Rainbow Skink (Trachylepis margaritifera)

Rainbow Skink Trachylepis margaritifera
Name	Rainbow Skink
Name Lat.	Trachylepis margaritifera
Synonym	Mabuya margaritifer
Family	Skinks
Family lat.	Scincidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Africa
Habitat	Savanna
Diet	Insects, fruits
Humidity	50-60 %
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Pair, group
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Life Span	6 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	25 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Temperature Local	40 °C
Housing Size	80 x 50 x 50 cm
US Units
Size	9.8"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Temperature Local	104 °F
Housing Size	30" x 20" x 20"

Distribution and habitat

The diurnal rainbow skinks are distributed in East Africa from Kenya to Tanzania to Zambia and Mozambique. They live in savannahs and steppes with many stony hiding places, often near waterholes. As cultural successors they can also be found in settlements

Maintenance

Minimum dimensions for the terrarium, according to the size and number of animals

1-2 animals

6KRL x 4KRL x 3KRL (L x W x H)

Head-torso length (KRL) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal, increase the footprint by 15%. A terrarium of e.g. 80 x 50 x 50 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You will need a terrarium with roots and stone structures that provide plenty of hiding and shading places, structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a deep burrowable substrate of sand-clay mixture and rubble, as well as a small water container and some drought-resistant potted plants (e.g. succulents). A small portion of the substrate, especially the lower sand layers, should always be kept slightly moist. Once a day, preferably in the evening, the interior of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water, but not directly the animals

Temp. day: 25-28 °C

Temp. night: 18-22 °C

Temp. local: up to 40 °C

Humidity: 50-60

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 12-14 hrs depending on the season. They need high light intensity and daily UV irradiation as well as sunny places with radiant heat.

Diet

The diet consists of live insects, such as crickets, house crickets, small grasshoppers, cockroaches, spiders, etc., occasionally supplemented with sweet fruits (e.g. bananas, berries). After habituation, ready-made food for insectivorous reptiles is often accepted. Wax moths should rarely be fed in very small amounts because of their large fat content. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins (e.g. by dusting the food) is important. Young animals should be offered food daily, adults 4-5 times a week. Drinking water must always be available. A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Males and females are very differently colored. Females have a brown back with beige longitudinal stripes and a bluish tail. Adult males are brown to reddish brown and have no longitudinal stripes. They are oviparous and a clutch consists of 4-6 eggs buried in moist soil. The incubation period is about 70 days at a temperature of 28-30 °C. The young can be raised in a group. Small insects such as fruit flies, aphids, micro echinoderms etc. are suitable as initial food

The life expectancy can be 6 years.

Important

They can be kept well in a group and behave somewhat territorial only during the mating season. They are very aggressive towards other species

They need moist hiding places and according to their need for warmth sunny places, such as climbing branches or stones irradiated by a spot

The quality of the food animals can be upgraded by giving them fruit and honey water as food.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: petdata 

Source: BMELV (1997): Tierschutzgutachten - Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF