Cunningham's skink (Egernia cunninghami)

Short answers

Cunningham's skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120 × 60 × 60 cm (larger for a pair or group).

Cunningham's skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 40–45 °C (basking spot on rock), at night 18–22 °C.

Cunningham's skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (high UVB, 10–12 %).

Cunningham's skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to 20–25 years.

Cunningham's skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

40–45 °C (basking spot on rock)

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (high UVB, 10–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120 × 60 × 60 cm (larger for a pair or group)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix, stable rock crevices and structures

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous – insects, plant food, occasionally protein

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

up to 30–40 cm

Life expectancy

up to 20–25 years

Origin

South-eastern Australia (temperate rocky regions)

Protection status

—

Brumation

A winter rest or cooling of ~8–10 weeks is recommended

Cohabitation

A group (communal) is appropriate: Cunningham's skinks live stably in family/group units in rock crevices. Two unfamiliar males should not be combined, as dominance fights threaten. Stable groups raised together are the best choice.

Notes

A temperate rock species with a social group structure; it needs a hot basking spot, UVB and rock crevices. Winter cooling matters for its wellbeing.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Tree skink (Egernia striolata) – Beginner
• Black rock skink (Egernia saxatilis) – Intermediate
• Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia hosmeri) – Intermediate
• Desert skink (Egernia formosa) – Intermediate
• King's skink (Egernia kingii) – Intermediate
• Eastern crevice skink (Egernia mcpheei) – Intermediate
• Richard's crevice skink (Egernia richardi) – Intermediate
• Pygmy spiny-tailed skink (Egernia depressa) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cunningham's skink (Egernia cunninghami) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120 × 60 × 60 cm (larger for a pair or group)), substrate (A sand-loam mix, stable rock crevices and structures), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.