Urgent ground skink help!!!

RisiganL.

RisiganL.

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Feb 24, 2010
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Raleigh, NC
Real Name
Risigan Logendran
Ok, so around my house I have a large number of ground skinks. This is a small species that only get up to 5.5 inches. Right now I have 2. One is a hatchling/juvinile that is about 2-2.5 in long the other is an adult that is 4in long. Both are in small temporary housing. I just want to know whether these lizards need special heating/lighting. I was not sure because they are a native species that is active all ear and also they are a ground dwelling/burrowing species.
 
Where did you get them? It sounds like they were colledted but I just thought I would ask anyways.

Most reptiles need a blanced spectrum (florecent) and UVA/UVB bulbs. Mercury Vapor Bulbs seem to be the best (IMO) for UVA/UVB. I know most skinks like sand subsrate.

I've kept ocelated skinks before but I don't know if they require the same care. I'll look around and try to come up with some care sheets for you.
 
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/herps_of_nc/lizards/Scilat/Sci_lat.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scincella_lateralis

http://www.ehow.com/about_6673673_ground-skink_s-diet.html

http://www.dlia.org/atbi/species/An.../Squamata/Scincidae/Scincella_lateralis.shtml

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/?s=030007

http://wwwnew.towson.edu/herpetology/reptiles/Scincella%20lateralis.htm

http://www.5d2d.com/Reptiles/20100327/how_to_care_for_a_ground_skink__94.html

Well there ya go! They are common throughout the souther part of the country and have no protection/ collection limitations, though aren't commonly kept as pets because of their dull coloration. Their tails WILL break off if so be careful (the do grow back but it takes awile and makes the owner feel bad...... I did this once because nobody told me that they can do this!).
 
We have blue tailed skinks here, the males bite! So watch out for grown males...
Reptiles need uvb bulbs, every 6mo, a new bulb so it still works. They will need a warm spot, water and live food.
 
Ya, I have many 5-lined skinks around my house to. I would keep them but because of their size (~8in) I can't. Also, would these skinks want a more humid type enviorment? I was thinking of using coconut fiber as substrate because they can dig and it retains moisture well. One more thing. Can/will the adult eat the smaller one? I have not read anything about cannibalism in this species but I want to be sure.
 
RisiganL. said:
Ya, I have many 5-lined skinks around my house to. I would keep them but because of their size (~8in) I can't. Also, would these skinks want a more humid type enviorment? I was thinking of using coconut fiber as substrate because they can dig and it retains moisture well. One more thing. Can/will the adult eat the smaller one? I have not read anything about cannibalism in this species but I want to be sure.
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I don't know about humidity for them but if they are around your house try to recreate that type of enviornment.

If the larger one is more than twice the size of the smaller, then I would bet it would be killed. Smaller animals tend to avoid larger ones even of the same species. It may try to stay hidden so it will not bask nor will it eat if it doesn't feel safe.

How big is the tank? What are the demensions?
 
Right now the skinks are in 5, 2 and 1 gallon tanks. I have got a 3rd one and i might only keep him. He is about 5-6 in long. I will post pics as soon as possible. Can he eat small crickets from petsmart? Also can I just give him vatimin D3/calcium supplements instead of a UV lamp?
 
Thos tanks are much to small for skinks. A single skink could use a 20 gallon (long) and multiple would need more. They can eat small crickets as long as it will fit in their mouth. Most lizards (skinks included) need both calcium and UV lights. The calcium supply is to make up for what they would naturally get in the wild and the UVA/UVB lights are to help digest foods and use the calcium properly. You can not have one without the other.
 
Right now I am planning to keep only the largest one. I was wondering wether I could put Rep-cal D3/calcium in the water without a UV light. Also, how big are the small crickets at petsmart?
 
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