Many enjoy keeping lizards as pets.A skink is an excellent pet.Make sure your skink has plenty of space to hide and roam.A skink needs a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.When interacting with a skink, take care.Skinks can be very social if they're handled with respect.
Step 1: You should get the right tank for your skink.
Bigger is better for a skink's tank.Skinks need a lot of room to roam.Hatchlings can fit in a 10 to 20 gallon tank.If you have a bigger skink, make sure the tank is at least 30 to 40 gallons.It's nice for a skink to have more room to roam if you have the money.
Step 2: The tank should be filled with something.
Substrate is used to fill a tank.It's important to use a material that is comfortable for your skink.You need at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) of a quality substrate for your skink.It's usually a good idea to mix soil, sand, and wood chips.If you live near a pet store that sells reptiles, you may be able to find a reptile-specific product.It's important to keep the substrate damp.It shouldn't be soaking wet, but it should be moist.The skinks need a humid environment.
Step 3: The tank should be kept at the right temperature.
Skinks need a warm and cool end of their tank.Animals keep their bodies warm and cold by changing environments.A small area of the tank should be warmer than the room temperature.The cooler end of the tank should be kept warm by a few UV lightbulbs.Don't put the tank in your house if it gets very cold or hot during certain times of the day.The area should be around 90 degrees.You can buy an under tank heating device at a pet store.Overhead heating lamp can be used.The heating lamp should be turned off at night if you use both.
Step 4: Adequate humidity is maintained.
The tank doesn't need to be very humid or have regular mist.You need to provide your skink with a water bowl to keep the tank humid.If you want to lie down in the tank, you need a shallow water bowl.
Step 5: You should have plenty of room to dig and hide.
Skinks will get bored if they don't have places to hide.Hidey holes and other enclosures are available at your local pet store.When your skink wants privacy, place these around the tank.Make sure it's six inches deep.This will allow your skink to hide.
Step 6: Feed your skink insects.
Skinks eat insects.There is a pet store where you can buy insects.You can see if you can purchase insects online if there's not a pet store near you.The main part of your skink's diet should be insects and crickets.You can feed king worms and mealworms to your skink.Make sure the prey is alive.Skinks don't have to eat insects.
Step 7: Fruits and vegetables are good for your skink's diet.
Skinks enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables.Adding some extra vitamins can help supplement your skink's diet.Some vegetables are good to serve with your skink.Fruits that skinks like include figs, strawberries, and mangos.
Step 8: Don't use certain products.
Before feeding your skink, read the nutrition information.Skinks shouldn't be fed food that's been treated with pesticides.You shouldn't give your skink any food with artificial coloring.Chicken and meat/bone meal should not be given to a skink.
Step 9: Each day, replace your skinks' water.
Skinks get a lot of sand and debris in their water.You should have a water bowl in your skink's cage.You should replace the water in this bowl every day.
Step 10: It is a good idea to avoid cage mates in general.
Skinks won't do well with a cage mate.You should stick to one skink per tank.Skinks are territorial.One or both skinks may end up with missing limbs if you introduce a cage mate.
Step 11: If they're the same size, introduce them.
If you have a second skink, be careful.Make sure the tank mate is the same size as your skink.Smaller skinks will attack them.You should not keep the skinks in separate cages if they start fighting.These tend to be very territorial if you have a fire skink.Introducing a cage mate is a bad idea.
Step 12: Handle your skink with care.
Proper handling is required for skinks to learn to be social.Make sure to treat your skink with respect.Improper handling can cause your skink to bite.When a skink is not expecting it, never handle it.Don't pick up a sleeping skink.Before you attempt to pet or pick it up, make sure the skink knows you are there.Support the skink's body weight when holding it.Don't turn a skink upside down.This causes distress.When handling a skink, avoid sudden movements.
Step 13: Children need to know how to handle a skink.
Talk to children about how to handle a skink.Make sure they know how to handle the skinks with care, and not to do anything that could frighten them.Young children may not know how to control themselves around an animal.