Monkey Tailed Skink

Explore all 2 supporting guides ↓

No other skink grows as large as the monkey tailed skink (Corucia zebrata), the giant of the skinks. It is also one of the few lizards that lives almost entirely in the trees. It comes from rain forests in the Solomon Islands and nearby Bougainville.

There it climbs through the canopy in small family groups. This is a big, strong, intelligent lizard, and it is not a beginner pet.

As an Amazon Associate, Lizardist earns from qualifying purchases. Some product links on this page are affiliate links.

Herpetologists sometimes call it the prehensile tailed skink. Older texts call it the zebra skink for the banded pattern many individuals show. Two subspecies are recognized.

The nominate Corucia zebrata zebrata comes from the Solomon Islands.

The smaller Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti comes from Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. It has darker eyes and a black sclera. Most animals in the pet trade today are the nominate form.

Monkey Tailed Skink Care Overview

Good care for this species comes down to three things. Give it vertical space, a plant based diet, and social housing. This species is arboreal, so a tall, planted enclosure matters more than floor space.

It is also social. Keepers commonly house a bonded pair or small group rather than one animal alone, once they have the room to manage that safely. This is a large, long lived, strong lizard.

Most sources agree it belongs with experienced keepers who have already kept demanding reptiles. A general guide to choosing a pet lizard is a useful first stop before committing to a species this involved. The real learning curve is handling a big, food motivated animal with sharp claws.

Monkey Tailed Skink Enclosure Size and Setup

A single adult needs an enclosure on the scale of a walk in cage. Keepers commonly recommend around 4 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 6 feet tall, though exact minimums vary by source. A pair or small group needs more room than that.

Height matters more than floor space here, since this is a canopy dwelling lizard. A broader guide to lizard enclosures covers sizing basics that still apply at this scale. Many keepers build custom plywood or screen enclosures for an animal this large.

Furnish the enclosure with thick, secure branches at several levels. Add platforms too, since the skink spends most of its life off the ground. Live or artificial plants add cover and help hold humidity.

Use a substrate that holds moisture well, such as a coconut fiber and soil blend. General reptile supplies guides can help with sourcing branches, substrate, and monitoring tools. Keepers often house a bonded pair or small family group together once adults mature.

Group housing needs close watching. Unfamiliar or unrelated adults can turn territorial and aggressive toward each other. Always keep a backup enclosure ready in case animals need to be separated.

Heating and Lighting for Monkey Tailed Skinks

This species comes from a warm, humid, tropical forest. Aim for a basking spot in the mid 90s Fahrenheit. Ambient temperature should sit in the low to mid 80s, with a cooler side in the mid 70s at night.

Humidity should stay high, generally 60 to 80 percent. Daily misting, or a misting system, helps prevent the animal from drying out. Keepers and care guides differ somewhat on exact numbers, so treat these as a starting range.

Full spectrum UVB lighting is still recommended for this herbivorous lizard, whatever hours it keeps. UVB supports natural vitamin D synthesis and healthy calcium metabolism. A UVB tube, such as the Arcadia ProT5 Kit Forest 6%, spanning much of the enclosure works better than one small bulb.

Replace UVB bulbs on the schedule the manufacturer recommends. Output drops well before a bulb actually burns out.

What Monkey Tailed Skinks Eat

Monkey tailed skink diet is almost entirely plant based. That sets it apart from most other skinks, which tend to be omnivorous or insectivorous, as a broader look at what lizards eat explains. In the wild it browses leaves and fruit in the canopy.

Sources report a preference for the Solomon Island creeper plant. In managed care, keepers commonly offer a rotating mix of leafy greens, vegetables, and fruit. Safe foliage such as pothos is often added too.

A workable base diet leans on dark leafy greens like collard, mustard, and dandelion greens. Add vegetables such as squash and bell pepper. Offer fruit in smaller amounts, since too much sugar is not ideal for a large herbivore.

Dust food with a calcium supplement regularly. Use a vitamin supplement with D3 on a lighter schedule, following product directions. Fresh water should always be available.

Some individuals prefer to drink droplets off leaves rather than from a bowl. This mimics rain in their native forest. Avoid toxic houseplants in the enclosure, since a browsing herbivore will sample nearby foliage.

Monkey Tailed Skink Health

Metabolic bone disease is a real risk for a large herbivore that lacks enough UVB or dietary calcium. It can show up as soft jaw bones, swollen limbs, or reluctance to move. Respiratory infections can follow enclosures that run too cold or too dry.

A general lizard health guide covers warning signs worth learning early. A reptile veterinarian should see any animal that stops eating, breathes with its mouth open, or shows swelling. Do not wait to see if symptoms pass on their own.

