!!! Huge thank you to Brittany Brennan for spending time every day feeding and socializing each individual skink in my absence. It's a big responsibility and she nailed it. All 10 are eating well, thriving, and friendly when held! Some of you's won't be disappointed and you can thank her for that.

04/27/2024

Loving seeing the native reptiles down here in southern Georgia. I've seen a ton of these Eastern Fence Lizards, which I know are common but not seen by myself in Philadelphia. But if I never have to experience another sand gnat (or no-see-um) in my life, it'll be a great thing.

04/15/2024

Will be my home away from home in Glynco, GA for the next several weeks. Please be patient, I won't be able to respond to inquiries or messages as expeditiously as I'd like. No worries, the skinks and babies are in good hands until I'm home!

04/14/2024

These babies will be made available by the end of May. This is the only litter of skinks I'm expecting this year and these guys should brighten up really nicely after a few sheds to match the red and oranges exhibited from the parents pictured. If you are interested, message me today to secure one with a deposit.

04/13/2024

They've all eaten and having a good bask!

04/12/2024

BABIES!!!!

03/23/2024

I've had many reach out to me in regards to my enclosures and how I build them so here is a photo guide of the process. Hope it can inspire somebody. Disclaimer, I'm no professional but these enclosures have proven durable for me and are weight bearing and stackable. I forgot to add this in the photo descriptions but for the final step, you must apply 4-5 coats of WATER-based polyurethane to the inside. I like to give 2 coats on the outside as well. And use either an aquarium or kitchen caulk to seal up any seams or gaps along the inside bottom panel of the enclosure

I use 3x2 wooden studs which can be purchased in 8 ft length. And these are the exact plywood panels I use.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/1-4-in-Lauan-Plywood-Application-as-2-x-4/1000068895?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lum-_-ggl-_-LIA_LUM_211_Siding-And-Specialty-Panels-_-1000068895-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds