How to Care for a 5-Lined Skink

Five-lined skinks are small, brightly patterned reptiles common to the United States. They grow to between 5 and 8 inches long, and are relatively friendly, making them a good choice for a beginner reptile keeper. They can be quick, which sometimes makes them difficult to hold, but they are easy to care for, and don't require too much space. These skinks are often confused with the blue-tailed skink, as five-lined skinks start life with a blue tail, which fades as they mature. Luckily, the care of these two species is fairly similar.

Things You'll Need

  • 20-gallon terrarium
  • Soil or bark substrate
  • Bark, plants or flowerpots
  • Water bowl
  • Full-spectrum light
  • Basking light
  • Under terrarium heating pad
  • Water mister
  • Live insects
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a habitat of about 20 gallons in size for the five-lined skink. Larger terrariums also work, although the skink generally doesn't need that much space.

    • 2

      Spread about 3 inches of orchid bark or potting soil in the bottom of the terrarium. This will provide a place for the five-lined skinks to burrow or dig.

    • 3

      Place several hiding spots in the terrarium. These can be created with large pieces of bark, plants or unglazed, tipped over flowerpots. Other reptile terrarium decorations can also be used.

    • 4

      Place a wide, shallow water bowl in the terrarium. Clean the bowl and give your skink fresh water every day.

    • 5

      Place a full-spectrum light over the terrarium. This light will provide some warmth, as well as the necessary vitamin D the skink needs in order to thrive. Place a basking light over one end of the terrarium. This basking light may not be necessary if your full spectrum lighting provides enough heat. The basking side of the terrarium should be between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the cooler end of the terrarium should be between 70 and 80 degrees. An under terrarium heating pad can be used to keep the habitat warm at night.

    • 6

      Mist the terrarium whenever it appears to be getting dry. This may mean misting it every day, or only once every several days. Five-lined skinks require only low to moderate humidity. It's important to never allow the substrate to become soggy, and to allow the terrarium to almost fully dry out before misting again.

    • 7

      Feed the five-lined skink every other day. If it's a young skink, it can be fed every day. Offer between two and five insects at each feeding, adjusting the amount as you find out how much your skink wants to eat. Insects that can be fed include mealworms and crickets. These insects should be less than half the size of the skink's head. They should be dusted with a vitamin supplement powder before being offered as food.