OK, you know the saying, “Be careful what you wish for,”? Lately I’ve been wishing for some unique pets and apparently my wishes have been granted because I received a very interesting email describing -- wait for it -- a Blue Tongued Skink!!  Yep, Brianna Pelligrini owns her very own Blue Tongued Skink named Greg. This type of lizard is native to Australia and are, according to my very thorough research on Wikipedia, great pets for both beginners and kids. And, another fun fact, they get their name from the fact that their tongues are blue. My daughter spent the summer in Albuquerque and saw skinks running around several times, so they have made their way to North America.

            Greg is Brianna’s pet because she wanted to have a pet of her own, and this particular reptile was not one the rest of the family had any interest in having. The Pelligrini family has had dogs, cats and Guinea pigs but Brianna was hoping to get a snake. When that didn’t fly with her mom, Kristina, Brianna did some investigating to find another reptile that would be acceptable. She found Greg at an exotic reptile store in Lockport called Gills and Thrills.

            He’s about two years old, measures in at around three feet long and only weighs about five pounds. However that’s a good size for a skink. Greg’s tank is a four-foot enclosure, has heat lamps, a mist sprayer, humidity thermometer, temperature thermometer, water bowl and a food bowl.  He also requires reptile bedding and a few half-log hiding spots too.  Brianna likes that he is very low maintenance, and enjoys sunning himself both in his tank and, weather permitting, outside as well. He really liked playing in the grass in the sun in warmer months. However, he basically likes keeping to himself in his tank.

            Bugs and fruit make up his daily diet, and he doesn’t require much else. He does not seem to be a fan of the family dog, Millie, and tends to burrow when she enters the room. While skinks have strong jaws and teeth, Greg has never posed a danger to Brianna. Since skinks tend to have short legs, these reptiles don’t move very quickly and aren’t really disposed to tricks. Greg is no exception.

            Brianna thinks having Greg as a pet is fun and likes that people have a strong reaction when they learn about him. They’ve even said it’s as if she’s raising a baby dinosaur, which seems to sum it up well according to the photos. She finds his scales beautiful and the fact that he has a very blue tongue wonderful. I’ve read that the tongue actually becomes more blue when predators are around because when they see this color they think the animal is sick and won’t eat it.

            So, there you have it, a pet like no other I’ve learned about. I’m very glad Brianna has found a reptile she feels is hers and hers alone. I’m also glad Greg lives with the Pelligrini’s and not with me. Reptiles, as far as I’m concerned, are much better to view from photos than up close and personal.