The Ultimate Guide to Skink Care: Happy, Healthy Lizards!

Skinks, with their smooth scales and inquisitive personalities, make fascinating and rewarding reptile pets. However, like any animal, they require proper care to thrive. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the essential information you need to create a comfortable and enriching environment for your skink, ensuring a long and healthy life.

Understanding Skinks

Before diving into the specifics of care, it’s crucial to understand the basics of skink biology and behavior. Skinks belong to the family Scincidae, one of the most diverse lizard families, with over 1,500 species found worldwide. They vary significantly in size, color, and habitat preferences. Some popular pet skinks include:

* **Blue-Tongued Skinks (Tiliqua spp.):** Known for their distinctive blue tongues, these skinks are relatively large and docile, making them popular choices for beginners. They originate from Australia and Indonesia.
* **Fire Skinks (Lepidothyris fernandi):** These skinks boast vibrant red or orange coloration along their flanks. They are native to West Africa and require a humid environment.
* **Five-Lined Skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus):** Native to North America, these skinks are smaller and more active. They are generally not recommended for beginners due to their skittish nature.
* **Prehensile-Tailed Skinks (Corucia zebrata):** Also known as Monkey-Tailed Skinks, these are the largest living skinks, and unique in that they are primarily herbivores and arboreal. Their tail helps them grip branches as they live in the rainforest canopies of the Solomon Islands.

It’s essential to research the specific needs of the skink species you intend to keep, as requirements can vary considerably.

Setting Up Your Skink’s Habitat

Creating the right environment is paramount to your skink’s well-being. Consider these key factors when setting up their enclosure:

1. Enclosure Size:

The size of the enclosure will depend on the species and size of your skink. As a general guideline:

* **Blue-Tongued Skinks:** A 40-gallon breeder tank (36″ x 18″ x 16″) is the minimum for a single adult. Larger is always better.
* **Fire Skinks:** A 20-gallon long tank (30″ x 12″ x 12″) can house a single adult, but a larger enclosure is preferable.
* **Five-Lined Skinks:** A 10-gallon tank can house a single adult, but again, larger is better to provide adequate space for activity.
* **Prehensile-Tailed Skinks:** A very large custom-built enclosure is usually required for these skinks due to their arboreal nature and size. Minimum dimensions of 4’x2’x4′ are recommended for a single adult. More space should be provided for pairs.

Overcrowding can lead to stress, aggression, and health problems. Always provide ample space for your skink to move around, explore, and thermoregulate.

2. Substrate:

The substrate is the material that lines the bottom of the enclosure. It plays a crucial role in maintaining humidity, facilitating burrowing, and providing a comfortable surface for your skink. Suitable substrates include:

* **Cypress Mulch:** Excellent for humidity retention and burrowing, ideal for Fire Skinks and Blue-Tongued Skinks. Ensure it is reptile-safe and free of dyes or chemicals.
* **Coconut Fiber (Coco Coir):** Another excellent option for humidity retention and burrowing. It can be used alone or mixed with other substrates.
* **Reptile Carpet:** Easy to clean and maintain, but it doesn’t allow for burrowing. It’s best used for skinks that don’t have high humidity requirements.
* **Paper Towels:** A temporary substrate suitable for quarantine or when monitoring your skink’s health. Not ideal for long-term use as it doesn’t retain humidity or allow burrowing.
* **DIY Mix:** Many keepers create their own substrate mixes using combinations of topsoil (without fertilizers or pesticides), play sand, peat moss, and cypress mulch. This allows for customization based on the specific needs of the skink species.

Avoid using substrates like cedar shavings, pine shavings, or gravel, as they can be harmful to your skink.

3. Temperature Gradient:

Skinks are ectothermic (cold-blooded), meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Providing a temperature gradient within the enclosure is essential for them to thermoregulate properly. This means creating a warm end and a cool end, allowing the skink to move between different temperatures to find their optimal body temperature.

