Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have searched all over the internet for captive care of this species, and I have found nothing. I can't really find any care info for any of the North American skinks. I guess they are not widely kept like a lot of North American snakes are?

I have been interested in keeping them, and today I found one that I believe my cats injured. There appears to be a small puncture wound on his abdomen. It is not swollen or bleeding. Should I put some Neosporin or other medication on it?

I have some specific questions about their care...

Do they need UV lighting? I believe they are semi-fossorial so I don't know how important that would be.

What do they eat?

Do they have any special humidity requirements?

Thanks for any replies.
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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0.0 Banded California King
1.0.0 Mexican Black King
1.0.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
0.0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.2.0 Rubber Boas

I just fed him some silverfish I caught. He ate them very readily.
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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0.0 Banded California King
1.0.0 Mexican Black King
1.0.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
0.0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.2.0 Rubber Boas

I have an E. skiltonianus and a couple of E. gilberti. They tend to spend most of the time hiding, I have not found UV to be necessary but it couldn't hurt. I feed mine appropriately sized gutloaded crickets (my crickets are fen fish food, or high quality crushed dog and cat food with oranges for moisture before they are fed to my herps). All crickets are dusted with Rep-cal with vitamin D3 and herptivite. I really like these supplements, if you decide to go with a different brand make sure that the calcium supplement is phospherus free and if you're not using UV, I'd recommend that you definately get a supplement with vitamin D3. I provide a shallow water dish and regularly mist them and areas of the substrate. I've seen shedding problems when people have kept these guys without any moist areas. My room gets up into the low 80 during the day, and I have not found additional heat to be necessary.

Hope this helps,
Alice

Thank you very much for the reply!

I have an undertank heater on the tank he's in now, and he seems to be spending a lot of time on that side of the tank. When I found him he was stuck inside my pond and extrememly cold, so perhaps he is making up for that? For all I know he could have been in there for a few days.

He certainly is hungry... I don't know if these lizards are just pigs or if he was starving, but so far he's eaten about five silverfish (or jumping bristletails or whatever they are called) and one spider. He will even take the bugs from my fingers. It's a lot of food for such a tiny lizard. Should I feed him again today?
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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0.0 Banded California King
1.0.0 Mexican Black King
1.0.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
0.0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.2.0 Rubber Boas

I'd give him as much as he's willing to eat, especially if he's young and growing.

-Alice