Lizards
Prehensile-tailed skink care guide
Corucia zebrata
The largest living skink, nocturnal and fully herbivorous. Lives in family groups.
Arboreal — vertical height first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Prehensile-tailed skink enclosure size
Arboreal — vertical height first. An adult prehensile-tailed skink should live in at least 48" L × 24" W × 48" H; we build toward 72" L × 36" W × 72" H (6 × 3 × 6 ft, roughly 18 sq ft of floor and about a 808-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 30" L × 12" W × 18" H recommended · min 18" L × 12" W × 18" H
- Juvenile
- 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 30" L × 18" W × 24" H
- Adult
- 72" L × 36" W × 72" H recommended · min 48" L × 24" W × 48" H
Temperature and heating
Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
- Basking / warm surface
- 88–92°F basking spot
- Warm side (ambient)
- 80–85°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 75–78°F
- Night
- No lower than 70°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: UVB required (T5 HO 6% or ShadeDweller). Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–80%. Misting and moisture-holding substrate.
Substrate and depth
Soil/coco mix or bioactive. Depth: 3–4 in.
Diet and feeding
Herbivorous: leafy greens, pothos (fed only from clean, pesticide-free plants), squash and a little fruit, dusted with calcium.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Branches and foliage for climbing and cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
Prehensile-tailed skink FAQ
How big should an adult Prehensile-tailed skink enclosure be?
At least 48" L × 24" W × 48" H, and we recommend building to 72" L × 36" W × 72" H — about 6 × 3 × 6 ft, or a 808-gallon glass equivalent. Arboreal — vertical height first.
What temperatures does a Prehensile-tailed skink need?
Basking or warm surface 88–92°F basking spot, warm side 80–85°F, cool side 75–78°F, night No lower than 70°F. Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
Does a Prehensile-tailed skink need UVB?
UVB required (T5 HO 6% or ShadeDweller). Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does a Prehensile-tailed skink need?
60–80%. Misting and moisture-holding substrate.
What substrate is best for a Prehensile-tailed skink?
Soil/coco mix or bioactive, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does a Prehensile-tailed skink enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 30" L × 12" W × 18" H recommended, minimum 18" L × 12" W × 18" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own prehensile-tailed skink record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.