* **Basking Spot:** Use a heat lamp or ceramic heat emitter to create a basking spot at one end of the enclosure. The basking temperature should be:
* **Blue-Tongued Skinks:** 95-100°F (35-38°C)
* **Fire Skinks:** 90-95°F (32-35°C)
* **Five-Lined Skinks:** 90-95°F (32-35°C)
* **Prehensile-Tailed Skinks:** 85-90°F (29-32°C)
* **Cool End:** The cool end of the enclosure should be:
* **Blue-Tongued Skinks:** 75-80°F (24-27°C)
* **Fire Skinks:** 78-82°F (26-28°C)
* **Five-Lined Skinks:** 70-75°F (21-24°C)
* **Prehensile-Tailed Skinks:** 75-80°F (24-27°C)
* **Nighttime Temperatures:** Nighttime temperatures can drop a few degrees, but shouldn’t fall below:
* **Blue-Tongued Skinks:** 65°F (18°C)
* **Fire Skinks:** 70°F (21°C)
* **Five-Lined Skinks:** 60°F (16°C)
* **Prehensile-Tailed Skinks:** 65°F (18°C)

Use a reliable thermometer to monitor the temperatures in both the warm and cool ends of the enclosure. A digital thermometer with a probe is recommended for accurate readings. Avoid using heat rocks, as they can cause burns.

4. Humidity:

Humidity is another crucial factor in skink care. Different species have different humidity requirements:

* **Blue-Tongued Skinks:** 40-60%
* **Fire Skinks:** 60-80%
* **Five-Lined Skinks:** 30-50%
* **Prehensile-Tailed Skinks:** 60-80%

Maintain humidity by:

* **Misting:** Regularly misting the enclosure with water.
* **Humid Hide:** Providing a humid hide box filled with damp sphagnum moss or paper towels.
* **Water Bowl:** Ensuring a large water bowl is always available.
* **Substrate:** Using a substrate that retains moisture, like cypress mulch or coconut fiber.

Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity levels in the enclosure. Adjust your misting schedule and substrate as needed to maintain the appropriate humidity for your skink’s species.

5. Lighting:

In addition to heat, skinks also require UVB lighting for proper calcium absorption and overall health. UVB lighting allows them to synthesize vitamin D3, which is essential for bone development and preventing metabolic bone disease (MBD).

* **UVB Bulb:** Use a UVB bulb specifically designed for reptiles. The strength of the UVB bulb will depend on the distance from the bulb to the basking spot. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
* **Photoperiod:** Provide a consistent photoperiod of 12-14 hours of light per day and 10-12 hours of darkness. This simulates natural day and night cycles.

Replace the UVB bulb every 6-12 months, even if it still appears to be working, as the UVB output decreases over time.

6. Enrichment and Hides:

Providing enrichment and hiding places is essential for your skink’s mental and physical well-being. Hides offer a sense of security and allow your skink to escape from the light and activity of the enclosure.

* **Hides:** Provide at least two hides, one on the warm side and one on the cool side of the enclosure. Suitable hides include cork bark, reptile caves, and overturned flower pots.
* **Climbing Opportunities:** Add branches, rocks, and other climbing structures to the enclosure to encourage activity and exploration. This is especially important for Prehensile-Tailed Skinks.
* **Digging Opportunities:** Provide a deep substrate layer to allow for burrowing, especially for species like Blue-Tongued Skinks and Fire Skinks. They love to dig and create tunnels.
* **Safe Plants:** Add reptile-safe plants to the enclosure for visual enrichment and to provide additional hiding places. Research which plants are safe for your specific skink species.
* **Rotating Enrichment:** Rotate the items in the enclosure regularly to keep your skink engaged and prevent boredom.

Feeding Your Skink

A balanced and varied diet is crucial for your skink’s health. The specific dietary needs will vary depending on the species.

1. Blue-Tongued Skinks:

Blue-Tongued Skinks are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet should consist of approximately:

* **40-50% Insects:** Crickets, roaches (Dubia, discoid), mealworms, superworms, hornworms, and silkworms. Offer a variety of insects to ensure a balanced nutritional intake. Gut-load insects with nutritious food before feeding them to your skink.
* **40-50% Vegetables and Fruits:** Leafy greens (collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens), squash (butternut, acorn), sweet potato, carrots, berries, melon, and papaya. Offer a variety of colors and textures.
* **10% High-Quality Canned Dog Food (Grain-Free):** Provides essential protein and nutrients. Use a high-quality, grain-free brand.

Supplement their diet with calcium and vitamin D3 powder 2-3 times per week, especially for young skinks.

2. Fire Skinks:

Fire Skinks are primarily insectivores, but they will also occasionally eat small amounts of fruit and vegetables.

* **80-90% Insects:** Crickets, roaches, mealworms, waxworms, and occasional pinky mice (as a treat, not a staple). Dust insects with calcium and vitamin D3 powder.
* **10-20% Fruits and Vegetables:** Small amounts of finely chopped fruits and vegetables, such as berries, melon, and leafy greens.

