White's skink (Liopholis whitii)

Short answers

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

100×50×50 cm.

White's skink: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot 40 °C, at night 14–19 °C.

White's skink: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

White's skink: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–20 years.

White's skink: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

14–19 °C

Basking spot

40 °C

Humidity

40–55 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×50 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam they can dig in, stone slabs, bark

Feeding

Food

Insects, leafy greens, fruit

Feeding interval

3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

15–20 cm total length

Life expectancy

12–20 years

Origin

South-eastern Australia, Tasmania

Protection status

Export from Australia is prohibited

Brumation

A winter rest of 8–12 weeks at 8–14 °C

Cohabitation

A group (family unit) is possible and closest to natural behaviour: one male with up to five females shares a burrow system, with offspring staying with the parents until about half adult size. Two males do not get along – they fight over territory and basking spots until one is seriously injured. Several warm spots and hides, plus separate feeding for size differences, matter.

Notes

Live-bearing; it digs burrows under stones. From temperate latitudes – a genuine winter rest is part of it and markedly improves breeding.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for White's skink (Liopholis whitii) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Great desert skink (Liopholis kintorei) – Intermediate
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep White's skink (Liopholis whitii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×50 cm), substrate (Sand-loam they can dig in, stone slabs, bark), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.