Reptile & Amphibian Forums

1 single egg was laid tonight... looks good, nice and pink. Mother is pissed as I have her in new cage just incase there are more to come...but I have an egg!

I have been hoping for eggs for 5 yrs from this pair!!!
Now I just have to wait a few more months...I hate waiting...

>>1 single egg was laid tonight... looks good, nice and pink. Mother is pissed as I have her in new cage just incase there are more to come...but I have an egg!
>>
>>I have been hoping for eggs for 5 yrs from this pair!!!
>>Now I just have to wait a few more months...I hate waiting...
>>

Very cool! Congrats...
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Yes, Congratulations!! I have noticed that they tend to lay them all at once. I wonder if she laid any more?

I have one in an incubator right now, but I think I lost it due to improper handling of humidity and/or non-sterile vermiculite. So mad at myself, but I *did* have a newborn 8-week-old baby when she laid them (one was a dud) so I feel I have an excuse! The egg is so wrinkled and even has mold, but the weird thing is that it does not stink, and I have read miracle stories of eggs that looked bad hatching, but I will not hold out too much hope.

These eggs were laid by my second pair of Schneidy's. The male was brought back from looking skeletal when I got them so I am extra proud of him now (big beefy and ACTIVE!) My first couple laid a pair of eggs last year and I was very careful and they both hatched! So they are both about a year old now and growing nicely.

I adore these lizards and am so happy to hear that others are working hard to breed them, even though they don't lay very many eggs and are sold for so cheap as wild caught. I read somewhere that they may only breed every 2-3 years! But I think they might live a long time. The male of my first couple I have had for 10 years, and someone else owned him before that. So even if they only breed every 2-3 years, if they live 20 years and have 2 babies every 3 years, that comes out to over a dozen babies in a lifetime! (which is like one litter in a blue tongue though )

Good luck! and please keep us posted on the egg. Super congrats on getting the egg... you have to have the right conditions and they have to be really healthy and content to breed so you are a super good lizard parent!!!
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Lisa Rakestraw
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My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

Hubby's snake:
0.1 Lampropeltis alterna (Sandy)

Thanks! I am excited.. All looks good so far.. egg is healthy and pink. But it has only been about 2 weeks..

The happy parents are back together..the male looked so depressed without her.

There is a website out there on the schneider..and I followed the breeding/hibernation page almost perfectly.. and the skinks did everything that page said they would..even breeding in May, laying Late June..etc. Think I will give them a cooling break this year and just feed the hell out of them.

As for the single egg..it will be the most spoiled little lizard ever.. I could care less about getting money out of this. But a Captive bred Schneider skink does sound awesome!

Cheers,

Billie

Hi - Congrats on the egg! I am very interested in getting a Schneider's skink and have look high and low for a CB with no luck!

Are they as easily handled and tame as I have read?

Also....I have seen lots of photos of them and have noticed that some are very light in color. I love the looks of the lighter colored ones and was wondering if that had to do with anything such as, sex, age, etc? Do the lighter ones have a name for it? Or is it just dependant on the animal itself?

Thank you for any info you can offer

Schneider's skinks can change color according to temperature. So one that looks light one day can look dark on another day.

You will have a *very* hard time finding CB babies. Pet stores can buy loads of wild caught lizards for relatively cheap. And since they only lay 2-5 eggs every 2-3 years there is little incentive to breed them. A sad and likely unsustainable situation.

Fortunately this lizard has a wide range of occurrence, virtually all over the Middle East and North Africa, so hopefully they can hold on, but no animal population is limitless, and many long-time hobbyists have seen animals that used to be a dime a dozen now extremely rare.

Yes, this species seems to have a naturally friendly personality (with some exceptions). I have two babies that were born last August and they are incredibly wary of my presence, but are slowly coming around with handling. There is a natural instinct in almost all lizards to be "born running."

You should not have a hard time finding wild-caught adults and then you can start breeding them yourself.
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

Hubby's snake:
0.1 Lampropeltis alterna (Sandy)

I talked to a couple of petstore owners.. They told me they can buy these skinks for as little as $3.00 each..and then sell them for like $19-$25.

99% of all schneider skinks are wild caught and imported in mass numbers. Many of these guys never make it to the petstore..ie die in transit. Because of the parasite risk to other reptiles, many reputable Petshops will not carry them..but there are still crappy shops out there.

There is a local Petshop that is selling one..has had it for well over a year). But it has also been living with a wild caught Fire skink. I just can't take the risk of disease.(if I had a quarantine area I would jump on it.

