Peters Banded Skink Care

I have many reptile hobbyists inquiring about Peters Banded Skink care because as you may know, there isn't much public information on this species.

If you follow my Instagram, you must know who Diggins is! I've owned Diggins for two and a half years, and he's as healthy as ever! This care sheet below is what has worked for me and Diggins. I personally believe that the information below is the best way to keep this species in captivity. Unfortunately since Peter's Banded Skinks have only been in the pet trade for a few years, most of the PBS you will see at expo's or pet stores are wild caught. But there is hope! They have been successfully bred in captivity and are very slowly becoming more captive raised.

With that said, keep in mind that I am sharing what has worked for Diggins, but I highly recommend that you consider all these aspects before either bringing home a Peters Banded Skink or upgrading a habitat.

Size: Roughly 8"-10"

Lifespan: This is still unknown for in captivity, but from other research I've gathered Peters Banded Skinks may live 15-20 years.

Housing: For a single adult a 20 Long aquarium is the minimum size you will want to go with, anything smaller won't be suitable. They can be housed together (females with females or a male with multiple females to reduce the chance of aggression between males), but requires a 40 Breeder aquarium or larger.

Lighting & Heat: Even though PBS are nocturnal, I recommend using a UVB along with a basking lamp. There isn't any evidence that it's a requirement for a proper set-up but I have always had one for Diggins. Like most reptiles, they benefit from a UVB bulb even though it may not be a necessity. The basking site should ideally be around 100F-110F degrees, with the cool side around 80F. An Under Tank Heater (UTH) is required for a 24 hour heat source during the night hours when the basking/UVB lamp will be off. Remember, these guys come from a very hot and dry climate, so it's better to be on the warmer side.

Substrate: Peters Banded Skinks LOVE their sand. Make sure to have a minimum of 3" of sand so it offers them enough room to burrow as they please. Most of the day time will be spent out of sight and out of mind, only to pop their head out and explore once all the lights in the room are off. The sand I recommend is Reptisand by Zoo Med because it does not contain calcium and it is 100% natural from the Sahara Desert. It's very soft to the touch and has less dust than other brands of sand. Most species should not be on sand, but when using natural sand this species NEEDS it in order to reduce stress and adapt to captivity. Impactions mainly occur with sand that contains calcium and/or not being tong fed. I feed Diggins crickets which he hunts down throughout the night, but to avoid extra sand being eaten, tong feeding is ideal. A little natural sand being digested here and there is no big deal for these guys.

Diet: Most skinks are omnivores, but not Peters Banded Skinks! I've seen some care guides online say that PBS are omnivores, but they will not touch greens no matter how hard you try! Their diet mainly consists of insects (superworms, crickets, dubia roaches, silkworms, canned cockroaches, waxworms, calciworms, etc.). I also feed Diggins raw egg which is his favorite! Peters Banded Skinks were known for wandering through villages and eating eggs from various animals! Lastly here is a no-brainer, make sure there is a water dish. You will almost never see your skink drink from the dish but a constant source of fresh water should always be available to your skink.

Temperament: Peters Banded Skinks are very docile and will begin to warm up to their care takers quickly with repeated exposure to human contact. Remember, most PBS you see are wild caught, so it may take extra time to tame your skink! Handling them after dark will give you the best chance at seeing your little guy at his best.

Other: When shedding, it will be very flaky and will not come off in one piece like a snake or gecko shed. Make sure when you see your skink shedding to give it a warm soak! Diggins hated soaks at first, but now I think it's his favorite thing ever!

Please feel free to go under the "Contact Me" tab and sent me a message if you have other questions about Peters Banded Skink care!