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Are blue-tongues dangerous?

Author

Jessica Burns

Published Feb 26, 2026

Are blue-tongues dangerous?

Blue-tongue lizards are not poisonous and do not pose any threat to people or their pets. In fact, they can be a very helpful friend to have around the garden as they eat snails and caterpillars and other insects and can help keep the population of these invertebrate garden pests down.

Besides, what happens when a blue-tongue lizard bites you?

Blue-tongues are not venomous but they try to look intimidating by opening their mouth and acting aggressively. They can bite but their teeth are used more for crushing than tearing, so they might bruise you but will rarely break the skin.

Secondly, is it illegal to kill a blue-tongue lizard? As cold-blooded animals, reptiles like to bask in the sun, but they are shy and will hide under logs and rocks so you might not always see them. All native reptiles are protected in New South Wales under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. It's illegal to kill any native reptile, including snakes.

One may also ask, can I pick up a blue-tongue lizard?

A: Blue-tongue lizards generally do not like to be handled, but if you need to move a lizard in your yard, and it isn't in a spot where you can gently sweep it into a box, you may need to pick it up. Start by gently holding, then lifting, the lizard from behind its head.

Do blue tongues have teeth?

Blue- tongues use this to detect their prey. Blue-tongues have strong teeth and jaw muscles to crush their food – they can even crush the shell of a snail. Blue-tongues can be found in virtually all habitats across Australia.

Do blue tongue lizards like being handled?

These lizards usually do not like to be handled a lot but in order to bond with them; it may be a good idea to hold your lizard in your hand and stroke its smooth and scaly skin with a light hand. Bonding with a blue tongue lizard can be a tiring process especially if it is a wild caught.

Can blue tongues eat cucumber?

Can blue tongue skinks eat cucumbers? Yes, your blue tongue skink can eat cucumbers, but only small amounts and mainly for a water source (it's poor in nutrients).

Why do blue tongue lizards hiss?

Blue-tongues will make loud hissing sounds and can rear up in anger to chase off threats. The most common types of blue-tongued lizard are: The Eastern Blue-tongue (Tiliqua scincoides): Widespread in south-eastern Australia.

Do blue tongues drink water?

Blue-tongue lizards are omnivores and feed on a range of live insects and plant matter. In captivity, blue-tongues should be fed a variety of both live foods and fresh fruits and vegetables (50:50). Fresh water should be available to the lizard at all times and changed daily.

Do blue tongues eat mice?

Blue-tongued lizards are omnivores. Garden snails are their ideal food, but they will also enjoy most varieties of fruits and veggies. For a treat, feed them crickets and mice which you can buy at your local Petbarn store. Blue-tongues usually eat from late morning through to midday after getting some sun.

How do you help an injured blue tongue lizard?

Because blue tongue skinks are a native australian animal, the best thing you can do is either contact your local wildlife rescue or you can actually take him straight to a vet and they will either treat him or take him to a rescue with a reptile vet and you won't be charged.

What do you feed a blue tongue?

Bluetongues are omnivores and should be offered a variety of foods such as insects e.g. crickets, worms, snails and slugs. They will eat a range of chopped fruits and vegetables including dandelion, milk thistle, watercress, banana, apple, pawpaw, pear, green beans, carrots, alfafa sprouts, parsley and tomato.

Will a lizard crawl on me in my sleep?

So, can lizard crawl on bed? Yes, a lizard can crawl on the bed if the infestation is high. Usually, lizards avoid coming close to humans, but if the infestation is high and if there is not enough space in your house, then they can crawl on the bed. They can also crawl on your bed while chasing its prey.

Are blue-tongue lizards active at night?

Blue-tongue lizards are more active during the day, pretty easy to spot and are not aggressive. They like to sunbake too! When you see a blue-tongue lizard in your backyard, make sure you just watch and don't touch. If you pick them up incorrectly, they might bite you or you might pull off their tails.

Do blue-tongue lizards come out at night?

They shelter at night among leaf litter or under large objects on the ground such as rocks and logs. Early in the morning blue-tongues emerge to bask in sunny areas before foraging for food during the warmer parts of the day.

Do blue tongues eat spiders?

The Blue-tongue Lizard eats a wide variety of plants and insects, including funnel web spiders.

Do blue tongue skink bites hurt?

Despite their generally docile nature, blue-tongued skinks will bite if they feel threatened, or hiss and expose their blue tongues (which is where they get their name). Be advised that although skinks are not aggressive, they have strong jaws and teeth, and a bite from a skink can be quite painful.

How long do blue tongues live for?

Northern blue-tongued skink: 20 years

Can blue tongues hurt dogs?

Blue-tongue lizards are not poisonous and do not pose any threat to people or their pets. In fact, they can be a very helpful friend to have around the garden as they eat snails and caterpillars and other insects and can help keep the population of these invertebrate garden pests down.

Do blue tongue lizards eat strawberries?

Can blue tongue skinks eat strawberries? Technically, yes— but you shouldn't feed them to your pet! They're also rich in goitrogens, which can cause your blue tongue skink to experience thyroid issues if they eat enough of them.