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[herptrader]

I don't have all that much experience Blue tongues. We have had a old Blotched blue tongue for a number of years which shares our fernery with some long necked turtles. We sort of guessed (Dora) was a female.

Toward the end of last year we were given an unwanted Eastern blue Tongue which came with the name Dax, so since then Dora has had a friend. We suspected she was female also and as such we expected,and saw, no hanky panky. These two just hung out like mates.

Dax has doubled in size (to be adult size) since we got her about 4 months ago.

Dora is almost in hibernation though she was spotted over the weekend enjoying the last of the Autumn warmth. Dax on the other hand has been out most days. Both skinks are well fed and appear in good condition.

This morning I spotted a little blob which turned out to be a fully developed Eastern Blue Tongue baby, quite dead and I presume still born. It seemed to be about half out of its amniotic sack. So Dax is a definite female.

It did not occur to me that Dax could have been gravid before we got her but I suppose she must have been.

What is the gestation period for eastern bluies?

If there is one dead baby would we expect to see some live ones? (There were none this morning but it was a cool night and the sun has not yet broken through today so they could be huddled up somewhere under cover and there is lots of good hibernation sites.)

Is this a normal time of year for eastern bluies to give birth? It seems odd as the babies would have no time to grow before hibernation.

Any input from the APS vets would be much appreciated.