As for tame/friendliness.. I have noticed the ones with the nasty temperament usually have a reason..mites, parasites, or poor environment.

My breeding pair are longterm captives from Petco..and were cleaned out before they were sold..and have a great temperament.. I take them to every educational display I am involved with. They handle very well and even allow the kids to pet and hold them without threat of biting or running off.

I have a third schneider's, named Zombie (cause he came back from the dead), that was rescued from a garage..in the most horrible condition..I actually brought him home for a warm place to die..he was that bad off.. But he bounced back better than ever... Zombie will not let anyone touch him..wants nothing to do with us humans..other then feeding time. and I don't blame him.

Billie

Thanks, you guys, for all the great info, very helpful!!

What are you thoughts and opinions on "farm raised, imported" ones? I know of a big reputable company that guarantees them to be clean and healthy.

Or, if you happen to know any CB for sale that would be fantastic!

Thanks again!

Buyer beware! I bought several African dwarf geckos from a well known business (used to be sponser on kingsnake). It looked real good, these were supposed to be long-term wildcaughts..and treated for parasites.. but within 2 weeks they started dying off.. Contacted them - called and emailed..and never heard back.. within a month all 10 geckos died and since it was past their 14 day guarantee.. No refund, no nothing. I was not only out the $200 spent but the geckos had to suffer..Necropsy on one showed worms, and another had a gut loaded with calci-sand... I NEVER USE THAT STUFF.

And then I found reviews of the company online.. And all was not a pretty as the KS people claimed. A vendor is just a vender, they are only there to sell you something.

Thank you for the warning, that is crazy!

What substrate do you use for your Schneider's? I have read that a lot of people use play sand (all the caresheets say to use clean sand) and that what I was thinking of using.

I have never heard of farm-raised Schneider's skinks... I suppose it is possible, over in Egypt... but then we'd be seeing babies for sale... like with iguanas... no, I don't think anyone is farming Schneider's skinks... sounds like a load of horse-hooey.

I keep mine on sand and the breeder who set up a blog on angelfire also uses sand. I know of one long-time keeper who uses corncob substrate, but he's not breeding them (although I'm not sure if that would make a difference).

Best of luck! Let us know what you end up with! It sounds like you are just wanting a pet, not wanting to breed... am i correct?
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

Hubby's snake:
0.1 Lampropeltis alterna (Sandy)

I currently use bed-a-beast or cocofiber and works great. I have also used millet. I know beardie breeders who have success with it. Safe if eaten, they can burry in it, and it holds the heat pretty well.

Billie

Thanks everyone for all the info and luck!! I do just want one for a pet. I'll let ya know what I end up with.

Thanks!

When you find that special skink.. pick it up, handle it, look at its scales. You want nice, clean and smooth skin. Eyes should be clear, the vent should be clean as well. Crusty, flaky skin (or eyes) is a good sign of mites deep under the scales. Lizards shed in pieces, but these skinks kind of "swim" out of their sheds..

A dirty vent is gut problems &/or worms, diarrhea? The poop should be kind of dry and firm. Don't be afraid to pass on the buy if you don't feel is it healthy!

Schneider's are super hardy lizards and you will have years of awesomeness when you do get one.. I have well over 40 reptiles and these skinks are THE favorite (next to a certain red-foot tortoise that is)

Billie
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Http://www.myspace.com/oregonherpaholic - Educational Show & Tell.

Great, thanks so much for all the info!

I am not in a big hurry right now...I'm taking my time, finding out everything I can. When I do get one, I'll definately post it!

Thanks again

3 weeks and all looks good.. I did the candle thing(with flashlight) nice and pink in center, with a definite black squiggly thing at the rear of egg!

Mom and Dad skink are back together..the male was rather depressed as he is always sleeping next to her. And She lost a lot of weight with the whole laying egg thing, but should get back to her plump figure soon.

I know I shouldn't count the egg before it hatches, but I am very excited...I am so inlove with these skinks it's crazy.

Cheers!!!

Sounds Very Good!

I finally slit my egg which had collapsed and turned ugly (it was 6 weeks after laying) and there was no sign of an embryo at all! It was around 2 weeks after laying that I didn't check on it for about 3 days and on the third day I checked it and it had deflated. The temps in the incubator were fine, but the humidity in the deli cup had gotten too high, which doesn't seem like that would cause an egg collapse... I heard that too high humidity causes the eggs to burst... but it's hard to say. I also had used non-sterile vermiculite (the same stuff that I hatched out the other two eggs last year--dumbest mistake ever) so there may have been spores and dormant microbes just waiting to consume the eggs. In the end it could have been that the egg just wasn't fertile, which would be weird, considering that I saw them mating, but if they didn't mate at the right time, maybe it didn't work.

