Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Over the past week, I've been reading up on crocodile skinks, and I think they're really neat lizards. I've been considerring maybe getting one as a pet, but I have a few questions first:

1. On a care sheet, I read that most of the ones available as pets are wild caught. However, the care sheet was written a few years ago. Is this still true?

2. I've read a lot of conflicting information whether or not they need UV lighting. Can someone clear this up for me? My thinking is it's better safe than sorry, but if it really doesn't need it, I won't bother.

3. Do you think they make a good beginner's lizard? I'm pretty good with turtles, but I'm new to lizards.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post,
Ryan

I think they make a very good pet lizard if you do not want to interact with them a lot.They are shy and they do not like to be handled a lot.Although they are not agressive they like to be left alone.Leo geckos are much easier to tame.

About UVB lights i think its better to provide one, your croc will be happier.He will bask under that lamp only a few hours a week but he will be healthier.When i bought my girl 4 years ago, i was said croc skinks didnt need UVB lights. Observing her i noticed that every morning and evening she became crazy trying to reach the sun rays she could see outdoors through the living room windows. So i started to put her cage in the sun twice a week for 15 minutes. She was really happy and i could see she enjoyed that.

Taking care of a croc skink is very easy. A 60cm by 30cm plastic box with a lid with holes because they are prone to get infections if not kept in a very well ventilated cage.A wet sponge box, a box full of mealworms raised in baby cereal ( I recommend NESTON), a dry hiding box, and a huge water bowl, the size must be around half of the cage with plastic plants because crocs are afraid of deep water. They like to climb on the plastic leaves.