Caught a Skink

[jwasted]

I was in my backyard today and caught a Skink. I am not sure the type but I live in Alabama. I am not sure if I am going to try to keep it as a pet or not.

here is link to pic
http://community.webshots.com/photo/543933918/2508485270055078557ETMVTi

I think this is the type of skink anybody have any ideah?
http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Lizards/sfls.cfm

 

[ScorpDemon]

yeah, thats it.. they make pretty cool captives.. i hatched out some eggs last year that I found with the female that laid them. They are pretty cool, but you rarely see them in captivity, as they will stay buried most of the time.. keep the humidity very high, and bring on the crickets and it will be a happy lizard indeed.

 

[edesign]

yup...that's probably it. I have found two in my house since I moved in in July...well, apartment. They do have a really cool irridescent blue sheen to them. One was alive and I put it back outside (what a pain to catch lol) and the other was dead when I found it on the living room floor yesterday. I think my cat may have found it as it's tail seemed pretty freshly broken off.

 

[padkison]

We have lots of those living around our house here in NC. We catch them for the heck of it. See attached photo. I haven't kept one for any length of time, but had one in a jar for a couple hours to show the kids one day. After about an hour, I dropped a couple crickets into the jar and the skink snarfed them right up.

Here's a link to care.

http://www.centralpets.com/php/search/storiesdisplay.php?Story=263

Note "full spectrum lighting" should read UVB lighting. you might try a Zoomed compact UVB for this guy. It can be purchased at

http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy00.aspx?T1=R36EX+0495+0311
or
http://www.herpsupplies.com/subcategory.cfm?id=11&sub=51

Don't buy the light at a petstore, you'll pay at least 50% more. Get a $6 clamp lamp fixture for this at Lowes. You'll need a basking light for temps. I would use Ecoearth for a substrate, good at holding moisture for humidity.

A 5.5g to 10g tank would be good, although you might not get a good temperature gradient in a 5.5g.

If you don't already have any of this, you're looking at this to start, from Herp Supply unless noted.

Tank+lid = $20 (petstore)
UVB bulb = $25
Light Fixtures = $12 (Lowes)
EcoEarth = $4
Decor (assuming you use natural stuff from outside) = $0
RepCal Vitamin Powder = $7.50
HerpCare Calcium Supplement (no D3) = $3.50

You can try skipping the UVB and using a Calcium w/D3 supplement, but that is less reliable than letting the skink use UVB to make D3.

View attachment 51008

 

[jwasted]

Thanks for the info. !! I already have several 10 gallon and 5.5 gallon setups since I keep T's so I will use one of them. Going to need the bulb and powder. Sounds like a trip to pet store lol.