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charfade — Red-Eye Crocodile Skink Home
Published: 2011-01-22 19:34:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 10840; Favourites: 27; Downloads: 1547
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Description
For the DeviantHerps Contest - Sensational Setups [link]Sketch image of the set-up:[link]
More photo's of this set-up here:[link]
Species: Red-eye Crocodile Skink (Triblonotus gracilis)
Cage Type and Size
Exo Terra Terrarium 24" x 18" x 18" HighLighting
Zoo Med Ceramic Heat Emitter - 60W Exo-Terra Night-Glo Reptile Bulb: 75W Incandescent Exo-Terra Compact Top Terrarium Florescent HoodThe hood houses 2 bulbs - Exo Terra Repti Glo 5.0 Tropical Terrarium Lamp and a TCP compact fluorescent 150w grow light for the live plants.
Substrate
Ping-pong sized gravel on a concaved slope.Live plants
Lemon button Fern Golden Pothos Vine English Ivy 2 Bamboo stalksAccessories
Tetra Decorative ReptoFilter for Aquariums/Terrarium – doubles as a rock waterfall Magnaturals Medium Rock Ledge Zoo Med Repti Fogger – great for keeping the humidity in the cage up PETCO Thermometer Humidity Gauge Combo Pack PETCO Poly-resin Medium Reptile Basking Branch Exo-Terra Jungle Vine Exo-Terra Floating Water Plants – to save crickets who have fallen into the water Exo-Terra Silk Amapallo Jungle Plant – came free with the cage. Zilla Power Center - To control Day/Night lightsPersonal Notes:
Red-Eye Crocodile Skink’s are still very new to the pet trade, thus there is little information on what the best conditions are to house Croc Skinks. In my research I have found that high humidity levels are very important, because there native home is the low level forest of Indonesia. The Zoo Med Repti Fogger dose great with controlling the humidity in this cage set up. Croc Skinks love moisture so a cage with a water base much like a turtle habitat is ideal. I wanted to make sure that there was a good flow to water as well as including a water pump. The Tetra Decorative ReptoFilter for Aquariums/Terrarium is not only very beautiful but keeps the water clean for over a month before I need to clean the cage. I was worried crickets would hide in the water fall structure but this really isn’t the case. If anything the crickets like to hang out in the fern… to which my Croc Skink has figured out to hunt there. Not only do Croc Skinks like to swim, but they like to climb! The Magnaturals Medium Rock Ledge has been a great addition to this set up. It allows me to add more vertical ledges really use up all of the vertical space in the cage. The Poly-resin medium reptile basking branch allows my Croc Skink an opportunity to step out of the water if she wants to. I don’t often see her up there, but from time to time I can catch her warming up. Croc Skinks like to be elusive so providing dark hiding spaces is key. There is arguments if they are nocturnal, truth is I see her more active during daylight hours. But she doesn’t need to bask like other reptiles, and some have even said that lighting isn’t too important to this species. Never the less I do provide my Croc Skink tropical lighting, and lighting for the plants to grow.
The Red-Eye Crocodile Skink is truly one of the best reptiles I’ve ever owned! She not only looks amazing with her croc like body and a dragon like head, but their personalities are amazing. One thing to consider is they do stress easily. You really can’t hold a Croc Skink for too long. So I would not recommend this animal to small children or anyone that likes to take out their reptiles a lot. I’m considering breeding her... or at least getting a second one to keep her company. From what I can tell they are also social little creatures.
I know a lot of information, but I like to be thorough. It's taken me quite while to build this set up. Figuring out what my Croc Skink likes and doesn't like has been a great hobby!
Related content
Comments: 21
Oooooooooooh...I am hoping to get one of these babies and was about to buy this tank but was too hesitant x)
Does the tank work well with the skink? I have only ever owned snakes and I know just how crafty they could be at escaping and with the mesh top I was worried about whether or not it could slip through.
Could you tell me a lil more about the species? I already read up on them but I want to be as thorough as possible before I really go and get one.
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Hi,
Well to be honest, I probably wouldn't get one of these tanks again if I had to chose for a Croc Skink. While I did see mine climb around a lot in the mornings and evenings, Holly typically stayed close to the ground in dark little caverns and hide outs I made for her.
I think the important things to have in a enclosure is to a clean water source, mimic something along the lines of a turtle habitat. She didn't really swim but I saw her resting in the water a lot, I think it was to help her skin shed. They need high humidity! So a foger system in very important. I got one with a timer that would come on and off, having it on all the time wore out several foggers and I don't think she wanted to be in it all the time. I went through 6 fogers all at about $100 bucks each so you might want to invest in learning how to make your own. I wish I had. While she didn't need special UV lamps I did have one in mine for the live plants. Live plants helped keep the humility high for me.
