Gilbert's skink (Plestiodon gilberti)

Short answers

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

100×50×50 cm for a group.

Gilbert's skink: What temperature does it need?

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

Gilbert's skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0–10.0).

Gilbert's skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–12 years.

Gilbert's 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

18–27 cm

Life expectancy

6–12 years

Origin

California

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 safest option, even though Gilbert's skink is one of the few Plestiodon species in which studies found no pronounced male territoriality and no fights were observed. If a group or pair is attempted anyway, plenty of hides and close observation should still be standard practice, since solid practical experience with group housing in this species is lacking.

Notes

A robust species; adult animals have a reddish head.

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
• Japanese five-lined skink (Plestiodon japonicus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Gilbert's skink (Plestiodon gilberti) 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.