Care sheet
Red-eyed Crocodile Skink
Tribolonotus gracilis
Scincidae · Squamata
- Activity
- 🌆 Crepuscular
- Temperament
- Hands-off
- Adult length
- 3–4 in
- Lifespan (captivity)
- 6–10 yrs
- Native range
- New Guinea — humid tropical forest floor
Care guide
Overview
Red-eyed Crocodile Skink (Tribolonotus gracilis) — a small, armored, dragon-like skink with vivid orange eye-rings. Secretive and hands-off; thrives in a humid, planted bioactive vivarium with hides and a water area.
Environment
Climate
Environment
UVB lighting
Housing
Enclosure
- HatchlingNot specified
- JuvenileNot specified
- Adult18x18x18 in for a pair; humid, planted, with a water area and hides
Housing
Substrate
Nutrition
Diet & feeding
- JuvenileDaily
- AdultEvery 2-3 days (small feeders, worms)
Dust feeders with calcium; multivitamin lightly. Favor small crickets, dubia, isopods, worms.
Care
Water & behavior
Provide a shallow water area they can enter; keep humidity 70-90% with daily misting.
Legal & ecology
Conservation
Least Concern; not CITES-listed. Shy and secretive — a beautiful planted-vivarium display animal that dislikes handling and may 'play dead' when stressed.
Citations
Sources
Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.
- Tribolonotus gracilis — species accountacademic
Animal Diversity Web, U. Michigan
New Guinea range, secretive forest-floor biology.
Published: 2020-01-01
- government
Least Concern; not CITES-listed.
Published: 2019-01-01
- Red-eyed Crocodile Skink Carebreeder community
Josh's Frogs
Humid planted vivarium, water area, small-feeder diet, hands-off temperament.
Published: 2021-01-01