Leo, and Stella

Blue-tongued Skinks

Leo arrived here as an unwanted pet. Now he resides here in our Center with our plated lizard. He enjoys chasing crickets around his enclosure. The name blue-tongued skink is derived from their vibrant blue tongue, which they use to ward off predators. Bright colors in nature like the orange of the monarch butterfly tell predators that they do not taste very good and that if you consume them it could make you very sick. They also use their tongues for chemoreception, which is the act of picking up molecules with your tongue to determine the world around you similar to snakes.

Stella also came to us as an unwanted pet. These lizards can reach up to 24 inches long and can live 20+ years. Often these pets are brought for kids when they’re younger, but often lose interest when they become teenagers or are going off to college and cannot take the pet with them. This is why it is vital to learn as much as you can about the animal you are looking to get as a pet.

Residents at our West Hartford CT campus