3. Five-Lined Skinks:

Five-Lined Skinks are primarily insectivores.

* **90-95% Insects:** Small crickets, fruit flies, mealworms, and other small insects. Provide a variety of insects. Dust insects with calcium and vitamin D3 powder.
* **5-10% Fruits and Vegetables:** Very small amounts of finely chopped fruits and vegetables can be offered occasionally.

4. Prehensile-Tailed Skinks:

Prehensile-Tailed Skinks are primarily herbivores, making them unique among skinks.

* **80-90% Leafy Greens:** Collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, turnip greens, and other nutritious leafy greens should form the base of their diet.
* **10-20% Fruits and Vegetables:** A variety of fruits and vegetables, such as squash, sweet potato, carrots, berries, melon, and papaya. Avoid citrus fruits.

Supplement their diet with calcium and vitamin D3 powder 2-3 times per week. They may also benefit from a small amount of protein in their diet in the form of a high quality vegetable based protein supplement. Alfalfa pellets can also be given in small quantities.

2. Feeding Frequency:

* **Juvenile Skinks:** Feed daily or every other day.
* **Adult Skinks:** Feed every 2-3 days.

Adjust the feeding frequency based on your skink’s body condition. A healthy skink should have a slightly rounded body, but not be obese. Reduce feeding frequency if your skink is gaining too much weight.

3. Water:

Always provide a clean and fresh water bowl. The water bowl should be large enough for your skink to soak in if they choose. Change the water daily to prevent bacterial growth.

Handling Your Skink

Handling your skink regularly can help them become more accustomed to human interaction. However, it’s important to handle them gently and respectfully.

* **Start Slowly:** Begin with short handling sessions and gradually increase the duration as your skink becomes more comfortable.
* **Support Their Body:** Always support your skink’s body when handling them. Avoid grabbing them by the tail, as they can drop it as a defense mechanism (tail autotomy).
* **Wash Your Hands:** Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling your skink to prevent the spread of bacteria.
* **Observe Their Body Language:** Pay attention to your skink’s body language. If they are stressed or uncomfortable, put them back in their enclosure.
* **Never Force Handling:** Never force your skink to be handled. This can cause stress and fear.

Maintaining a Clean Enclosure

Regular cleaning is essential for preventing the build-up of bacteria and maintaining a healthy environment for your skink.

* **Daily Spot Cleaning:** Remove any feces, uneaten food, and shed skin daily.
* **Weekly Cleaning:** Replace the water bowl and clean it thoroughly with soap and water. Clean any soiled areas of the substrate.
* **Monthly Deep Cleaning:** Remove all substrate and decorations from the enclosure. Clean the enclosure with a reptile-safe disinfectant. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely before replacing the substrate and decorations.

Common Health Problems in Skinks

Being aware of common health problems in skinks can help you identify potential issues early and seek veterinary care.

* **Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD):** Caused by calcium deficiency or improper UVB lighting. Symptoms include lethargy, bone deformities, and muscle tremors. Prevention involves providing proper UVB lighting and calcium supplementation.
* **Respiratory Infections:** Caused by poor ventilation, low temperatures, or high humidity. Symptoms include sneezing, wheezing, and nasal discharge. Treatment involves adjusting environmental conditions and, in severe cases, antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian.
* **Skin Infections:** Caused by poor hygiene or injuries. Symptoms include red, swollen, or ulcerated skin. Treatment involves cleaning the affected area and applying topical antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian.
* **Parasites:** Skinks can be susceptible to both internal and external parasites. Symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, and changes in stool. Treatment involves deworming medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
* **Mites:** These tiny external parasites can cause irritation and itching. Symptoms include excessive scratching and small black or red spots on the skin. Treatment involves using reptile-safe mite sprays or dips.
* **Dysecdysis (Shedding Problems):** Caused by low humidity or dehydration. Symptoms include difficulty shedding, retained shed skin, and constricted toes or tails. Treatment involves increasing humidity and providing a soaking bowl.

Finding a Veterinarian

It’s essential to find a veterinarian who is experienced in treating reptiles. Not all veterinarians are knowledgeable about reptile care. Ask your local reptile society or search online for a qualified reptile veterinarian in your area.

Conclusion

Caring for a skink can be a rewarding experience. By providing the proper habitat, diet, and care, you can ensure a long and healthy life for your scaly companion. Remember to research the specific needs of your skink species and consult with a veterinarian if you have any concerns about their health. With dedication and attention, you can enjoy the unique companionship of these fascinating reptiles for many years to come.