Coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus)

Short answers

Coal skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×50 cm for a group.

Coal skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot Basking spot 35–40 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Coal skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0–10.0).

Coal skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–12 years.

Coal skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 35–40 °C

Humidity

50–70 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0–10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×50 cm for a group

Substrate

A forest-floor and sand mix they can dig in, with leaf litter, bark and flat stones

Feeding

Food

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

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

13–18 cm

Life expectancy

6–12 years

Origin

The eastern USA

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 6–12 °C — these species come from regions with a real winter

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the least stressful option. One male with one or two females is also possible if every animal gets its own heat spot and hide, and animals of different sizes are fed separately. Two males do not get on: they fight over territory and the basking spot until one is injured or sits permanently in a corner.

Notes

It lives under stones on damp forest slopes. It needs more humid conditions than the prairie forms.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Mountain skink (Plestiodon callicephalus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Okada's five-lined skink (Plestiodon laticeps) – Beginner
• Okada's five-lined skink (Plestiodon latiscutatus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Chinese skink (Plestiodon chinensis) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Elegant five-lined skink (Plestiodon elegans) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) – Intermediate
• Gilbert's skink (Plestiodon gilberti) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Japanese five-lined skink (Plestiodon japonicus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×50 cm for a group), substrate (A forest-floor and sand mix they can dig in, with leaf litter, bark and flat stones), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.