Gravid Bluetongue? Opinion? (photos)

[absinthe_616]

Hey all.

I've noticed that there are a couple of threads like my one on here, but I still would appreciate someone with a little more knowledge than me to maybe help me out?

My friend's father recently passed on, and he had a collection of blue tongue skinks. She inherited them and wasn't keen on them at all. I don't know how many he had, but she gave me one as a present (and because I have a licence so I could legally keep him/her). I called him/her Jashin.

Now she has no knowledge on their history, sex, age, anything. This little fella is 15 inches long from nose to tail. Since I got Jashin, s/he eats alot, is basking all the time under the uv light, and also I noticed scratches on her/his head.

I think maybe it is a girl and she might be gravid? I heard they mate around september so it seems the right time.

These may help. I took some photos of the overall weight, belly, legs in relation to body, and groin area. Even if someone could tell me how old Jashin is id appreciate it, thanks!!
(sorry about how many photos there are posted here >_<)
--please ignore the mess in the cage, I took photos before I cleaned >_<

 

[JasonL]

From those pics it does appear to be a female though thats just from appearence and it's never 100% untill you see birth / mating ect... It could very well be gravid or it could be fat... if it was kept in a group with males I would say gravid... the keys to working out if a large skink is actually gravid or not is by the change of behaviour but as you just got it you will have to just wait and see if it births, with at least in Sydney is around the start of Jan, though in a warmer climate would probably happen earlier...
BTW, thats a cracking loooking BT.!

 

[absinthe_616]

thanks jason

I have no idea about how she was kept so yeah.... maybe ill get a couple of little surprises very soon, that would be so awesome!

 

[absinthe_616]

thanks jason

I have no idea about how she was kept so yeah.... maybe ill get a couple of little surprises very soon, that would be so awesome!

if not, ill just have to monitor feeds and try to get her slimmed down.... which ive heard is very hard to do for reptiles :shock: wish me luck XD

 

[JasonL]

I wouldn't try slimming her down untill you are 100% sure she isn't gravid, ie; next year...

 

[absinthe_616]

yeah i read that they can give birth as late as march, so i'll keep her on her regular food (gonna buy some calcium suppliments for her food just in case there is any bubs) until then.

also, one of her feet is missing almost all her toes, so i assume she was in with other lizards and has battle scars? or maybe just the result of unattended sheds, when i got her, there was ALOT of old shed on her tail and some on her head still. But she shed two days ago and after a little luxurious spa in the bath i got all her scales off and she's looking good as new

 

[absinthe_616]

Update:

re-measured her:

she's 15 and a half inches (40cms long and I just weighed her, (as i only have a human weigher so i cant really tell, but i think she's about one kilo. also i measured her belly and its 6 inches around, 15 cms.

could anyone maybe tell me her approximate age?

 

[absinthe_616]

bumpity bump

could anyone else let me know what they think?

 

[JasonL]

Size doesn't indicate age, you can grow a BT up to full size in 12 months, or 5 years... depends on heating ect... in captivity on average it would take about 3 years to reach max size... but it well could be many years older than that.

 

[absinthe_616]

hmm ok. thanks again jason

whats the average life span of a bluey anyway?