I would probably invest in a tank that had some low lying areas with out water and with. I did stones because they were easy to clean, which you must do about once a month. Dont get the foam backing, it looks nice but I had issues with crickets eating it and hiding then dying in the foam. I removed it, I didn't want holly to eat crickets that were eating foam.
Over all I loved croc skinks, probably my favorite reptile I have ever had. She was incredibly intelligent, which surprised me. On par with some monitor species. She came when she was called, I kept her cage near my bed and knew when I was about to wake up to feed her. I fed her twice a day much like a dog or cat. She wasn't interested to hunt and feed when ever, just in the mornings and at night a cricket or silk worm.
Holly recently passed away of old age, she went blind and for awhile was hand feeding her but slowly everything started to go. I really miss her. She was close to 8 years, and males could live easy to 10.
They are still relatively new to the pet trade so information out there is really touch and go, what really is the best for them you'll hear a lot of different opinions. The first year I had her I just experimented to see what she liked and didn't.
Always here if you have any questions. ^^ Best of Luck
Char
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Hmm...I'll keep that in mind, Glad I didn't buy it then! They said the crocs like to climb a lot so I was thinking it would of worked just fine. Glad to know that tidbit on them preferring hiding areas more and little pools here n there. Foggers... expensive and best self-made, alright!!
Sorry to hear that she'd passed away though, I know what it's like to lose a good pet. Thanks for the help and I hope you have a good day!
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Holly never escaped on me, not like snakes can who test everything around them. I own 2 ball pythons too.
Crocs do like the climb, but not very high, I rarely saw her climb to the top of her cage... only to the mid level area. Having several platforms with a variety of height helped. I got 2 magnetic ledges for reptiles, and tall aquarium structures for her to climb on. Most importantly she liked to hide and felt safe in little small areas I would make sure are dark for her.
I should mention also, this is the type of reptile while social, she also needed her alone time. Unlike bearded dragons who is content to hanging out with you 24/7, Croc Skinks don't like to be handled all to much. It stresses them out. I would take out Holly ever so often and let her chill with me while I watched TV, but she soon wanted to be in the warm comfort of her enclosure to feel safe again.
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Oooh, okay and nice!! I have only owned snakes but have been wanting to branch out since my own boy passed away last year. Glad to know I won't have to worry about these guys being lil escape artists then x) Ah, as well I have heard through a lot of websites they don't like to be alone and do best with opposing sex cause the same sex together could be an issue 
As well with the not so social part, that is fine by me ^^ I would love to constantly handle them but I don't have a lot of time on my hands to do so x) Between work, college, and everything else.. kind of glad they are not very socially needing creatures.
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So one croc skink will do ok by itself? Everything I've read only talks about pairs and I've been thinking about getting one.
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Well I've heard that too, that they do better as a pair. But Holy seems to be doing fine by herself. I've considered getting her a friend but that would mean getting a bigger cage and I dont have the room unfortunately atm. I've had her going on 3 years now and she's doing fine. She's healthy, seems happy to me, and is doing very well. We've trained her to sit on a rock when she is hungry, so she sits and waits for us to be hand feed. She'll eat on her own of course but, its just something that we do with her.
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That's so cute! Thanks for the info, it helps me out a lot! I have the space for two but I just wanted to be sure I can handle one on it's own so I don't get in over my head.
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yep its probably safe to do as long as you dont wait to long. I worry because she's gotten so used to us now. But it would probably be okay honestly.
They are really amazing little creatures, I've owned so many reptiles but she honestly has been my favorite. So much personality, I just really connected to her. ^^ best of luck with your own!
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I have the same similar tank!!! and its more crested gecko for Arboreal creature, and a baby red slider turtle as it stays in the water.
[link]
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Beautiful setup! I'm planning on getting a pair myself, but I keep hearing differing opinions about whether I should provide them with a heat pad or not. Does your tribbie prefer to hang out in the hotter spots or not?
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Not really, she likes little areas she can hide and stays in the area with the most humidity.
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This is a beautiful setup, very well-thought out and suited for your skink! She is a lucky girl
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^_^ thank you, Its still an ongoing process. I'm thinking about taking out the bamboo since there not doing so well and trying other types of water plants.
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oh wow, you've got a SPOILED lil skink. Very nice!
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yes she is very spoiled...XD I love having her ^_^
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yeah I understand, was my concern with her too. But, I just couldn't pass her up, I mean. I've always wanted a baby croc if they would just stay small. With her I feel like I do XD
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