Mountain skink (Plestiodon callicephalus)

Short answers

Mountain skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×50 cm for a group.

Mountain skink: What temperature does it need?

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

Mountain skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0–10.0).

Mountain skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–12 years.

Mountain 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

13–18 cm

Life expectancy

6–12 years

Origin

Arizona and northern Mexico

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

1.2; never keep males together. The reason: several males fight over territory and the warm spot until one is injured or spends its life in a corner. Females usually get on, but each needs its own warm spot and hide; feed them separately once they differ in size.

Notes

A gorge-forest species; it likes shade and humidity.

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

• 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
• Gilbert's skink (Plestiodon gilberti) – Beginner with some knowledge
• 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 Mountain skink (Plestiodon callicephalus) 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.