by Pat Washburn

Created on: March 13, 2007

Blue-tongued skinks are native to Australia, so when my husband wanted one, it seemed natural to name her Matilda. She's a placid, rather pleasant creature, and boy, that tongue sure is blue!

These lizards like warm habitats, some room to move around (experts suggest a 40- to 55-gallon aquarium), and someplace to hide. Matilda is rather a plus-size lizard, and the standard size half-logs sold at the pet store are not enough to hide all of her, um, magnificence, so she just hides the front half.

One end of her aquarium is kept warm with a heat lamp above and a heating pad below. That's her basking area. When she gets warm enough, she retreats to the other side. Because we live in Maine, it sometimes happens that snow or ice knock the power out - and with it, our heat. Then we need to make arrangements to make sure Matilda's body temperature doesn't drop below 70 degrees, whether it's taking her to someone else's house or moving her aquarium near the fireplace and protecting it with blankets till the crisis is over.

Other than that, Matilda's needs are simple. She needs a good-sized water dish - she uses it for bathing as well as drinking. Also, she occasionally uses it as a toilet, so it's important for us to check her water regularly.

Experts say a blue-tongued skink's diet should be about 60 percent vegetable and 40 percent protein. Experts do not know Matilda, who regularly turns up her nose at delicious fresh greens, preferring to eat canned cat food.

She generally does not need to eat every day, and can go two or three days between feedings. When she moves to the corner closest to the center of the room, and stares up at you (there is nothing more unwavering than a skink stare), the "feed me" message is loud and clear, though she doesn't make a sound.

My husband is the only one who handles her, and he tries to wear thick clothing to do it - she's not at all vicious, but her claws do have some traction on them and she has been known to bite when startled. One tip: Wash your hands before you handle a skink, to prevent your fingers smelling like anything remotely edible.

When I started a freelance business last month, I made a joke out of giving our pets executive titles in the new company. Matilda sits in a corner "office" and does little all day. She's my Vice President for Special Projects.

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