Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi

My name is Melanie Dann, im 19 years old, at Great Yarmouth College, Norfolk, studying Btec National Diploma In Animal Management. For one of my subjects 'Exotics' i have got to desgin and actually do a breeding programme for my chosen species, which is Berber Skinks.

I was wondering if anyone could answer some questions for me please.

1) Does the temperature play any part in what sex the young will turn out to be as it does in some other species?

2) Are there any measurements which have to be undertaken to prepear the parents for breeding?
Such as seperating the parents for a time period before they are due to mate. Changing their terrarium in any way.

3) What should be provided for the female so that she can lay her eggs? E.g, a nest?

4) What care does the young need once they've hatched? Including what foods can they eat?

5) Will adult Skinks breed together, even if they have lived together for a number of years?

I would appreciate any help that you could give me...
Hope to hear from you soon,

Mel X

Managment of Exotics Outcome 2? Or the prep part for Outcome 1?
I'm doing the same course.

1) Does the temperature play any part in what sex the young will turn out to be as it does in some other species?

No, the youg are determined by genes only. Incubate the eggs at around 28C. Apparently the eggs are best left with the mother, but if she abandons them, keep them in the incubater on a mix of sand and vermiculite.

2) Are there any measurements which have to be undertaken to prepear the parents for breeding?
Such as seperating the parents for a time period before they are due to mate. Changing their terrarium in any way.

Seperation may help, but i'm sot sure as to what extent. Providing a new environment is also meant to help. Because my male has never had the company of another Berber skink, i will be slowly introducing them to each other up until the christmas period, in which i will keep them together in one vivarium, then as the temperature rises back again, i shall put them into a larger vivarium in a quiter area.
Also, dropping the temperature and daylight hours over winter, so that in december, the day time hours are between 6-8, and the temperature about 26C, bringing it back up into March to normal hours.

3) What should be provided for the female so that she can lay her eggs? E.g, a nest?

I'm using sphagnum moss in a plant pot, sprayed occasionally to give them a bit of moisture. You could try using a box of some sort, with a hole but in the side for access.

4) What care does the young need once they've hatched? Including what foods can they eat?

Straight onto an insectivorous diet. small crickets are the best option. The babies should eat after their first shed, which will take 3-4 days, but they might eat before then.

5) Will adult Skinks breed together, even if they have lived together for a number of years?

They should do. They do in the wild, so as long as you're providing adequate surroundings and conditions, there shoudl be no problem.

Good luck, and if you need any more info, just ask

Thankyou so much!

The answers you gave me should be a big help.
To be honest im not sure which of the two im doing.. as far as i know it's just general care and management of Exotic animals. When i started this course in 2002 it had just been changed from the years before.

Thanx for the quick reply, i was told that Berber Skinks do not breed well in captivity, so im trying my hardest to find out as much as i can so i get it right.

You said that if i needed any more answers then i should just ask you, well would you mind giving me your e-mail address please? As it would be easier to contact you. If you said no i would understand.

Thanx again,
Mel X

Well, i'm here most the time, but my addy is Rupture39@hotmail.com

Lovely, thanx alot
Mel X

>>Apparently the eggs are best left with the mother, but if she abandons them, keep them in the incubater on a mix of sand and vermiculite.

The mother doesn't take care of the eggs. Only guards them, so changes for failure are quite high. Expecially if they lay their eggs on dry sand (which they for some reason tend to do).

Aino
-----
www.helsinki.fi/~tuomola/

> For one of my subjects 'Exotics' i have got to desgin and
> actually do a breeding programme for my chosen species, which > is Berber Skinks.

Great! I wish you all the luck. Which species are you talking about? The berber skink (Novoeumeces algeriensis) or the Schneider's skink (sometimes referred to berber skink), Novoeumeces schneideri?

>>1) Does the temperature play any part in what sex the young will turn out to be as it does in some other species?

No.

>>2) Are there any measurements which have to be undertaken to prepear the parents for breeding?
>>Such as seperating the parents for a time period before they are due to mate. Changing their terrarium in any way.

I have only shorthened the photoperioid from 14 to 6 hours and turned the heat off at the mid winter for a month or so (in room temp).
I have had better luck keeping them together year round than introducing them to male. But I haven't had that much experience yet.

>>3) What should be provided for the female so that she can lay her eggs? E.g, a nest?

Mine have laid eggs in their hide place on dry sand which was pretty surprising as I provided multiple agglaying boxes.

>>4) What care does the young need once they've hatched? Including what foods can they eat?

No special care. Just like the adults.

>>5) Will adult Skinks breed together, even if they have lived together for a number of years?

I don't think that affects.

>>I would appreciate any help that you could give me...
>>Hope to hear from you soon,

I succesfully bred my schneider's this year. There is some info on my homepage.

http://www.helsinki.fi/~tuomola/s_breeding.html

Aino

Aino's Skink Page

-----
www.helsinki.fi/~tuomola/