Poncelet's crocodile skink (Tribolonotus ponceleti)

Short answers

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

60×45×40 cm.

Poncelet's crocodile skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 23–29 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 20–23 °C.

Poncelet's crocodile skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).

Poncelet's crocodile skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Poncelet's crocodile skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

23–29 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

80–90 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×45×40 cm

Substrate

Damp coco humus with a thick layer of leaf litter, cork tubes, a water dish

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, earthworms

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

18–24 cm total length

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Bougainville, the Solomon Islands

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; very rarely kept

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Pair housing is possible. Two males never go together - they fight over territory and the best hiding spots until one is seriously injured or permanently cornered. One male with several females works more reliably. Multiple hiding spots are important so lower-ranking animals can retreat, and feed separately once animals differ in size.

Notes

The largest crocodile skink species, with particularly strong dorsal spines. Barely established in Europe – experience is thin and captive-bred animals are very rare.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Red-eyed crocodile skink (Tribolonotus gracilis) – Intermediate
• New Guinea crocodile skink (Tribolonotus novaeguineae) – Intermediate
• Schmidt's crocodile skink (Tribolonotus schmidti) – Intermediate
• Prehensile-tailed skink (Corucia zebrata) – Intermediate to expert
• Northern monkey-tailed skink (Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti) – Expert
• Peters' banded skink (Scincopus fasciatus) – Expert
• Pygmy blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua adelaidensis) – Expert
• African five-lined skink (Trachylepis quinquetaeniata) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Poncelet's crocodile skink (Tribolonotus ponceleti) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×40 cm), substrate (Damp coco humus with a thick layer of leaf litter, cork tubes, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.