Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I currently have a six month old female skink(pictured). I want to start a circulus around her. I have seen gravid females for sale in the classifieds. I have heard gravid females can be a bit tempermental, but would one get along with another female. I think it would be a good idea to introduce a gravid female as the baby would then be accepted into the new group. Should I get a male before I think about babies? I have heard that the best way to start a circulus is with 1-2 female and a male. Would it be a bad idea to introduce a gravid female to my six month old girl?
I also had a question about coloration and scale patter. Do skinks care what other skinks look like? I was thinking of getting skinks that looked like the skink I already have, but now I am rethinking that. I thought it would be a good idea to get ones that look alike beacaue they might get along better, but does it really matter? Now I think it would be cool to get skinks with different colors and scale patters so the babies would have cool new colors and variations. Does anyone know anything about this type of thing?

Oh, I have heard "Prehensile-Tailed Skinks" by Coborn mentioned in here before, and I had a question about something in it. There is apicture of a skink on the back cover, as well as in the book, that is the coolest looking skink I have ever seen. It has the word "sickness" right about it on the back cover. It is greyish in color. Does anyone know where to get a skink like that? Is it from a certain island or something, or are these kind found all over the skinks range? Thanks for all the help, and sorry for the long post, jrbl(Josh)

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (LCRC)

Hi Josh,

The morph you mention from Colburn most likely hails from Bouganville-Papua New Guinea. Obtaining one would be nearly impossible unless she/he was illegally smuggled in direct or slipped over to West Irian to the east or the Solomons to west and gotten out before the ban. Papua New Guinea is an Australian protectorate and as such, is VERY restrictive on any animal exportation.

On different phenotypes, Most of the time, there is no problem with exceptance. With Corucia, it appears to be more a matter of personality in acceptance than appearance. On breeding, what you exspect in the markings of the offspring and what you get are commonly different.

On introducing your Neonate to a new Circulus environment, I have experienced many, many times young Corucia who have been ripped form there mothers and have been very stressed. In all cases, they calmed down upon introduction and adoption into the new Circulus. In most cases, it has been established pairs 1.1 or 1.2. You could try a gravid female but as with any Corucia introduction, constant vigilance is crucial. If you have a new pair, be sure they are comfortable with each other and their enclosure when introducing the baby. You can also start with introductions in Neutral Territory. This is common practice and recommended by my colleague and Sweetheart, Sherri.

If you can, try to create a family for your baby. You will definately see a positive result.

Best of luck to you!

Brian
LCRC