How to Care for an Orange-Eyed Crocodile Skink

Orange-eyed crocodile skinks, Tribolonotus gracilis, are a unique species of lizard with an orange ring around their eyes, hence their name. They are medium-sized lizards and rarely exceed a foot in length. These skinks are not uncommon in the pet trade despite their rarity in the wild. Orange-eyed crocodile skinks are not difficult to care for in a home terrarium and require minimal experience. They are also gentle enough to be handled, making them ideal for children and adults alike.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass aquarium (10-gallon minimum, 20-gallon recommended)
  • Screen lid
  • Tank lid clips (optional)
  • Cypress mulch
  • Wood and other cage decor
  • Water bowl
  • Full-spectrum fluorescent light with fixture
  • Dome lamp
  • Heat bulb, 75 watt
  • Red bulb (optional)
  • Terrarium fogger
  • Spray bottle
  • Thermometer
  • Hygrometer
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Instructions

  1. Setting Up the Cage

    • 1

      Place the tank away from direct sunlight. You don't want it to get too hot, as these skinks prefer humid environments and too much heat may dry it out.

    • 2

      Lay a layer of cypress mulch at the bottom of the tank, at least 2 inches deep. Cypress mulch retains moisture better than a lot of other substrates, so it's an ideal choice.

    • 3

      Place wood and other decor around the tank. These skinks are good climbers and having terrarium "furniture" will keep them occupied and less stressed.

    • 4

      Place a water bowl on one side of the tank. The bowl should be deep enough for the skink to soak in, but not deep enough to potentially drown it.

    Heating the Environment

    • 5

      Secure the lid to the top of the tank; it should be screened for ventilation and secure. Consider purchasing locking tank lid clips to ensure you won't have any escapes.

    • 6

      Screw the heat bulb into the dome lamp and place it atop the screen lid, facing down into the tank. Put it on one side of the enclosure so that skink has a hot and cool side.

    • 7

      Place the thermometer below the dome lamp in the tank and turn on the lamp. Wait ten minutes and monitor the heat level. If it goes above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, then use a bulb with lower wattage. Ideally, the enclosure should be between 76 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Caring for Your Lizard

    • 8

      Turn off the heat bulb and full-spectrum bulb at night to simulate natural daylight cycles. As an option, you can use a red bulb at night so the skink will have heat but there will still be relative darkness.

    • 9

      Spray down the tank with warm water every day and install a terrarium fogger to help keep the humidity levels up. Use a hygrometer, which you can place next to the thermometer, to monitor the humidity. It should always be between 70 and 100 percent.

    • 10

      Clean and refill the water bowl on a daily basis. The skink may defecate in its bowl, which could lead to the spreading of dangerous pathogens.

    • 11

      Replace the cypress mulch at least once a week. This will help keep the tank clean as well as eliminate any wastes the skink has dropped. Place the animal in a temporary tank while you are cleaning.

    • 12

      Feed the skink daily. Simply drop the food in its enclosure and it will find it. Skinks eat crickets, grubs, mealworms and other meaty live foods. Adult skinks may occasionally accept a pinky mouse, but feed these sparingly.