Sorry if I jacked your post... mostly I just wanted to contribute to the general discussion of Schneider's skink eggs... it's not often that this topic comes up on Kingsnake!!

The dark little squiggly thing sounds very promising! BTW, what is your incubator set-up? You said you have 40 lizards... do you regularly breed other lizards too?
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

No problem on the Jacking... I have posted with these skinks before and never got a look. Schneider's need more fans!

My incubator is just standard Hovabator knockoff.. Have it set at ~83/85 depending on my room temp. my apt. can get very hot sometimes. I am using vermiculite, somewhat moist but have noticed that the egg seems fine even if the medium gets dry. And it was laid on dry medium and didn't even have a look of drying up. I would assume these skinks bury the eggs under sand - dry but humid??

As for the other herps.. I have about a dozen snakes(cornsnakes, Mexican kingsnakes), half dozen turtles, tortoise and a terrapin, half dozen frogs, 3 Schneider's and a blizzard leopard gecko.. I breed the snakes every other year or so. And have tried to stimulate the skinks to breed every year but this is first time they have done anything but "fool around". - they do that all the time! - I have a small zoo.

Billie
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Http://www.myspace.com/oregonherpaholic - Educational Show & Tell.

Totally understand the excitement... for some reason these lizards elude our efforts to breed them! I know the feeling of totally falling in love with the baby! There *is* something so special about these lizards.

I'm not on myspace anymore, just facebook now.
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

>>I'm not on myspace anymore, just facebook now.

Diddo... Myspace went away with all the fun graphics and I just haven't shutdown the frogpage. I too am a facebook junkie..Also do Reptile geeks..facebook for reptile folk..

Ooooh, Reptile Geeks sounds right up my alley!

And that *is* a cute picture of the frogs with one's arm over the other on your myspace page! I used to volunteer at the Desert Museum and took a bunch of photos of the frogs and toads that were in the back rooms that I took care of. All the pics are on my facebook page if you find me over in that realm!
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

Wow! That is so exciting....can't wait to see pics of the baby (fingers crossed).

What are you plans for the baby....any chance at all you'll sell it to a good, loving home??

my plans or hopes is to find another captive bred baby for sale to put with it..but it is not for sale..at least not until full grown and male..even then it is my first baby..so???

I totally don't blame you....it was a shot in the dark.

If you happen to find more than 1 CB....keep me in mind!

Thanks

don't be afraid of the wildcaughts... most of these guys are.. and I believe they are one of the best starter lizards.. awesome attitude. Easier then a beardie (not as laid back), More active then a leopard gecko.
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Oregonherpaholic @ Reptile Geeks Dot Com

I second Oregonherps' thoughts on WC. On the one hand I greatly applaud you for only seeking CB out... it sounds like you have a moral principle to only buy CB--is that true? If so, that is commendable, and very important for some people to stay firm on that principle...

That said, if you look at it from another perspective... once the individual animal is caught, there is no way that individual will go back to the wild. If you really love the species then you can think of buying a WC animal as kind of like a rescue... How many Schneider's skinks get bought up by people who have no idea what they are doing and end up killing it through improper husbandry or neglect? Especially since they are one of the cheaper animals and are known to be "handleable". If you are committed, you will be making a difference for that individual.

And yet, I can totally understand wanting to say, "No, I don't want to support the reptile-catching industry AT ALL!" Probably a moral dilemma that all herp-nuts have to face at one point or another.
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

Yes, you are correct with it all! It's hard, it is a moral dilemma. I'd rather not support wild collecting but it seems that is all there is, so tough! It could be like a rescue, from someone who sees an inexpensive, nice reptile and doesn't treat it right.

But, I'm gonna take my time and cross my fingers. Maybe look more into the farm raised ones, see what's that all about.

Thanks, you all, for everything!

Farm raised reptiles are product of wild caught (and wild bred) animals placed into large somewhat natural pens..the eggs are then collected and raised..sometimes by humans, sometimes left to the elements...and then sold in mass numbers to buyers around the world. Ball Pythons, green Iguanas are just a few of the herps bred this way.

These skinks are imported in mass numbers, yet not threatened in the wild...I would assume they are already farmed...would be much easier to collect the babies if all in one area.

Billie
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Oregonherpaholic @ Reptile Geeks Dot Com

Update?
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
1.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Kaa, Cochisa and their babies; Mabel)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata