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fudrick
at Sun Jun 29 20:16:18 2008 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by fudrick ]
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.
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Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis) care - fudrick, Sun Jun 29 20:16:18 2008
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