Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I recently got a bronze skink, well actually there was 4 of them that my friend had, but their water was all soil tinted, and he ended up killing or drowning 3 of them, until he decided to give the last one to me, he is now happily eating and drinking, and he seems very happy, anyways, I have been looking online forever, and cannot find a care sheeet for these little buggers! Can anyone give me a link or something for bronze skins, or maybe they are called something different. Thanks a lot, o yeah, if someone could at least give me there scientific name, that would be aweseom too.
-----
Mark B.

n/p
-----
Edward
Carpe diem

To be sure of the species of skink you have try pictoral plate guides in: Field Guide to Amphibians & Reptiles of Madagascar, F. Glaw and M. Vences; Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Friedrich-wihelm Henkel and Wolfgang Schmidt. Two resources of Herpetological and Reptile books with greatest variety are Zoo book sales and Amazon.com. There referances to research material and natural enviornment in these books. Also with the many adjecent Islands and Land masses to Madagascar there are subspecies and local specific differances in behavior and appearance. Not all trade names, which are general terms used in the business, are accurate pending lack of information available to Importers/Exporters. You might also try google.com, Images and try to find pictures similar to your Bronze skink. Without seeing the animal or referance material it would be a guess. Husbandry might also be trial and error if there is very little information available. European Kingsnake.com has German and English breeders with information not readily seen unless you search for it. If you would like more help feel free to email me as I have extensive Madagascan Lizard husbandry/breeding history.

Mabuya macularia is now called Eutropis macularia, the commom name was "Sun Skink" discovered in 1853 by Blith. It is now refered to as the "Bronze Grass Skink". I was orignially thinking "Bronze Skink" Madagascan Mabuya species since specific details were left out and no picture. Several speices of Mabuya are listed with iformation and referance material at

http://srs.embl-heidelberg.de:8000/srs5bin/cgi-bin/wgetz?[REPTILIA-Species:Mabuya*]

more detailed information with picture links on Eutropis (formerly Mabuya) at

http://www.nafcon.dircon.co.uk/skinks_eutropis.htm#B

Here is a english translation page to send for a caresheet in all details of husbandry at
http://www.futterhaus-online.de/caresheets/detail_mabuya_macularia,7748,7,english.html

I believe this is the information you need to get you started. There are many listed and the range is from Madagascar, Asia, and Inodnesian Islands. Let me know which one it is and the picture listed.

Thanks you!But, what your really trying to say is you can't find a care sheet?
-----
Mark B.

There are very few Care Sheets available. As in the 1970s' one must research geographical points of origin to get an idea of climate, seasonal conditions, habitat, food sources. Zoos, Herpetological Societies may have some information-they can also be emailed, and some sites have links to other information. I have only found a few care sheets, one at:
http://www.reptilica.de/shop/product_info.php?products_id=213, which is a German site that can be translated directly at that page and emailed directly for more information.

http://www.nafcon.dircon.co.uk/goldenskinks.html ,this is one of the few care sheets I was able to find. Most pages are in Japanese or German without translation available. There may be some information in Natual History books of Asia or Asian Reptile books. Basically you are starting from ground zero and will have to see what works/fails, keep records.

Thats cool, he is now in a 2 1/2 gallon tank that is freaking aweseom witha basking stick, and the whole thing is growing huge with grass.
-----
Mark B.