Supplies You Need for a Pet Ocellated Skink

For your convenience, we have put together a list of supplies that ReptiFiles personally recommends to help you set up a functional ocellated skink enclosure, exactly the way it should be. In other words, we’ve practically already done the shopping for you! 😉 This page also contains affiliate links. For information on why we use affiliate links, please read our Affiliate Disclosure.

Reptiles are not inexpensive pets, and that includes ocellated skinks. Although small and inexpensive to purchase by themselves, they still require a lot of equipment to replicate the conditions of their natural habitat — and all of that adds up! If you are not prepared to purchase EVERYTHING required for the health and wellbeing of an ocellated skink, this is not the pet for you.

For advice on how to choose a healthy pet ocellated skink, click here.

Exo Terra Glass Terrarium, 24”L x 18”W x 12”H (OR LARGER)
Zoo Med T5 HO Reptisun 5.0, 12”
Zoo Med T5 HO Reptisun Terrarium Hood, 14”
Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED Bar, 18.5”
Philips PAR38 45w Halogen Flood Bulb
Fluker’s Deluxe Clamp Lamp, 5.5”
Lutron Credenza Plug-In Lamp Dimmer
Etekcity 774 Temperature Gun
Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge
Exo Terra Mister
Zilla 24/7 Digital Power Center
Play sand, 50lbs*
Flat basking stone (sandstone or slate, preferably)*
Environmental enrichment
- Ledges
- 3D background
- Cork logs
- Cholla wood
- Leaf litter
- Artificial plants
- Live, drought-tolerant plants**
Food and water dishes
Calcium and multivitamin supplement
Soft-tipped feeding tongs

Approximate minimum investment before you buy the skink or food: $530

*To save money on shipping, I recommend purchasing items marked with an asterisk in-store.

** Check to make sure that the plants you choose are nontoxic with The Tortoise Table.

All of these supplies for just one little skink may seem ridiculously expensive, and after seeing the number above, you may be questioning whether all of it is really “necessary.” The answer? Yes. It is necessary! ReptiFiles advocates for a higher, more humane standard of reptile care, and that starts with more investment in the enclosure and supplies. Even the smallest, “simplest” reptiles are NOT cheap pets.

Fortunately, with this shopping list, you can buy things one at a time as your budget permits. Plus, it doesn’t have to be quite as expensive as suggested above. There are some ways to save money, such as building your own enclosure and making/scavenging your own décor items. However, beware: there are other things that can’t be skimped on without potentially threatening your pet’s welfare, such as high-quality UVB bulbs and fixtures.

Keep in mind that your ocellated skink terrarium needs to be entirely ready to go before you bring home your new pet. This will save you a lot of stress, and does your new pet a big favor, too.

We also recommend finding an experienced reptile veterinarian in your area. It’s always better to do a little bit of research when nothing’s wrong than to find yourself in a panic when your pet gets sick.

Keep reading about ocellated skinks:

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