How to Care for a Great Plains Skink

The Great Plains skink is in the reptile family, grows to be 7 to 10 inches long and has a long, slender body with small legs for burrowing. Caring for the Great Plains skink is moderately easy and not too time-consuming. Skinks like very warm temperatures and you will need to take special measures to ensure that they have enough heat. They like to feed on insects such as grasshoppers, mealworms and crickets and they should be fed daily. This creature likes to live in groups, so having more than one is a good idea.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-20 gallon fish tank
  • Sand
  • Mulch
  • Medium-size flat rock
  • Fish tank accessories
  • Small water dish
  • UV fluorescent light
  • 12-inch branch
  • Mealworms
  • Crickets
  • Grasshoppers
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Mix one part sand to one part mulch and line the bottom of a fish tank until it is 3 inches deep.

    • 2

      Place a medium-size rock in the center of the tank to give the skink a place to bask in the light. Place a 12-inch branch in the tank to give the skink a place to climb. Create some hiding spots for your skink by adding small fish tank accessories and fake plants.

    • 3

      Attach a UV fluorescent light to the fish tank. This will keep the skink's habitat at the correct temperature. The daytime temperature in the tank should be 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit to allow the skink basking time in the light. The temperature at nighttime should be 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 4

      Fill a water bowl one-quarter of the way for the skink's drinking water. Do not overfill the water bowl; the skink will knock it over and after time this will cause molding in the tank.

    • 5

      Feed the skink three times a day. Skinks tend to like a variety so change it up. Give grasshoppers in the morning, mealworms in the afternoon and crickets in the evening.

    • 6

      Clean the skink's tank regularly. Remove the skink, rock, branch and water bowl. Dump out the sand and mulch mixture and thoroughly wash the tank with warm, soapy water. Replace the sand and mulch mix, rock, branch and water bowl. Put the skink back into its clean tank.