Because this species is social and sometimes territorial, watch group housing closely. Look for bite wounds, tail injuries, or one animal being pushed away from basking spots and food. Obesity is also a concern in captivity, since a sedentary skink can gain more weight than a wild one that forages daily.

Monkey Tailed Skink Behavior

Sources disagree on when these skinks are most active. Zoo Boise lists the species as a daytime animal, while the Smithsonian’s National Zoo describes it as active at dusk and through the night, which matches what most keepers report.

They are highly arboreal and move slowly and deliberately through branches rather than on the ground. The long, muscular, prehensile tail makes up roughly half the animal’s total length.

That tail acts like a fifth limb, gripping branches for balance. This trait sets the species apart from ground dwelling relatives like the blue tongue skink or the more terrestrial fire skink. Few lizards climb with this much control.

Unlike most lizards, this species is genuinely social. It lives in small family groups of two to five animals that share tree hollows and home ranges in the wild. Groups can be territorial toward unfamiliar skinks, and both sexes will defend their space.

That mix of intelligence, strength, and territoriality explains the species’ reputation. Keepers and sources describe it as dangerous and not for beginners. Sharp claws and a hard bite are real risks from careless handling.

Breeding Monkey Tailed Skinks

Corucia zebrata is ovoviviparous. Females retain developing young inside the body and give birth to live offspring rather than laying eggs. Some other skinks share this trait.

According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, gestation runs six to eight months. A single, large baby is typical, and twins occur occasionally. Young stay with the family group for six to twelve months before moving on.

Breeding in managed care generally follows established pairs or small groups that already tolerate each other. Introducing unfamiliar adults just to breed raises the risk of serious fighting. Sexing this species is not straightforward from looks alone.

Many keepers rely on probing or other hands on methods, performed by an experienced keeper or veterinarian. This species reproduces slowly compared with many popular pet lizards. It produces offspring far less often than an egg laying species that can lay several clutches a year.

That slow reproductive rate is part of why unsustainable wild collection was historically a concern. Captive breeding programs and studbooks matter for the species’ future in the hobby. Prospective breeders should expect a long term project, not a quick turnaround.

Monkey Tailed Skink Lifespan and Size

A full grown monkey tailed skink is a genuinely large, heavy bodied lizard. It is recognized as the largest living skink species. Its tail alone makes up roughly half of its total length.

That gives the animal serious reach and grip in the canopy. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo puts adults at up to 28 inches (72 cm) long and roughly 14 to 28 ounces. Individual animals vary, so treat any single number as an approximation.

In the wild, these skinks typically live around 10 to 13 years. Lifespan under attentive human care commonly runs longer, with zoo sources citing 15 to 25 years. The oldest individual documented by Zoo Boise reached 24 years old.

That kind of longevity makes this a decades long commitment for a keeper. It is not a short term pet.

How Much Do Monkey Tailed Skinks Cost

The cost of this species sits well above what most beginner lizards run. That reflects the animal’s size, slow reproduction, and specialist care needs. Upfront price for a captive bred juvenile or adult is only part of the budget.

A properly sized, tall enclosure for an animal this large is a major expense on its own. Branching, planting, heating, and UVB lighting add up fast. The setup often costs more than the animal itself.

Ongoing costs include fresh produce several times a week and regular supplements. Add UVB bulb replacement on a set schedule, plus veterinary care from a reptile experienced vet. This species is protected under CITES Appendix II, with export from the Solomon Islands restricted.

Buyers should expect to work with established captive breeding lines, not wild caught stock. Anyone comparing this cost against other types of lizards will find it sits near the top for both price and commitment. Budget for the full lifespan, not just year one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are monkey tailed skinks dangerous?

They are not venomous, but adults have sharp claws and a strong bite that can break skin. Most bites happen from mishandling, food guarding, or startling the animal. Careful, confident handling keeps risk low.

Are monkey tailed skinks good pets for beginners?

Generally no. Their size, cost, specialized humid setup, herbivorous diet, and defensive bite suit keepers who already handle large, demanding reptiles.

How big does a full grown monkey tailed skink get?

They are considered the largest skink species alive, reaching up to about 28 inches (72 cm) including the tail. The long, muscular, prehensile tail makes up roughly half of that length. Adults typically weigh around 14 to 28 ounces.

What do monkey tailed skinks eat in captivity?

They are strictly herbivorous, eating leafy greens, vegetables, some fruit, and safe foliage like pothos. Food should be dusted with calcium and, on a lighter schedule, a vitamin supplement with D3.

How do you sex a monkey tailed skink?

External appearance does not reliably reveal sex in this species. Keepers typically rely on probing or other hands on methods performed by an experienced keeper or vet.

How long do monkey tailed skinks live?

Wild individuals typically live around 10 to 13 years. Animals under attentive human care often live longer, and the oldest documented individual reached 24 years old.