Feeding Blue-Tongued Skinks the Right Way

Blue-tongued skinks are true omnivores — in the wild they eat insects, snails, carrion, fruit and vegetation in roughly equal measure. Live feeders should make up a meaningful but not exclusive part of the diet.

The Best Feeders

Dubia roaches are an excellent protein source — nutritionally dense without the fat load of some alternatives. Superworms and mealworms work well for adults in rotation, sized to the skink's jaw width.

Feeding by Age

  • Juveniles: Insects daily, making up roughly half of each meal alongside greens and protein.
  • Adults: Insects 2–3 times a week, with the rest of the diet split between vegetables, fruit and a lean protein source.

Calcium & Gut-Loading

Dust insects with calcium at most feedings, calcium with D3 weekly if kept without UVB. See our gut-loading guide for details on what our feeders are raised on.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Blue tongues are enthusiastic, sometimes indiscriminate eaters — keep portions in check, since this species is prone to obesity in captivity more than most other skinks.