Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
I know male adult 5 lined skinks cant be kept together but has anyone kept females (tank is large enough) together as adults without problems?

Thanks
Bianca

You can keep females together, but still look for some aggression, especially during feeding and basking sites. Nothing like males though. I kept and bred them for a few years. Had about 20 altogether, plus a bunch of hatchlings. In a 55 gallon with lots of climbing and hiding spots you can keep 2 males but one will be subordinate and probably be very stressed. Add a half dozen females and it will be a full tank. I would only go with one male though in any size tank. If breeding is not happening, place a male in a deli cup and put him in the tank to get the resident male upset. I have seen quick mating action once the intruder male was "run off" (removed after a few attacks). Hatchlings can be fed by placing cut up insects on a thin stick such as a broom straw and letting them attack the wiggling stick end. These guys like to bask at pretty warm temps too which was surprising. Keep cool end around 70F and hot spot around 95F. One of my all time favorite lizards to keep.
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James and Vickie Bryan
Bryan Reptiles
bryanreptiles.tripod.com
bryanreptiles@lycos.com
A good name is more desirable than riches
Proverbs 22:1

I had a trio 1.3 for a couple years. They are quite common where I live. Neat little critters. Male would actually eat a pinkie mouse every now and then. Can't wait till spring so I can find some more. I'd like to try and breed them and start a colony in the yard. Thanks for the info on your set up, by the way.

Quig

NP

Thanks for the great info. Lots help. I intend to keep 3 females and 1 male in a 40 gallon long tank (same size as 55 long but not as high).
I prefer it lower as basking light penetrates better and will ofcourse use that on one side of tank. I will put driftwood,etc and using non chemical non fertilizer soil .

I know they mostly hide but do come out here and there . Did yours eat fruit or just insects ? I never knew they have been captive bred thats great . Pet store I go to has babies. They claim to be able to sex them hope they are right .

thanks

Bianca

I've never known five-lined to eat anything but insects. Except that male I had that took a pinkie once in a while. If you're a bug hunter they will eat quite a variety. House flies, spiders, cockroaches, centipedes, millipedes. Anything small enough to fit in their mouth. Be careful of insecticides and such though.

Quig

Thanks . How did you catch the ones you had before ? I ask because they are faster than snakes infact if they sense you coming they take off like rockets.

They seem to sense the slightest thing as you approach them. A friend and I actually found a Ca kingsnake in Miami while looking for 5 lined skinks last year.
The king we caught lol but the skinks were to fast. We let him go right away . It was a banded black/white type looked chubby to imagine eating skinks since it was like 16 inches but the skinks I find so fast .

So I resort to pet store skinks lol .

Bianca

They are indeed VERY quick. I guess it's just the fun of the hunt. I hunt them around piles of wood or rubble near where I know they sun. If they dive in to hide they get dug out, sometimes. Generally I MISS many more than I catch. I have found that my children have quicker reflexes than I do , and they like truckin' in the woods as much as me. Teamwork is the key here.

Quig

lol yes teamwork is the key. I try to sneek up on them in my grandmas yard with a net . They are all over her patio and outside laundry room but when I get close boom they take off like lightning.
Thats a good idea looking under stuff .