Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All!

I have been looking into keeping and breeding orange-eyed crocodile skinks (tribolonotus gracilis) for awhile now but the conflicting information I find on the web is absolutely frustrating! I also don't hold much faith in most of the reptile stores around here, even if I do work at one.

This is what I have gathered so far:
Cool-side temp: 75
Basking temp: 88-90
Ambient temp: 75
Humidity: 80-100%
Food: Mealworms (kept in a feeder dish), feeder fish, silkworms, crickets (not leaving many in the terrarium), earth worms, cockroaches. All gut loaded properly.
Powders: Calcium powder mostly, multivitamin and D3 once per week.
UVA and UVB light is a must. Replace bulbs every 7-9months.
Water feature that is deep enough for complete submersion/swimming.
Substrate that is not too wet.
A moist and a dry hide spot.
Little to no handling, especially if I want to breed them.

My Questions:
Is the above information correct? If not, please tell me anything and everything!
How many times per week should I feed a crocodile skink that is three inches from nose to vent?
What is the ideal weight for males and females when it comes to breeding? (I won't know the age of the skinks unfortunately.)
What is the ideal size of a terrarium for a pair of these skinks?
Is it safe to keep a pair together before they are of the right age/weight to breed?

Normally I would know all of this but my very generous boyfriend bought me one of these cuties for V-Day. I'm kinda on a crash course to learn everything I can before it is in my care. So, I figure you all are the experts so where better to turn?

Thanks for your time and sorry for the super long post! Any and all information is helpful and needed!

Hiya I have been keeping these beautifull lizards for at least 6 years now. I have bred them several times (but it's hard to keep the babies alive!)

I keep them at about 21 degrees celsius, I keep them rather on a dry substrate that is slighly moist/damp. To wet and they get waterpocks!
Breeding age is at around 3 to 4 years of age, when they are fertile they develop bright yellow markings on ther chin, belly and feet! If it's a wild caught animal it is probably mature.
My oldest animal I had was a huge male of at least between 15-20 years old!

I do not use UV lights with them, normal plant spots which don't heat up that much. I have water bowls in all their enclosures. They drown quickly!! A friend of mine has lost alot of animals that way, from babies to adults!

I just feed them once a week crickets, but they have a 24/7 acces to mealworms.

Thay have parental care with the youngster and they protect the egg when it is laid! Incubating them in a incubator can cause problems with the babies when commincating with other animals!
The studbook keeper of this species lets the egg hatch inside the enclosure and he has stronger and better performing animals.
Studbook : www studbooks org

If you have any questions please ask them!