Red-eyed crocodile skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-eyed crocodile skink |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tribolonotus
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| Species: |
gracilis
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The red-eyed crocodile skink (scientific name: Tribolonotus gracilis) is a special kind of skink. It lives only in New Guinea, where it makes its home in warm, wet tropical rainforests. A scientist named Nelly de Rooij first described this animal in 1909. Sometimes, people keep these skinks as exotic pets.
What They Do
Red-eyed crocodile skinks are one of the few types of skinks that can make sounds when they are scared or upset. If something startles them, they often stop moving completely. They might even "play dead" if someone tries to pick them up.
How They Reproduce
It's easy to tell male red-eyed crocodile skinks apart from females. Males have small white pads, like pores, on their feet. Female skinks usually lay only one egg at a time. This single egg gets a lot of protection from both parents. The mother often curls around her egg to keep it safe. If the egg gets uncovered, she will quickly cover it back up. Male skinks sometimes fight with other males.
Keeping Them as Pets
Red-eyed crocodile skinks can be bought as pets. However, most of these skinks are caught from the wild, not raised by people. Handling these skinks can be very stressful for them. Because of this, it's usually best not to pick them up often.
When buying a pet skink, it's important to find a healthy one. Some skinks caught from the wild or bred in poor conditions can be sick or hurt. Signs of an unhealthy skink include sores on their skin, legs that look bent, or a weak jaw. They might also not want to eat much.
What They Eat
Red-eyed crocodile skinks are carnivores, which means they eat meat. They especially love insects! Their usual diet includes grubs, crickets, and different kinds of worms like earthworms, waxworms, and mealworms.
Pet skinks are often given extra Vitamin D3 to help keep their scales and bodies healthy. But too much of this vitamin can make them tired or sick. These skinks usually eat in the early morning or late evening. Baby skinks eat one insect twice a day. Adult skinks eat about three insects every two days.
Health Concerns
Red-eyed crocodile skinks are mostly found in Indonesia. Recently, there have been more reports of a sickness caused by a type of bacteria called Aeromonas hydrophila. This bacteria often lives in water.
Skinks kept as pets are less likely to get this specific sickness, especially if they come from a good breeder. However, pet skinks can still get other common health problems. These include metabolic bone disease, which affects their bones, and breathing problems like respiratory infections.
