Blue-tongued water skink (Tropidophorus cocincinensis)

Short answers

Blue-tongued water skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×50 cm for a group.

Blue-tongued water skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot No basking spot — warm corner up to 29 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Blue-tongued water skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Low-output UVB recommended (UVB 5.0, Ferguson zone 1–2).

Blue-tongued water skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–12 years.

Blue-tongued water skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner with some knowledge).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot — warm corner up to 29 °C

Humidity

80–95 %

UVB

Low-output UVB recommended (UVB 5.0, Ferguson zone 1–2)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×50 cm for a group

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate, permanently damp, with a large water section

Feeding

Food

Crickets, house crickets, roaches and earthworms, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

15–20 cm

Life expectancy

6–12 years

Origin

Vietnam and Cambodia

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

No winter rest; somewhat cooler and drier in winter

Cohabitation

1.2; never males together. The reason: several males fight over territory and the best hiding places until one is injured or permanently confined to a corner. Females usually get along but need their own hiding places each; feed separately if there is a size difference.

Notes

It lives along streams and goes into the water. It needs a large, shallow water section.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Berdmore's water skink (Tropidophorus berdmorei) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Gray's water skink (Tropidophorus grayi) – Intermediate
• Thai water skink (Tropidophorus thai) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Vietnamese water skink (Tropidophorus baviensis) – Intermediate
• African five-lined skink (Trachylepis quinquetaeniata) – Intermediate
• Algerian skink (Eumeces algeriensis) – Intermediate
• Berber skink (Eumeces schneideri) – Beginner to intermediate
• Mountain skink (Plestiodon callicephalus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Blue-tongued water skink (Tropidophorus cocincinensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×50 cm for a group), substrate (Forest-floor substrate, permanently damp, with a large water section), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.