Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know these aren't kept very often, since I can't find very much info on them other than they are small and stay underground, but I figure it's worth a try. So, here's the story. I found a Scincella lateralis under some palm tree branches in my neighborhood in central Florida. At first, I didn't think she would eat in captivity, and I thought I would have to release her after a day or so, but after setting up a small enclosure with a thick layer of dirt as substrate, she promptly ate a fruit fly and some greens. So I thought I would keep her, since she adapted to captivity so well and so quickly. Also, after a few days of keeping her, she layed 4 eggs. Now, she is at my friend's house, but I go over almost every day to check up on her, since I am more experienced with reptiles. My friend bought some 1/4" crickets and she ate them eagerly. I'm pretty sure that's okay, but if not, what should I feed her? Also, she's in a pretty small container (one of the round deli cup type containers that small animals are displayed in at reptile shows, it's a circle with probably a 6-7" diameter and 3-4" tall) filled with 2.5" or so of "Forest Bedding." I'm not sure if that's fine or not. She does not have any heat or light. As for the eggs, they are in the container they were layed in, the same size as the one the skink is currently in (I took her out so the eggs could hatch undisturbed, I didn't know if she would do anything to them) and are on a heating pad that is at 90 degrees, give or take a few degrees, 24 hours a day. I also keep the dirt moist.

So, for people who don't want to read that big paragraph, here is a summary:

I have a recently WC ground skink that layed eggs a few days after I caught her. She and the eggs are in separate 6-7" deli cups, the eggs in dirt and heated to 90 degrees 24 hours a day and kept moist, her in the "Forest bedding" stuff that comes in compressed form and gets larger when put in water. She feeds well on 1/4" crickets and does not currently have heat or light.

If anyone knows anything about this species or similar species I would appreciate any advice, corrections, or confirmation of my care of her and the eggs.

If anyone wants pics of her, the eggs, or the enclosures I will be able to provide them.

We found the eggs on Thursday, 6/26, so they were layed either 6/25 at night or 6/26 in the morning. I've read they hatch about a month after they are laid.

Ok, well I ws gone for a few days and today I came back, to find out that the eggs were completely dried up, cracked, and had holes in them. Maybe they were infertile?

The heating pad cracked them. In future if that ever happens take the eggs place them in plastic,etc container in moist substrate and since we live in same state do what I have done place them in garage or in ANY shaded area that they wont get wet if it rains and the outside heat will hatch them.
It doesnt matter if its 90s or 70s at night they will hatch mine have .
Ground skinks are same care as 5 lined skinks but keep part of set up allways moist they seem to dehydrate fast but like you said they eat fruit flies -tiny crickets,etc.
If you keep them in patio or any un airconditioned place they dont need heat and I find they do great in backyard patio in shade area but overall I let them go as soon as I can.
They do better wild and belong wild. I have only kept a few as my neighbors cat has caught them and they were hurt but allways let them go in time.
My yard is a skink paradise 5 lined and ground.

Thanks, and sorry I couldn't get back sooner.

I to caught a ground skink but he won't eat. i found him in the woods and i bought what the people at petco reccomended but he's to small to eat the smallest criquets i could find. I even tried to cut them up but he still woulden't eat what should i do?