Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm in the process of setting up a vivarium for my prehensile tailed skink. I'm dividing part of the lower portion of the cage for an aquatic area.

I'm wondering what other creatures would be safe habitating in the same vivarium as my skink. I've seen an enclosure with PTS and aquatic turtles, but I'm not making a real large water area in the tank, just a smaller area about 5 gallons or so. I just wanted to add a little more interest to the water feature by putting something alive in it, other than plants.

Thanks for any info.

-Jennifer

Something living in water under a PTS would not live a very sanitary life. The amount and frequency of waste produced by a PTS would be difficult to keep out of the water. The also like to go into water and do their buisness. If you can keep the water section blocked off from the skink, you may be able to pull it off, but it would be difficult. If you still think you can pull this off, I think it would look very cool. You could maybe try some sort of amphibian or fish. A turtle probably would not do too well with only five gallons. Turtle need three sources of water; one to swim in, one to drink, and one to defecate in, so I dont think you could pull of a turtle with five gallons. Good luck with this, jrbl

There is no turtle that can live happily in a 5 gallon tank. All amphibians shed toxins of some sort and that probably wouldn't be too hot to have in another animal's water source.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

And just in case all of that wasn't enough to turn you off to the idea...

Turtles can be carriers of Entamoeba invadens. This is a protozoa that is not harmful to the turtles, but is quite fatal to other reptiles (except crocodilians). Like Salmonella, it is difficult to reliably test for as it isn't shed all the time.

If you keep a turtle (or tortoise) with a snake or lizard you run the risk of the snake or lizard becoming infected and dying.

Don't risk it!

-Z

I would stick with plants. In fact I would not even put an aquatic portion in place unless you are planning to have a very heavy duty filter system as well. Your skink will be very happy with the extra humidity produced by a little pond and will probably enjoy soaking in it if it is shallow as well as use it as a toilet area, but bear in mind that a healthy eating PTS will produce large soft and smelly poop that will rapidly foul the water and filter of a little aquatic area- much easier to have removable soaking bowls- which wouldn't work if you want to have plants in the water or even fish.
Soapbox: (I appologize if this sounds harsh) If you choose to adopt or purchase any animal- you are it's caretaker. Do your best to create an enclosure that will be healthy and enjoyable for IT. If it has visual interest for you, bonus for you, but don't jepordize your PTS just to make a more attractive enclosure for you. I would definitely not mix in any other species in the enclosure, unless you have a room sized enclosure and can find something from the Solomon Islands that normally co-exists in the PTS microhabitat. Setting up multispecies environment is a job for a Zoo, not the average herp fan. Where, may I ask did you see an enclosure with PTS and turtles? Generally speaking, mixing any lizard with any turtle is a big NO NO- for the reasons Zeteki states.
Good luck with your PTS, Jess B

for an aquatic area.

I'm wondering what other creatures would be safe habitating in the same vivarium as my skink. I've seen an enclosure with
PTS and aquatic turtles, but I'm not making a real large water area in the tank, just a smaller area about 5 gallons or so. I just
wanted to add a little more interest to the water feature by putting something alive in it, other than plants.

Thanks so much for all the info!! That is why I asked rather than do something I shouldn't.

There is a local reputable reptile shop that has some sort of aquatic turtles in the bottom of one of those fancy new tanks setups that have arboreal area at the top and aquatic at the bottom.

I think I will still put an aquatic area in the tank, but leave it with only water in it. I do plan on changing it daily as I do the regular water bowl.

I'm so happy to have aquired such an incredible animal that I don't want to jeopardize her health for anything.

Thanks again!

-Jennifer

Enjoy your new PTS- they are absolutely fascinating animals. If you have a large set-up and this one does well, think about creating a breeding group. These guys are becoming increasingly rare in the wild, and captive breeding is coming increasingly important for the preservation of the species. Baby PTS are also pretty darn cute! If this is a recent import, try to get it to see a vet soon, and bring a feces sample to check for parastites. Many wild caught animals have heavy parasite loads.
cheers, Jess b
- here is a photo of the newest PTS babies in our house (born 10/13/03)