Schneider's Skink Care Sheet
Lizard
12 - 16 inches long
15 - 20 years
Omnivore
Diet & Nutrition
Schneider's Skinks are omnivores, although they eat mostly insects. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, superworms, and cockroaches. Adult skinks can eat small pinkie mice in moderation. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, and fruit in small amounts.
Feeding Schedule
Feed babies daily. Adults should also eat daily, although they will likely eat less than a baby. Feed an 80/20 mix of insects and vegetation. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes.
Housing & Habitat
Schneider's Skink's are from Southwest Africa and Western Asia. They are ground dwellers and love to hide. Provide plenty of hiding places along with flat basking surfaces. Some keepers provide a humidity box to aid in shedding.
Schneider's Skinks may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together skinks should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together.
Enclosure Size
An adult must have a minimum cage size of 30" Long x 12" Deep x 12" High, although many keepers prefer a larger cage.
Substrate
Schneider's Skink's love to dig and burrow. To accommodate this behavior a loose substrate is recommended. Acceptable substrates include ground walnut shell or sand. The concern with loose substrate is the possibility of impaction. If the skink consumes large amounts of the substrate, it could cause intestinal blockage.
Temperature & Lighting
Temperature
A Schneider's Skink's basking spot should be 95°- 100°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F.
Lighting
Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB.
Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.
Humidity & Watering
Humidity
Mist the enclosure once daily to help with humidity. Humidity levels should be kept below 30%.
Watering
Provide a bowl of fresh drinking water at all times.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do Schneider's Skinks eat?
Schneider's Skinks are omnivores, although they eat mostly insects. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, superworms, and cockroaches. Adult skinks can eat small pinkie mice in moderation. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, and fruit in small amounts.
What size enclosure does a Schneider's Skink need?
Schneider's Skink's are from Southwest Africa and Western Asia. They are ground dwellers and love to hide. Provide plenty of hiding places along with flat basking surfaces. Some keepers provide a humidity box to aid in shedding. Schneider's Skinks may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together skinks should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together. An adu...
What temperature and lighting does a Schneider's Skink need?
A Schneider's Skink's basking spot should be 95°- 100°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F. Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: Mist the enclosure once daily to help with humidity. Humidity levels should be kept below 30%.