Blue Tongue Skink Diet Guide: Feeding Schedule, Insects & Nutrition
Matt Goren
Blue Tongue Skink Diet Guide: Complete Feeding Guide
Blue tongue skinks (Tiliqua spp.) are omnivores with one of the most varied diets of any commonly kept reptile. They eat insects, vegetables, fruits, and even some lean proteins — making diet planning both flexible and complex. Getting the ratio right is the key to a healthy, long-lived blue tongue skink.
Diet Ratio by Age
| Age | Protein (Insects) | Vegetables | Fruit | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile (0-6 months) | 60-70% | 20-30% | 10% | Every other day |
| Sub-adult (6-12 months) | 50% | 40% | 10% | Every other day |
| Adult (12+ months) | 40% | 50% | 10% | Every 2-3 days |
Best Feeder Insects for Blue Tongue Skinks
| Feeder | Role | Amount Per Feeding | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discoid Roaches | Primary protein | 5-10 medium-large nymphs | 2-3x/week |
| BSFL | Calcium supplement | 15-25 | 1-2x/week |
| Hornworms | Hydration | 2-4 medium-large | 1-2x/week |
| Silkworms | Low-fat variety | 3-6 large | 1x/week |
Why Blue Tongue Skinks Love Hornworms
Blue tongue skinks are one of the species that benefit most from hornworms. At 85% moisture, hornworms deliver significant hydration — important for skinks that often do not drink enough from water dishes. BTS keepers frequently report that their skinks go crazy for hornworms, making them excellent for enrichment, appetite stimulation, and hydration support. The bright color and movement trigger enthusiastic feeding responses.
The Dog Food Debate
Many BTS keepers use high-quality wet dog food as a protein source. While this is a controversial topic, the practical reality is that premium grain-free wet dog food provides a convenient, nutrient-dense protein option that many BTS thrive on. However, whole feeder insects offer advantages dog food cannot:
- Gut-loading: Discoid roaches can be gut-loaded with calcium-rich vegetables, customizing the nutritional payload
- Enrichment: Live insect hunting provides mental stimulation and exercise
- Calcium control: BSFL deliver precise, natural calcium without guessing
- No preservatives: Live feeders contain no artificial ingredients
The best approach: use live feeder insects as the primary protein source, with dog food as an occasional supplement — not the other way around.
Vegetables for Blue Tongue Skinks
- Staple greens: Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens (high calcium)
- Squash: Butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash (excellent staple vegetable)
- Other: Green beans, snap peas, bell peppers, shredded carrots
- Fruit (10% max): Blueberries, mango, papaya, banana (sparingly — high sugar)
- Avoid: Spinach (binds calcium), avocado (toxic), citrus, onions, rhubarb
Sample Weekly Schedule (Adult BTS)
- Monday: Mixed salad (collard greens, butternut squash, bell pepper) + 6 discoid roach nymphs (calcium dusted)
- Wednesday: OFF
- Thursday: Mixed salad + 15-20 BSFL (no dusting) + 2 hornworms
- Saturday: Mixed salad + small amount of fruit + 4 large silkworms
Supplementation
- Calcium (no D3): Dust insects at every feeding
- Calcium + D3: Twice monthly
- Multivitamin: Twice monthly (alternate weeks with D3)
- BSFL: No dusting needed — natural calcium source reduces supplement dependency
Common BTS Diet Mistakes
- All-protein diet: Adult BTS need 50% vegetables. All-insect or all-dog-food diets cause obesity and kidney stress.
- Too much fruit: Fruit should be max 10% — high sugar causes obesity and yeast issues
- Cat food instead of dog food: Cat food is too high in protein and fat for BTS
- No variety: Rotate vegetables, proteins, and feeder types weekly
- Feeding daily as adults: Adult BTS should eat every 2-3 days, not daily
Shop the complete BTS feeder rotation: roaches | BSFL | hornworms | silkworms
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
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