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Do Blue Tongue Lizards Keep Snakes Away? (Read This First!)

Blue tongue lizards are fascinating to look at, and one of the obvious reasons may be their blue tongue. These skinks are lizards of the Tiliqua family and originate from the land of kangaroos, Australia.

You might have heard tales about how blue tongue lizards can scare snakes away and keeping them in your garden would be worthwhile. However, there is a lot to that myth as well.

Blue tongue lizards keep snakes away

Blue tongue lizards do not repel or keep snakes away, though they do not attract snakes either. Blue tongue lizards would prey on smaller snakes but would be eaten by the bigger and more aggressive snakes like the eastern brown snake. These lizards are resistant to the venom of red-bellied snakes.

To keep it simple, blue tongue lizards would not keep snakes away but these skinks do not attract snakes either.

Blue tongue lizards eat pests, warms, and smaller reptiles, which include small, slower snakes. This means that if there are smaller snakes in a space with a blue tongue lizard, it could fall prey to the reptile.

Predator instinct:

The reason there are tales of blue tongue lizards being snake resistant is always floating around is because certain snakes could be scared away by the lizard. Bigger ones like the eastern brown lizard.

Since blue tongue lizards come at their predators with open mouths, deliberate hissing, and a fluffed-up body, a few smaller, peaceful snakes may sometimes deter away, not knowing what to expect.

Resistance:

There is also another interesting observation among scientists who claim that blue tongue lizards have built resistance towards snake venom.

In one experiment, the blue tongue lizard was able to survive the bite of a red-bellied black snake.

The said snake can be quite poisonous and usually clots the blood plasma of any animal they bite. Blue-eyed lizards have a plasma component in their blood, which is known as a serum factor that prevents clotting from the toxin.

Maintenance:

If you’re looking into the possibility of a blue tongue lizard keeping away snakes, you might be one of those who wouldn’t mind petting one and keeping them in your garden.

Not only is the lizard a low-maintenance pet, but it is also easy to tame and safe to keep in your garden. Unlike other reptiles, a snake would not come running for its prey, if the prey is a blue tongue snake.

Chase:

Whether a snake would chase the lizard is also deterred by the fact that blue tongue lizards have a reaction whenever they are threatened.

Instead of being scared or hiding, these lizards turn to their predators instead, hiss and show off their blue tongues.

While this may ward off some of the snakes like a tiger snake, it cannot be said for other snakes.

Do blue tongue lizards scare or fight snakes?

Blue tongue lizards may frighten off smaller snakes and even prey on them. When it comes to the more aggressive snakes, like the brown snake, these lizards would not give up without a fight.

When confronted or chased by a snake, the blue tongue lizard turns to its predator only to hiss and show off its blue tongue. They would even open their mouths and make their bodies more flattened so that they look bigger.

Sometimes this may scare away certain snakes that like to be on their own like the tiger snake.

Do snakes like or dislike blue tongue lizards?

Snakes neither like nor dislike a blue tongue lizard. This would mainly depend on how aggressive the snake in question is.

Some snakes are more aggressive and would strike and eat any living being in sight. Other types of snakes would not chase until they are incited. However, when hungry or provokes, snakes do not like a living blue tongue lizard.

Do snakes live near blue tongue lizards?

Snakes and blue tongue lizards are not known to live near others. In most cases, snakes are not attracted to blue tongue lizards.

Certain snakes like the tiger snake would rather live in their burrow and never interfere with a blue tongue lizard, even when they are living close by.

However, it is unlikely for any lizard to be living near a snake because the bigger snakes would eat the lizard. On the other hand, blue tongue lizards would prey on the smaller snakes.

Do snakes eat blue tongue lizards?

Although snakes generally prey on lizards, the smaller snakes would not go near a blue tongue lizard due to their hostile reaction and hence the display of tongue when they encounter a predator.

Nevertheless, bigger snakes would eat blue tongue lizards if both encounter each other.

Tiger snakes:

You may be already assuming that tiger snakes would surely eat blue tongue lizards.

However, contrary to what the snake’s name might suggest, tiger snakes are not too aggressive and would only prey on a blue tongue lizard if provoked.

Their non-aggressive nature should not be confused with their ability to be harmful and strike when needed. Whether there is a human intruder or blue tongue lizard, a tiger snake would rather be a couple of feet away.

Hence if there is a blue tongue lizard in the same space as a tiger snake, the tiger snake would not attempt to eat the lizard. Tiger snakes mostly feed on frogs and smaller mammals.

Yet, if a blue tongue lizard is blocking the snake’s way to its burrow or destination, the snake might sprint towards the lizard. In turn, if the lizard hisses and threatens the snake, the tiger snake could then strike and eat the lizard.

Brown snakes:

Brown snakes would eat blue tongue lizards in a beat even if there are other reptile options around.

Brown snakes and blue tongue lizards, when encountering each other, have a rather hostile interaction, where both feel threatened.

Not only are brown snakes harmful, but they are also known to be one of the most poisonous land snakes out there. One of the few predators of the blue tongue lizard is a brown snake even if the bluey is a full-grown one.

What snakes eat blue tongue lizards?

Larger snakes and the more aggressive ones would always eat blue tongue lizards. These include mulga snake, red-bellied snake, and the most common predator of all, eastern brown snakes.

In a recent study, it has been observed that a blue tongue lizard can survive the bite of the venomous red-bellied snake. This would also mean that these lizards may be resistant, although not immune to similar snake venoms.

Are blue tongue lizards good for the garden?

It is true that having one or a couple of blue tongue lizards can save you a lot on the mice and pest control!

Here are a few reasons why these skinks are good for your garden:

They do not attract snakes:

Due to the lack of research, it cannot be said for sure whether blue tongue lizards would keep snakes away for good if you have one in your garden.

But one fact is for certain, that these blueys would not attract other reptiles and snakes.

This means that with the blue tongue lizard in your garden, you would rest assured that a snake would not eat your lizard or be attracted to make it its prey.

Snakes are usually most attracted to frogs, toads, and smaller birds and insects, luckily blue tongue lizards do not top the list of snake prey.

Deter rodents:

If you have a garden, you would know how bothersome it can be to have rodents take over your space.

What’s worse about squeaking mice in your garden is how they can be quite damaging to the plant. You would never know when they have nibbled on the leaves and flowers and jumped on the stem and soil to urinate in them.

Blue tongue lizards would eat smaller mice if they see one in the garden. Having one of two blue tongue lizards would save you the effort and cost of weekly mice repelling maintenance.

Keeps away pests:

Another reason why blue-tongue lizards are good for your garden is that they would eat and keep away pests, worms, and small insects.

From moths and caterpillars to mites, a blue tongue lizard would eat any pests that come in the vicinity of its sight. This is important because pets can be damaging to the plants in your garden.

With a blue tongue lizard in your garden, you would see fewer black spots on leaves and fruits, droopy leaves, and withering growth.

Final thoughts

It’s only a myth that blue tongue lizards would keep snakes away from an area. Blue tongue lizards can fight a snake when threatened or even eat some of the smaller snakes, bigger snakes would always chase and eat a blue tongue lizard. Blue tongue lizards are resistant to few snake venoms.