How to Care for Skinks
  • 1. What type of enclosure is generally best for a skink?
A) A plastic tub with no ventilation
B) A cardboard box
C) A bird cage
D) A glass terrarium
  • 2. What is the ideal temperature gradient for a skink enclosure?
A) Extremely high humidity
B) Warm side and cool side
C) Uniform temperature throughout
D) Sub-zero temperatures
  • 3. Which of these substrates is generally NOT recommended for skinks?
A) Cypress mulch
B) Paper towels
C) Coconut fiber
D) Cedar shavings
  • 4. What is a good source of UVB lighting for skinks?
A) No lighting is necessary
B) A regular incandescent bulb
C) A UVB bulb
D) A blacklight
  • 5. What is the best way to provide water for a skink?
A) No water is needed, they absorb it from the air
B) Injecting water with a syringe
C) A shallow water dish
D) Spraying them directly
  • 6. What type of diet is generally best for most skinks?
A) Strictly herbivorous
B) They only need to eat once a month
C) Strictly carnivorous
D) Omnivorous
  • 7. Which of these food items is a good source of calcium for skinks?
A) Potato chips
B) Raw chicken bones
C) Crickets dusted with calcium powder
D) Only leafy greens
  • 8. How often should you handle your skink?
A) Once a year for a checkup
B) Only when it's feeding time
C) Regularly, to acclimate it to handling
D) Never, it will get stressed
  • 9. What is a sign of a healthy skink?
A) Lethargy and lack of appetite
B) Cloudy eyes and skin shedding difficulties
C) Bright, clear eyes
D) Constant hiding and refusal to come out
  • 10. What is a common health issue in skinks?
A) Super strength
B) Inability to shed
C) Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)
D) Excessive happiness
  • 11. What is the best way to clean a skink enclosure?
A) Never clean it, it's their home
B) Only clean it when it smells bad
C) Remove soiled substrate and replace it
D) Use harsh chemicals to disinfect
  • 12. What does 'shedding' refer to in skinks?
A) Changing color to blend in
B) Laying eggs
C) Replacing their outer layer of skin
D) Losing their tail
  • 13. How often should you offer food to a juvenile skink?
A) Daily
B) Once a week
C) Only when they beg for it
D) Once a month
  • 14. What type of enrichment is beneficial for skinks?
A) A mirror to look at themselves
B) Hides and climbing structures
C) Loud music
D) A completely bare enclosure
  • 15. What should you do if your skink stops eating?
A) Offer it only sweets
B) Ignore it, it will eventually eat
C) Consult a veterinarian
D) Force-feed it
  • 16. What is the average lifespan of a skink in captivity?
A) 100 years
B) A few months
C) 5-20 years (depending on species)
D) 1 year
  • 17. What does brumation mean for skinks?
A) A period of dormancy
B) A disease
C) A rapid growth spurt
D) A type of mating dance
  • 18. What should you avoid using for a skink's basking spot?
A) A heat lamp
B) A ceramic heat emitter
C) A hot rock
D) Under-tank heater
  • 19. What is the humidity level recommended for most skinks?
A) Varies by species, research your skink
B) Extremely high, jungle conditions
C) Very low, desert conditions
D) It doesn't matter
  • 20. What should you do with uneaten insects in a skink's enclosure?
A) Leave them for the skink to eat later
B) Let them breed
C) Introduce more insects
D) Remove them
  • 21. What is the best way to handle a skink that is defensive?
A) Approach slowly and gently
B) Spray it with water
C) Use gloves, always
D) Grab it quickly to assert dominance
  • 22. What does it mean if a skink is dragging its legs?
A) It's practicing for a race
B) Possible sign of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)
C) It's shedding its skin
D) It's just being lazy
  • 23. What is a good source of protein for skinks?
A) Ice cream
B) Only leafy greens
C) Candied fruit
D) Dubia roaches
  • 24. Why is it important to quarantine a new skink before introducing it to other reptiles?
A) It's not necessary
B) To see if it likes the other reptiles
C) To prevent the spread of disease
D) To give it a chance to learn the tank layout
  • 25. What is a common symptom of respiratory infection in skinks?
A) Nasal discharge
B) Perfect shedding
C) Excessive appetite
D) Bright, clear eyes
  • 26. What does it mean if a skink's tail falls off?
A) The skink is dying
B) It means the skink is very happy
C) It's shedding its tail skin
D) It's a defense mechanism; the tail will regenerate
  • 27. What should you use to disinfect a skink's enclosure?
A) Nothing, just wipe it down
B) Baking soda only
C) Strong chemicals, no rinsing needed
D) Diluted bleach solution (followed by thorough rinsing)
  • 28. What kind of vet is best suited to treat skinks?
A) A veterinarian for dogs and cats
B) Any vet will do
C) A reptile veterinarian
D) A veterinarian for horses
  • 29. What is the primary purpose of providing hides in a skink enclosure?
A) To store extra food
B) To give the skink a place to eat
C) To make the enclosure look pretty
D) To provide security and reduce stress
  • 30. What should you avoid doing when handling a skink's tail?
A) Supporting it
B) Gently stroking it
C) Ignoring it
D) Grabbing it tightly or pulling on it
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