White-eyed Crocodile Skink

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the warm and humid rainforests of New Guinea. It lives on the forest floor beneath decaying leaves, fallen logs, and rocks near water.

Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the Scincidae family, genus Tribolonotus. Closely related to the Red-eyed Crocodile Skink, but distinguished by its white eye rings.

Behavior and Habits: Shy, crepuscular or nocturnal. When startled, it may play dead (tanatosis) or emit a high-pitched squeak, which is unusual for lizards.

Morphology: Grows to 18.0-22.0 cm in length. Dorsum is covered in spiny scales resembling crocodile osteoderms. Male skinks possess prominent grey pads on their hind toes.

Terrarium Setup: Horizontal terrarium of at least 80x40x40 cm. Use 8-10 cm of damp peat or coco-coir substrate covered in moss and leaf litter. Provide plenty of flat hides.

Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures between 23°C and 26°C, with a basking spot of 28°C. Night drop to 20°C. Low UVB requirements due to cryptic habits.

Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels (75-90%). Mist twice daily. Provide a shallow water section deep enough for the skink to soak.

Feeding and Supplementation: Dust live insects (crickets, earthworms, roaches, mealworms) with calcium and vitamin D3 twice a week.

Compatibility: Do not house multiple males together due to territorial aggression. A male-female pair can be kept in well-planted setups.

Health and Common Diseases: Prone to dehydration and stress from excessive handling. Shedding issues (dysecdysis) occur if humidity drops too low.