Great desert skink (Liopholis kintorei)

Short answers

Great desert skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150×70×60 cm.

Great desert skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–34 °C, basking spot 44 °C, at night 16–21 °C.

Great desert skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %).

Great desert skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–25 years.

Great desert skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–34 °C

Night temperature

16–21 °C

Basking spot

44 °C

Humidity

30–45 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

150×70×60 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam 25–35 cm for burrowing, stone slabs

Feeding

Food

Insects, leafy greens, flowers

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

20–28 cm total length

Life expectancy

15–25 years

Origin

Central Australia – sandy desert

Protection status

Export from Australia is prohibited; IUCN "Vulnerable"

Brumation

A cooler dry spell of 8–10 weeks

Cohabitation

A group (family unit) is closest to natural behaviour: the species lives monogamously or in small families, with siblings of different ages staying together in the burrow. Two males do not get along – they fight over territory and basking spots until one is seriously injured. Several warm spots and hides, plus separate feeding for size differences, matter.

Notes

It builds extensive, multi-branched family burrows with several entrances – the substrate has to be very deep and compactable. Live-bearing, and the young stay in the burrow for several years.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Great desert skink (Liopholis kintorei) in the marketplace →

Related species

• White's skink (Liopholis whitii) – Beginner
• Tree skink (Egernia striolata) – Beginner
• Cunningham's skink (Egernia cunninghami) – Intermediate
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Great desert skink (Liopholis kintorei) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×70×60 cm), substrate (Sand-loam 25–35 cm for burrowing, stone slabs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.