Sedation in Blue-tongue Skinks
Reptile · Tiliqua scincoides · typical adult weight 0.25–0.60 kg
7 cited drugs treat Sedation in blue-tongue skinks: Alfaxalone, Butorphanol, Dexmedetomidine, Diazepam, Ketamine, Midazolam, Tiletamine-Zolazepam.
Pharmacologic sedation for diagnostic procedures, minor surgical interventions, and pre-anaesthetic premedi-cation. α2 agonists (dexmedetomidine, medetomidine), phenothiazines (acepromazine), and benzodiazepines (midazolam) form the backbone of veterinary protocols.
The overview above describes Sedation across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to blue-tongue skinks — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Alfaxalone(Alfaxan)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 5 mg/kg | not stated in the cited source | Sedation/anesthesia — alfaxalone + dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group ADM) | Weak | Evaluating the Physiologic Effects of Alfaxalone, Dexmedetomidine, and Midazolam Combinations in Common Blue-Tongued Skinks (Tiliqua scincoides). Animals 2024, 14(18), 2636. DOI 10.3390/ani14182636; PMID 39335227; PMCID PMC11429061. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11429061/ |
| SC | 20 mg/kg | not stated in the cited source | Sedation/anesthesia — alfaxalone alone (group A) | Weak | Mans C, Sladky KK, Schumacher J. General anesthesia. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:447-464. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.257 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.7 (Preferred Injectable Sedation Protocols Used in Select Reptiles.301,400,430). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Carpenter's 6th ed, Table 2.7 (Scientific Names of Common Names as Listed in Preceding Tables); the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 — PROVENANCE CORRECTED (wave 3, two readers): none of the previously cited locations carries this figure. Source is Rhim H, Godke AM, Aguilar MG, Mitchell MA. Evaluating the Physiologic Effects of Alfaxalone, Dexmedetomidine, and Midazolam Combinations in Common Blue-Tongued Skinks (Tiliqua scincoides). Animals (Basel). 2024, vol 14 issue 18, article 2636. doi:10.3390/ani14182636 (PMC11429061), group A — 20 mg/kg alfaxalone SC, single administration, n=11. FRAMING, unresolved: the paper's own conclusion recommends ADM and AM for minor procedures. Group A alone is not among the recommended protocols, analgesia on toe-pinch was seen only in DM and ADM, and pilot recoveries at 20 mg/kg were 60 and 130 min. |
Butorphanol(Torbugesic, Torbutrol)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 1–1.5 mg/kg | once, 30 min before isoflurane | Preanaesthetic sedation before inhalant induction | Weak | Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Dexmedetomidine(Dexdomitor, Sileo)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 0.05 mg/kg | not stated in the cited source | Sedation/anesthesia — alfaxalone + dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group ADM) | Weak | Schumacher J, Mans C. Anesthesia. In: Mader DR, Divers SJ, eds. Current Therapy in Reptile Medicine and Surgery. St. Louis: WB Saunders; 2014: 134-153. — Verified against Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.550 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
| SC | 0.1 mg/kg | not stated in the cited source | Sedation/anesthesia — dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group DM) | Weak | Mans, C., Sladky, K., and Schumacher, J. (2019). General anesthesia. In: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3e (eds. S. Divers and S. Stahl), 447-464. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. / Sladky, K. and Mans, C. (2012). Clinical anesthesia in reptiles. J. Exot. Pet. Med. 21 (1): 17-31. — Verified against Graham, Doss & Beaufrere, Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, p.766 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.766' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.750; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.750. — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530; Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine — ISBN 9781119149231, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119149231 |
Diazepam(Valium)
Sedative| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM, IV | 0.2–2 mg/kg | not stated in source | Muscle relaxation / sedation | Weak | Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:442-452. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Ketamine(Ketaset, Vetalar)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 30–50 mg/kg | not stated in source | Sedation | Weak | Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.242 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table - not the page - is the citable location. |
Midazolam(Versed)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 1 mg/kg | not stated in the cited source | Sedation/anesthesia — dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group DM) | Weak | Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.246 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
| SC | 0.5 mg/kg | not stated in the cited source | Sedation/anesthesia — alfaxalone + dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group ADM) | Weak | Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.246 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 [w3r2 2026-08-14] ANCHOR REPLACED - UNSOURCED, NOT UNSAFE. Neither cited location carries this protocol. Carpenter 6th ed Table 4.5 midazolam block (idx p.246 AND its continuation p.247, both read) prints no SC route, no 0.5 mg/kg point dose and no alfaxalone plus dexmedetomidine plus midazolam combination - its rows are 0.1-1 mg/kg Multiple species, 2 mg/kg IM Most species, 1 mg/kg IM Ball pythons, 0.5-2 mg/kg IM Lizards, 1 mg/kg IM tegus, 2 mg/kg IM green iguanas, 0.5-1.5 mg/kg IN tortoises, 1.5 mg/kg IM red-eared sliders, 2-3 mg/kg IV leatherbacks. Table 4.7 prints the only 0.5 mg/kg midazolam protocol under the SNAKES heading, and a species heading governs the rows below it. The second cited source, Mader 3rd ed 2019, predates the protocol. THE FIGURE IS FROM Ratliff C et al, Evaluating the Physiologic Effects of Alfaxalone, Dexmedetomidine, and Midazolam Combinations in Common Blue-Tongued Skinks (Tiliqua scincoides), Animals (Basel) 2024, 14(18):2636, doi:10.3390/ani14182636, PMID 39335227, PMCID PMC11429061 - open-access FULL TEXT read, Methods print "5 mg/kg alfaxalone, 0.05 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, and 0.5 mg/kg midazolam [ADM]" administered subcutaneously to 11 skinks, and the recommendation is "ADM and AM are recommended for minor procedures in blue-tongue skinks". THE PARTNER DRUGS MUST STAY VISIBLE ON THE CARD - this figure has no standalone meaning. |
Tiletamine-Zolazepam(Telazol)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 3–5 mg/kg | once | Sedation | Weak | Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.250 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Other conditions in Blue-tongue Skinks
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.