RecoveryLizards
Red-eyed crocodile skink care guide
Tribolonotus gracilis
A small, shy, semi-aquatic skink from New Guinea. Cool, very humid, heavily cluttered bioactive setups with a water dish they can sit in.
Terrestrial — floor space first
Red-eyed crocodile skink enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult red-eyed crocodile skink should live in at least 24" L × 18" W × 18" H; we build toward 36" L × 18" W × 18" H (3 × 1.5 × 1.5 ft, roughly 4.5 sq ft of floor and about a 50-gallon glass equivalent).
One male per enclosure; females can usually be housed with him.
- Hatchling / baby
- 18" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 24" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 18" L × 18" W × 18" H
- Adult
- 36" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 24" L × 18" W × 18" H
Temperature and heating
Low-wattage overhead bulb on a dimmer; they are easily overheated.
- Basking / warm surface
- 85°F small warm spot at most
- Warm side (ambient)
- 78–82°F ambient
- Cool side (ambient)
- 72–75°F ambient
- Night
- 68–74°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: T5 UVB 5–6% heavily shaded (UVI 1–2). Run lights on a 12 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 80–100%. Deep damp bioactive substrate, daily misting and a water dish large enough to soak in.
Substrate and depth
Bioactive soil with heavy leaf litter and moss. Depth: 3–4 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Thick leaf litter and cork clutter
- Multiple ground hides
- Water dish deep enough to sit in
- Live planting
Build list
- 24x18x18 bioactive terrarium — Ground space with heavy cover for a shy species.
- Low-output T5 UVB — Shaded UV access without overheating.
- 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 — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bioactive soil, moss and leaf litter — Holds near-saturated humidity and feeds the clean-up crew.
Red-eyed crocodile skink FAQ
How big should an adult Red-eyed crocodile skink enclosure be?
At least 24" L × 18" W × 18" H, and we recommend building to 36" L × 18" W × 18" H — about 3 × 1.5 × 1.5 ft, or a 50-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Red-eyed crocodile skink need?
Basking or warm surface 85°F small warm spot at most, warm side 78–82°F ambient, cool side 72–75°F ambient, night 68–74°F. Low-wattage overhead bulb on a dimmer; they are easily overheated.
Does a Red-eyed crocodile skink need UVB?
T5 UVB 5–6% heavily shaded (UVI 1–2). Photoperiod: 12 hours.
What humidity does a Red-eyed crocodile skink need?
80–100%. Deep damp bioactive substrate, daily misting and a water dish large enough to soak in.
What substrate is best for a Red-eyed crocodile skink?
Bioactive soil with heavy leaf litter and moss, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does a Red-eyed crocodile skink enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 18" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended, minimum 12" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own red-eyed crocodile skink record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.