Skinks are diverse lizards found worldwide, recognized by their sleek bodies and short limbs. Understanding their dietary habits in natural habitats and how to properly feed them in captivity is important for their well-being.
What Skinks Eat in Their Natural Habitat
Skinks are opportunistic feeders, with diets varying by species, size, and environment. Most are primarily insectivorous, meaning insects form a substantial part of their diet. They actively hunt and consume a wide array of invertebrates, including beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, moths, flies, and spiders. Earthworms, slugs, snails, and caterpillars are also common prey items.
Larger skink species may also eat small vertebrates like other lizards, mice, or bird eggs. Some skinks are omnivorous, incorporating plant matter such as soft fruits, leaves, and flowers, especially when insects are scarce.
The specific composition of a wild skink’s diet depends on seasonal availability and what they can forage. For instance, blue-tongued skinks, known as opportunistic omnivores, consume insects, larvae, snails, slugs, soft fruit, flowers, greens, and seeds. They may even scavenge on carrion. This varied diet contributes to their role in the ecosystem, helping to control insect populations.
Feeding Skinks as Pets
Providing a balanced diet for pet skinks is essential for their health, replicating their natural dietary needs. Live feeder insects should form a staple, including crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae, grasshoppers, and silkworms. It is important to “gut-load” these insects 24-48 hours before offering them, which enhances their nutritional value.
For omnivorous species like blue-tongued skinks, plant matter should be a significant component of their diet. Safe vegetables include:
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Turnip greens
- Dandelion greens
- Squash
- Carrots and bell peppers
Fruits should be offered sparingly as treats due to their sugar content. Safe fruit options include:
- Berries
- Mango
- Papaya
- Cantaloupe
Foods to avoid, as these can be harmful, include:
- Avocado
- Rhubarb
- Onion
- Garlic
- Citrus fruits
- Tomato greens
Calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation is necessary for pet skinks to prevent metabolic bone disease. Feeder insects should be dusted with calcium powder at most feedings, and a vitamin D3 supplement should be used one to two times a week, especially if UVB lighting is not provided. Fresh water must always be available in a sturdy bowl, changed daily to ensure cleanliness.
Feeding frequency varies by age and species. Juvenile skinks (under 3-8 months) typically require daily or every-other-day feedings due to their rapid growth and higher protein needs. Adult skinks (over 8-12 months) generally need to be fed less frequently, about one to three times per week, to maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity.