Try to keep up because the numbers do change from time to time. Today, we have four dogs, two cats, three lizards, and two rats, but the numbers will change very soon. I just ordered my second lizard, which will give us four in the family. I have two, and Laura has two. We both have a bearded dragon. She has a leopard gecko, and I have my new younger blue-tongued skink! Woot! (in two days)
We gave up horses a while back, and let me just say, I have enjoyed having money to pay for food, gas, car payments, and other things that a person needs to pay for. Horses can be, and are, so very expensive. It cost us more than $600 a month in board, not to mention feed, time, effort, and energy, and then there were vet bills. Sure, we enjoyed riding on weekends, but you have to deal with the weather being hot, cold, wet, or windy. It was a nightmare! (Funny, no one ever says it was a nightgelding.)
Well, today, I ordered my very own blue-tongued skink. I didn't mark down a preference for it, so whatever sex they send me is whatever sex they send me. I am not getting two, so it doesn't really matter. You can't house two together anyway, so the sex of a blue-tongued skink isn't all that important when you decide to buy one. Many lizards (and other reptiles) don't particularly like to share living space with another reptile, even if they resemble one another. They're simply not social.
My beardie stares at me. She watches me and thinks about making eye contact with me, but she's happy being on her own and doing her own basking thing without needing to be held or comforted. The blue-tongued skink will be about the same, but they are more "friendly" or, in other words, more tolerant than the beardies. The skink family, in general, is a good family of species to handle, and the blue-tongued skink is rather known for being gentle, easy-going, and slothful. They don't bolt out of your hands trying to escape. They basically accept their fate if you're bent on holding them.
I had one about 30 years ago when the kids were really young. She was older when I adopted her, so I only had her a few years, but I loved her. She was rather large, too. I have no idea how big the new one will be; the website says they are juvenile, not babies. That means it should be at least 6 inches long. They grow to just over two feet, including their tails. Most hang around the 18-20" mark, and weigh about 1.5 pounds, so they're good-sized, but nothing too big.
I'm excited to see the color pattern on my new baby, who, by the way, I have named Cion. I was going to call him/her Kenny, but that was the name I was going to name my Schneider skink, but that didn't happen. Laura and I were going to get two, and house them together, but they are nearly sold out all over the country! Blue-tongued skinks are a little more expensive ($150 vs. $60), but they are good, durable, long-lasting, affectionate lizards, and I've owned both, loved both, and prefer the BTS.
Cion is also the name of one of the characters in my new book; it's Celtic, more Irish than Scottish, and means "Love and Affection." So there you go—sweet baby lizard of mine. Of course, I will post photos when he/she arrives in two days. We're all a flutter here at the house with all the things you have to buy when you decide to buy a lizard. Still, when the chips fall, it's a lot cheaper than owning a horse, and it stays in the house with you -- you don't have to chase it down during a storm to force it to be safe. I like that fact.
I may make a list of reasons why owning a skink is preferred to owning a horse. I am quite sure I could come up with at least 50 reasons! Here is a list of things you must buy before bringing the baby home.
- Enclosure - at least a 40-gallon to start, $150 - 200
- Substrate sand and coconut $20
- Light fixture for heat and bulb $25
- Light fixture for basking and light $35
- Hide $20
- Rocks and climbs $40
- Bowl to drink from $15
- Decorative accessories $30
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