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Writer's pictureIan Bromham

Can Blue Tongue Lizards Eat Dog Food?

Updated: Mar 31, 2023

Blue Tongue Lizards are omnivorous and eat a variety of plant and protein based food items. In the wild they are scavengers and will eat whatever is at their level. This will range from animal carcasses, fallen fruit and anything found in residential backyards.


Eastern Bluetongue lizards or commonly known as blue tongue skinks are native to Australia. At cookies critters we breed high quality reptiles such as blueys.
Bluetongue lizard

Blue Tongue Lizards are omnivorous and eat a variety of plant and protein based food items. In the wild they are scavengers and will eat whatever is at their level. This will range from animal carcasses, fallen fruit and anything found in residential backyards.


Blue tongues skinks can have a varied diet in captivity and this can include the following plant/fruit based items:

* Green Beans,

* Squash/Pumpkin

* Carrot.


a comprehensive Bluetongue lizard vegetable chart
Bluetongue lizard vegetable chart

Please not that Onion, and Rhubarb are toxic to blue tongue lizards and should never be fed to them.

A complete Bluetongue lizard salad chart
Bluetongue lizard salad chart

With the exception of Raspberries and Mango, most fruits should be only used as a treat. The following is a list of fruits for blue tongue skinks:

* Raspberries,

* Mango,

* Papaya


A comprehensive Bluetongue lizard Fruit chart
Bluetongue lizard Fruit chart

Please note that Avocado is NOT SAFE for Blue Tongue Lizards.


The variety in protein based food items is just as vast for blue tongue lizards and include the following:

* Boiled, Fried, Raw Eggs,

* Chicken Liver and Hearts,

* Turkey Mince

* Pet Mince

* Small Rodents (Pinky to velvet Mice or Rats)

* Insects


But did you know that Blue Tongue lizards can eat canned Cat and Dog food?


Yes they can.

Bluetongue lizard Protein chart including all meat sources.
Bluetongue lizard Protein chart

Follow the link to our YouTube video on Blue Tongue Lizards Diet "Can Blueys eat Dog Food?"


Blue Tongues are often spotted in residential backyards eating out of our pets food bowls. Tinned cat and dog food is nutritionally balanced to grow a mammal and it is perfectly safe to feed to your Bluey, with a few conditions. For the first 12 months, we feed our baby blueys tinned cat food, the main consideration to to choose a variety that is not primarily fish. Once our Blue Tongues reach 12 months of age we switch them over to tinned dog food. We ensure that we select a premium quality, GRAIN FREE choice. Refer to the back of the label for ingredients, there should only be meats, vegetables, vitamins and some additives.


I have attached a diagram of the frequency and the amount that you should feed your Blue Tongue Lizards at all growth stages.


Bluetongue lizard Feeding Frequency Chart
Bluetongue lizard Feeding Frequency Chart


As a reptile keeper, it is your responsibility to ensure that your animals have an appropriate diet and the animals are in a healthy weight range. The key to a balanced diet moderation.


19/07/2021



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