Your bluetongue must be kept in an environment with a suitable temperature range, humidity and daylength. Disease problems in bluetongues are commonly associated with poor maintenance of these, particularly temperature.
Housing
- Bluetongues have a preferred body temperature (PBT) of 28-32ºC and their enclosure should provide a temperature range of 2-3ºC either side of this PBT.
These temperatures are best achieved through the use of 40-75 watt blue light globes or infrared heatlamps in, or over, one end of the enclosure. Provision of logs or rocks placed under and around the heat source allow your lizard to sit at varying distances from it and a hollow log or upturned flower pot provides a cool retreat.
- A source of ultraviolet light, either through exposure to unfiltered, natural sunlight, or an artificial UV light will help prevent Vitamin D deficiency, and skin and bone disorders. Remember to replace the light regularly (every 3-6 months) as it will lose strength, even though the light still works.
- The enclosure (ideally made of wood and perspex) should be large enough for your bluetongue to move around freely and a leaf litter floor covering, replaced regularly, will encourage it to burrow .
- Thermometers and humidity gauges are essential.
- Humidity should be maintained between 35-75% to provide as natural as possible an environment for your bluetongue — this can be achieved by placing a shallow dish of water in the enclosure.
Feeding
- Feed your bluetongue every two days in warm weather, in colder weather every three days. Remember — if the enclosure temperature is not right your bluetongue may refuse to eat.
- Your bluetongue should be offered a variety of foods such as insects eg mealworms, snails and slugs, worms, clover, dandelion, mulberry leaves, milk thistle, watercress, chopped fruits and vegetables (such as banana, apple, pawpaw, pear, green beans, carrots, alfafa sprouts, parsley and tomato). Small amounts of moistened dog kibble and canned dog food may be given. Reptile supplements are also available.
- Ensure foods such as insects and snails have not been in contact with any insecticides or oleander trees as these contain poisons.
- Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth so add a calcium supplement to the food once a week.
Health Care
- Worm every 6 months.
- Book a yearly health check to check faeces and detect general health problems.
eg parasite infestations and bacterial infections.
- Annual blood screening and/or bacterial cultures are recommended for certain pet lizards.
Content © Copyright Bird Veterinarian
All care has been taken to ensure that the information contained on, and accessed through, this web site is correct but Bird Veterinarian accepts no responsibility nor liability for, and makes no representations with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the information on this web site. The information contained on the Bird Veterinarian web site is intended as a general guide only and should not be relied on in place of professional veterinary consultation.