Breeding Grounds for Skinks

Skinks are a very diverse group of lizards with diverse breeding details. 45 percent of skink species are viviparous or ovoviviparous, which means that they give birth to live young. Fifty-five percent of skink species are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs. Skink breeding grounds must encourage males and females to mate successfully, and give females a safe place to lay eggs or birth young.

  1. About Skinks

    • Most skinks eat a lot of insects.

      Skinks are the most snakelike of all lizards, with cone-shaped heads, smooth, ovoid scales, and short, vestigial, or no limbs. Unlike snakes, skinks have autotomous, regenerative tails (can fall off and regrow). Skinks like to be able to cover themselves with substrate and to hide. Many are burrowers or sand swimmers, and they frequently live under rotting logs and in leaf litter. Skinks are good climbers, and a few species are arboreal. Most species are primarily carnivorous, some are omnivorous, and a few are herbivorous.

    Skink Breeding and Gestation

    • Skinks live in dry substrate with many hiding places.

      Skinks of both sexes are territorial. Female skinks move into male territories to breed. Males bite and mount females during mating, and occasionally inflict injuries. Males will fight each other over females. After breeding, females become pregnant or lay eggs depending on their species. Gestation averages 90 days, but can range from two weeks to eight months depending on species. Oviparous females stay with their eggs until they hatch, then eat any unhatched eggs. At birth or hatching, the babies eat their eggs, amniotic sacs or placentas, and the mother provides no further care. Some species have up to 25 young, but the average is five to 12. Skinks breed once per year.

    Natural Skink Breeding Grounds

    • Skinks breed in the spring in their normal habitats.

      Unlike many other animals, skinks do not travel to a specific location to breed. Skink breeding grounds include all normal skink habitats. Skinks breed in the spring. After awakening from brumation -- a form of hibernation -- females gradually become active and receptive to mating. After the females have eaten two or more times post-brumation, they seek out males in their typical habitat -- under logs, on forest edges, or in sandy soil.

    Captive Skink Breeding Grounds

    • Captive breeding enclosures should replicate skinks' natural habitat.

      For captive breeding, the female is introduced to the male's clean enclosure or to a neutral space, then returned to her own enclosure for gestation. Skinks must be in excellent health for successful breeding. They need a species-appropriate, nutritious diet, a large enclosure that is cleaned daily (minimum tank size is 40 gallons), and a water dish large enough to soak in that is also cleaned daily. They enjoy dry substrate with plenty of climbing and hiding places. Females may need a nest box with damp sphagnum moss. Skinks require full-spectrum UVB lighting and a temperature gradient appropriate for their species. Mothers should be separated from their young immediately after birth or hatching. Some females lay eggs without breeding. These eggs are infertile and, if not eaten by the female, should be discarded. Captive breeding challenges include providing artificial brumation, and difficulty telling the sexes apart in most species. A species care guide should be consulted before attempting captive breeding.