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 Skinks
General Information:
Skinks are very secretive lizards. They are found throughout most of the
world. Typically, their bodies have a rounded, flattened shape with short legs,
very short legs or no legs at all. Most skinks have an extra, transparent
eyelid, smooth shiny scales and a tail designed to break off when grabbed. In
North America there are 15 species, ranging in size from less than 8 inches (20
cm.) to 14 inches (36 cm.) in length, of which more than half is tail.
Housing:
Skinks tend to be aggressive. A tank for a pair should be about 15
gallons. They do best in a natural environment setup. A mixture of dampened
peat moss and sterilized potting soil with dry leaves, a piece of a small
rotting log, a flat rock and a sunken water bowl is perfect. For heat, a
Vita-Lite bulb over the top of the log or a rock will provide a basking spot.
The temperature should range between 20 C and 30 C during the day and 18 C and
20 C at night. They are able to climb and jump so a ventilated lid is
necessary.
Diet:
Skinks require live food such as crickets, spiders, sowbugs and small earthworms
(NOT mealworms). The diet may be supplemented by spreading vitamins on top of a
mixture of tiny pieces of tomato and spinach mixed with a ½ teaspoon of
tinned cat food with the live sowbugs on a saucer or bowl.
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