King's skink (Egernia kingii)

Short answers

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

120 × 60 × 60 cm (one animal), from ~200 cm in length for groups.

King's skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

King's skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (high UVB).

King's skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 20–25+ years.

King's skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (high UVB)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120 × 60 × 60 cm (one animal), from ~200 cm in length for groups

Substrate

A sand and soil mix with rock structures, caves and hides

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: insects, greens, fruit, occasionally eggs or small animals

Feeding interval

2–3× a week

Key facts

Adult size

up to approx. 55 cm

Life expectancy

approx. 20–25+ years

Origin

South-western Australia (rocky coastal areas)

Protection status

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

Brumation

None (a slight drop is possible)

Cohabitation

A group (family unit) is possible: 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 large, powerful skink that is fond of climbing. It needs plenty of floor area, rock and hide structures, and an intense warm 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
• Hosmer's spiny-tailed skink (Egernia hosmeri) – Intermediate
• Desert skink (Egernia formosa) – 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 King's skink (Egernia kingii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120 × 60 × 60 cm (one animal), from ~200 cm in length for groups), substrate (A sand and soil mix with rock structures, caves and hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.