Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia hosmeri)

Short answers

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120 × 60 × 60 cm (a pair or small group).

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (strong UVB, rock-dwelling).

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 20+ years.

Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (strong UVB, rock-dwelling)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120 × 60 × 60 cm (a pair or small group)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with rock structures and crevices

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: insects as well as leaves, shoots, berries and fruit

Feeding interval

2–3× a week (juveniles more often)

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 28–35 cm total length (SVL ~18 cm)

Life expectancy

approx. 20+ years

Origin

Northern Australia (rocky arid regions)

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; an Australian export ban (captive-bred animals only)

Brumation

None (a slight seasonal drop is possible)

Cohabitation

A group (pair/family unit) is socially appropriate: several males fight over territory and basking spots until one is injured or permanently displaced. Females usually get along but need their own warm spots and hides; feed separately with size differences.

Notes

A spiny-tailed skink that wedges itself into rock crevices and puffs up defensively. It needs plenty of stable stone structures and a hot basking spot.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Tree skink (Egernia striolata) – Beginner
• Cunningham's skink (Egernia cunninghami) – Intermediate
• Black rock skink (Egernia saxatilis) – 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 Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia hosmeri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120 × 60 × 60 cm (a pair or small group)), substrate (A sand-loam mix with rock structures and crevices), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.