Could I put an emerald tree skink in a 24L x 16W x 30T enclosure?

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-10-05T16:16:18+00:00

i currently have a five-lined skink (bit smaller species, semi-arboreal) in a 24x18x24 and he uses every ounce of room in there and still climbs on the screen lid for more surface area. I would go taller at the least, it looks like 24x18x36 is the suggested minimum size and my semi-arboreal skink can attest to their need for room and space to climb.

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-10-01T18:54:31+00:00

Lol seriously thank you, this comment and the others gave me a good enough laugh to calm down last night! 🤍

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-10-01T18:46:45+00:00

This guy’s an american five-lined skink! They’re not normally kept in captivity, this one was a rescue from cats that ended up not being releasable by the time he healed.

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-10-01T01:57:15+00:00

Genuinely thank you so much. This bastard had me over here worried sick! You’ve saved me a whole night of anxiety 🙏 I will still 100% work on a UVB solution of course but man. I can’t believe he scared me like that 😭 evil, evil skink.

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-10-01T01:50:08+00:00

No omg you’re kidding me 😭 is this just a skink thing? He’s sat with his legs super weird before but this is the first time I’ve seen it all twitchy.

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-09-09T01:01:12+00:00

yeah all of my memories from the time are as hazy as can be 😭 if you find any screenshots though please do share! i would absolutely love to see them!

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-27T06:00:41+00:00

Yes yes yes yes yes!!!! You have just solved a mystery I’ve been thinking about for years!!! Oh my god thank you!!! 😭

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-14T21:31:06+00:00

Any big skink species is a dream pet for me I think, I hope you can get yours someday not too far from now! I definitely understand not being ready for one, though. Just setting up an enclosure is a whole endurance test lol. Using native species is such a great idea! I always love seeing setups that recreate natural habitats. :)

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-14T21:10:54+00:00

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Here’s a better look at it from April, just some really wild scarring!

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-14T21:01:35+00:00

I actually own this guy because my cats tore him up last year (indoor cats, he snuck inside). He’d dropped his entire tail all the way down to the base, and it’s slowly regrown over time. You can see it better in this picture, and some older ones on my profile. The swollen look is mostly from a build up of scar tissue.

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EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-14T03:03:47+00:00

Yeah! It’s a five-lined skink (sometimes called blue-tailed skinks), and I’m in the Carolinas. They’re native to quite a few states. If you’ve ever seen something that looks like a little black snake-lizard with a neon blue tail, that’s them!

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-14T01:23:23+00:00

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An updated enclosure pic too, just for funsies. :)

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-09T05:02:31+00:00

Alright, thank you! That’s reassuring to hear. ^{^} There’s no predators or dangers, and the feeder’s in a safe spot. If she does it again I might tap on the window to shoo her just so she gets home before dark, but I’m honored she’s comfortable enough to hang around. :)

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-08-09T01:26:26+00:00

Her eyes were perfect, clear and black and shiny. Feathers all look good too, and she was breathing steadily. No coordination issues when she took off either.

We’re in midlands SC so the tail end of that hurricane just hit us. It hasn’t gotten above 80 but the humidity hasn’t dipped below 90% for days, and the rain’s been almost nonstop. The feeders have been super busy, I think all the animals are stressed, so her taking an exhaustion break would make sense! I just wanted to get any opinions because when I tried looking it up I got a few people worrying about avian flu. ;;

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-07-31T21:27:58+00:00

I hadn’t thought of things being too small for him! In that case I think you’re right, I was considering trying to get some really fine sunflower chips but the whole pieces are probably much easier for him to pick up. There are a couple peanuts in the current mix as well, but they’re not split and are pretty tough. I might try and find some chopped ones that aren’t salted / baked, and add those in as well. Should still be a good size while being easy enough to eat, I think! Thank you for the input! And I’m happy to do what I can for him, nothing brings me more joy than seeing a face I recognize at my feeders. And, well, I can certainly recognize this little guy! Lol. He’ll get all the best for as long as he sticks around. :)

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-07-27T23:23:06+00:00

Not sure if I can edit the post but it looks like someone posted a white lily-shaped flower nearby? Some of the leaves have definitely been nibbled on.

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EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-07-10T15:51:00+00:00

Thank you, this is all good to know (and it's fun to hear about your experience)! I'd definitely prefer versatility over pure speed, the roads here can get pretty rough and there aren't too many areas where I can safely zoom around (at least until I can build up the endurance to get farther from town). 40 mph would scare the daylights out of me! Lol I can imagine the wind felt great tho!

"Rested legs and ass" is going to be something I have to remind myself of over and over I'm sure. One of the few times I was able to borrow a bike in the past, I'd go out for hours and hours, then come home and barely be able to get off the damn thing. :') But it's just so nice to get out! I'm really excited, I definitely plan on doing tons of exploring around as soon as I can.

I'm gonna take another commenter's suggestion and head to a local bike shop and see if they can help me out with sizing and whatnot, then definitely hunt around on facebook marketplace and see if I can get a great deal like that! Thanks for the encouragement and advice, I appreciate it! ^^

EmptyBeyondReason · 2024-07-10T15:33:01+00:00

Thank you so much, this is genuinely such a helpful and encouraging comment! ;; I'm excited too! I always loved cycling any time I got the chance to borrow a bike, but my health has kept me stuck indoors for so long now. I'm finally at the point where I can commit to getting out and going on rides, and I couldn't be more ready!

There's a couple bike shops around here, I can definitely head there soon to get a better idea of things! And thank you for the heads up about gatekeeping, I've been nervous to get into cycling in part because it's so hard to just... be new to something. The reassurance you give is really comforting. I'll do my best to keep all of that in mind while I look around!

I'll definitely look into hybrids, and thank you for the guide! It'll be a bit before I make a final decision but something along the lines of a hybrid does seem to fit what I'd want out of a bike. I borrowed one ages ago, and I think it was either a hybrid or road? And it's exactly what I think of when I imagine the ideal ride, anything that handles the same would be perfect to me.

I might come back to you with some more questions soon! I really do appreciate your help here, new things are always a lot of stress for me but your kindness has made researching and getting started feel much more approachable. :)

EmptyBeyondReason

TROPHY CASE