Tribolonotus gracilis
Introduction
The Red-eyed crocodile skink is a small lizard from Southeast Asia, found on forest floors and in tree crevices. They are active at dawn and dusk, feeding on various insects. Their spiny look resembles a tiny crocodile. These skinks can be handled carefully, but they run quickly and can be tricky to catch. They are shy pets, as they are nocturnal and blend in with their surroundings. They can swim and climb, making them interesting hunters of live food, providing plenty of entertainment for owners..
Enclosure
Red-eyed crocodile skinks require an enclosure that is sufficiently large to provide them with ample opportunities to explore, hunt, and engage in their natural behaviors. Given that a red-eyed crocodile skink has the potential to grow up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) in length and typically requires a larger-than-usual area of water for swimming and basking, the minimum recommended enclosure size for housing a single red-eyed crocodile skink is 60 x 45 x 45 centimeters or a similar measurement. However, it is important to note that opting for a larger enclosure is strongly advised to promote their overall well-being and health.
Temperature & Humidity
Warm hide temperature: 26-28°C
Cool zone temperature: 24-26°C
Nighttime temperature: 22-24°C
Red-eyed crocodile skinks are exceptionally sensitive to dehydration, which can pose significant risks to their health. To ensure their well-being, it is crucial to maintain humidity levels around 70-80% during the day and even higher, ideally between 80-100%, at night. Monitoring ambient humidity is best accomplished by using a digital probe hygrometer, with the probe strategically placed in the middle of the enclosure setup for accurate readings. If you find that the humidity levels are not reaching the desired range, you can effectively raise the humidity in your enclosure by utilizing a pressure sprayer to mist the environment regularly.
Substrate
Substrate plays a vital role in creating an appropriate environment for a red-eyed crocodile skink terrarium, as it not only maintains humidity levels but also allows for natural digging behavior, which is essential for reducing overall stress in these reptiles. It is advisable to use a moisture-retentive substrate that closely mimics their natural habitat, ensuring a minimum depth of 10 centimeters unless you are incorporating live plants into the enclosure. In such instances, you should also consider adding a layer of leaf litter, which enhances aesthetics while providing a beneficial environment for both flora and fauna. It is important to remove any feces and urates daily to maintain cleanliness, and any contaminated substrate should be promptly replaced to ensure the health of your reptiles. Additionally, a thorough replacement of the entire substrate should be conducted every 4 months, with adjustments made as necessary to accommodate the specific needs of your reptiles.
Food & supplements
Red-eyed crocodile skinks are insectivores, which means that they need a varied diet of insects to get the right nutrition. Juvenile crocodile skinks should be fed daily, and full-grown adults should be fed every other day. this measn you shouldnt put to many insects in the enclosure because they can cause stress to the animal if they remain un-eaten.
The following animals could be used
crickets
mealworms
snails
earthworms
Feeder insects need to be thoroughly “dusted” with a light yet even coating of calcium powder before every single feeding to effectively balance their calcium-phosphorus ratio, which is crucial for the health of the reptiles being fed. Additionally, incorporating a multivitamin into this regular feeding routine significantly helps prevent nutritional deficiencies from developing over time, ensuring the overall well-being of your cherished reptiles.
Behaviour
Red-eyed crocodile skinks are more of a look-but-don’t-touch display animal rather than a pet that you can handle regularly and comfortably. While it’s quite entertaining to hear them vocalize when they are unexpectedly grabbed, this action often stresses them out significantly. In response to this stress, they may even resort to playing dead. Therefore, it's essential for potential owners to understand their unique needs and behaviors.
Conclusion & Difficulty
The conclusion is that this particular reptile isn't always the best choice for beginners or for younger pet owners, as they tend to spend most of their time hiding. Additionally, they are quite prone to stress, which makes maintaining proper husbandry practices even more crucial for their well-being.
Difficulty 3 out of 5.