Sitemaps

shinglebacks2007-11-24 2:02:41

FACTS, DIET THE WORKS PLEASE?

Answers:

Shingle-back skinks can grow to fourteen inches, originate in Southern Australia, and eat mostly insects, invertebrates, and plants. They're one of very few monogamous reptiles, returning to mate with the same male or female every year, if possible. By the way, exporting animals from Australia is highly illegal; you'll pay a lot for a shingleback.

A terrarium only needs to be about 100 cm x 100 cm for a pair of skinks, because they aren't very active, but low humidity and good ventilation is really important. They also get very nervous if flies manage to get into their cages.

They're omnivores, and not picky about what they eat. They should be fed twice a week during spring and fall, and about once a week during the summer. They'll readily eat zucchini, spinach, squash, tomato, pumpkin, flowers, cabbage, almost anything you can find in a garden or at the store, even fruits like apples, but you shouldn't give them much fruit. They also need protein, but not much, and small fish, dead mice, worms, fish food (for Koi or salmon), tinned dog or cat food should all do. If you're keeping them indoors, you'll also need to supplement them with vitamins. Finely-ground eggshell will do. As far as water goes, fill a bowl every two weeks and leave it in the cage for a couple of hours. More than that, and the humidity will be too high for them.

The best bedding is a layer of dust-free sand, covered in a thin layer of wood chips. Conifer chips won't work.