Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I was given a schneider's skink today. A science teacher decided he didn't want it any more.
I wasn't particuarily interested in getting a new pet, but when I saw how the teacher was keeping the lizard... I couldn't leave it there. It had no place to hide, only had a small heat rock for warmth, no UVB lighting, and was being kept in a 10 gallon tank on kitty litter as a substrate.

So.... I guess I need to know more about how to keep this kind of lizard.

I've read the basics in online caresheets, but knew that I could probably find out more here.

Thanks!
Pamela

I only have 2 gold skinks (they are about 7 inches smaller I think) but they have the same basic needs. My cage is simple- a water dish for drinking or whatever they wanna do with it, a large chunk of petrified wood used to prop up a peice of fossiliferous limestone. this small shelter is enough to make them feel secure as it is just big enough for both to squeeze in. I have a heating pad below that for really cold nights, as my room is cold in the winter! I have the heat lamp above the shelter, which actually makes a nice large flat basking area. The substrate is an astroturf-like mat which they love going under. Most skinks (as my understanding goes) love to burrow and mine always hide under the substrate!!!
I spray down the cage 2-3 times a day cause it's dry in alberta!

oh yeah, if you're wanting more info: Look up berber skink on google or whatever. Berber skinks and schneiders skinks are the same thing according to what I've read!

dont forget to feed them, crickets and lots of other things, mine like natural turkey, crickets, cat food(friskas dry), and pinkworms

I aslo have a scnieder's(berber) skink. My skink doesn't have the most elaborate tank eather but it is way bicer than what it sounds like that teacher was keeping a skink in. Anyway I reacently needed some tips to and found this website very helpful; http://www.helsinki.fi/~tuomola/ So if you are still having trouble give it a try. By the way I think it is really cool that you took that poor skink out of a bad situation.