Pygmy spiny-tailed skink (Egernia depressa)

Short answers

Pygmy spiny-tailed skink: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120 × 60 × 60 cm (pair), use the height with climbing branches and elevated hides; absolute minimum 60 × 50 × 60 cm for a single animal.

Pygmy spiny-tailed skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 40–45 °C (basking spot on rock), at night 18–22 °C.

Pygmy spiny-tailed skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (desert-grade UVB, high UVB).

Pygmy spiny-tailed skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to 20 years.

Pygmy 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

40–45 °C (basking spot on rock)

Humidity

30–50 % (arid species)

UVB

Essential (desert-grade UVB, high UVB)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120 × 60 × 60 cm (pair), use the height with climbing branches and elevated hides; absolute minimum 60 × 50 × 60 cm for a single animal

Substrate

Sand-clay mix on the floor, plus climbing branches, cork tubes, small tree hollows and bark on the walls as elevated hides

Feeding

Food

Mostly insects plus plant food (omnivorous)

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

11–16 cm total length depending on locality form (snout–vent length up to 10.8 cm)

Life expectancy

up to 20 years

Origin

Central to southern Western Australia, mulga scrubland; lives in and on mulga acacias (hollow trunks and branches)

Protection status

—

Brumation

A slight winter rest of ~6–8 weeks (cooler) is recommended

Cohabitation

Live-bearing and family-forming; strongly territorial – only a harmonious pair or family

Notes

An arid rock dweller: narrow rock crevices as hides plus a high UVB and warmth requirement are essential. Very territorial towards strange animals of its own kind.

Do you keep this species?

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Pygmy spiny-tailed skink (Egernia depressa) currently offered

• Egernia depressa Nz ^26 – Wetzlar · 1,600 €

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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
• King's skink (Egernia kingii) – Intermediate
• Eastern crevice skink (Egernia mcpheei) – Intermediate
• Richard's crevice skink (Egernia richardi) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Pygmy spiny-tailed skink (Egernia depressa) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120 × 60 × 60 cm (pair), use the height with climbing branches and elevated hides; absolute minimum 60 × 50 × 60 cm for a single animal), substrate (Sand-clay mix on the floor, plus climbing branches, cork tubes, small tree hollows and bark on the walls as elevated 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.