Shingleback Skink

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The shingleback skink is a thick bodied, ground dwelling lizard from southern Australia. It is a relative of the widely kept blue tongue skink and the eastern blue tongue skink. Rough, overlapping scales cover its back and give it a pine cone look.

Its short, blunt tail mimics its head, which is why some people call it the two headed lizard. Despite that odd shape, the shingleback skink is calm and slow moving. It is also one of the very few reptiles known to form lasting pair bonds.

In the wild, shinglebacks range across semi arid plains and woodlands from western New South Wales through South Australia to the coast of Western Australia. They favor open ground with tussock grass and leaf litter, sheltering under rocks and logs between basking sessions. Four subspecies exist, including a small, range restricted population on Rottnest Island off Western Australia.

Shingleback Skink Care Basics

Shingleback skink care starts with a dry, well ventilated enclosure. A strong basking spot, such as with the Zoo Med Repti Halogen Basking Spot Lamp, and a mostly plant based diet matter just as much. This species comes from dry, semi arid country, not a humid rainforest.

Daily care is simple once the setup is dialed in. Fresh water and a temperature check take only a few minutes. A quick look at the animal helps catch illness early.

Feeding happens every two to five days depending on age. The substrate needs occasional spot cleaning. Shinglebacks do not climb or dig much, so upkeep stays fairly light.

Setting Up a Shingleback Enclosure

A single adult does well in at least 8 square feet of floor space. A 4 foot by 2 foot footprint is a good starting point. That matches the general advice in our lizard enclosure guide for a heavy bodied ground dweller.

Length matters more than height here. This species never climbs, so tall glass tanks waste space and heat.

Solid sided wood, melamine or PVC enclosures work better than glass. They hold heat well and cut down on stress from constant outside movement. Good ventilation still matters, since stagnant air causes problems.

Substrate options include low dust reptile pellets, coarse sand mixed with soil, or dry leaf litter. Wet or heavily misted substrate should be avoided. This species is built for dry ground, not damp bedding.

A hide on the cool end and another near the basking spot help a lot. Flat rocks or cork bark work well for both hiding and basking.

Heat and Light Needs

Shinglebacks are diurnal baskers with a strong need for heat. Aim for a basking surface around 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. That is close to the 33 degrees Celsius preferred body temperature seen in wild animals.

The cool end should sit near 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Nighttime can drop into the low 70s. A ceramic heat emitter helps hold background warmth in a cold room.

Full spectrum UVB lighting is essential. Wild shinglebacks bask in direct desert sun for hours. A T5 high output UVB tube run about 12 hours a day is the standard choice, and it should be replaced roughly every 6 months.

Overheating is a real danger for this species. Body temperatures near 113 degrees Fahrenheit can be lethal within an hour or two. Every basking area needs a cooler retreat close by.

What Shinglebacks Eat

Shingleback skink diet leans more heavily on plants than most other blue tongue skinks. Wild animals eat leaves, flowers, seedlings and fruit. They also take snails and beetles, crushed with strong jaws and broad teeth.

In captivity, aim for roughly 60 percent plant matter to 40 percent animal protein in adults. That split is worth comparing against our wider look at what lizards eat across species. Dark leafy greens and shredded vegetables should make up the bulk of meals.

A little fruit rounds things out. Add the occasional snail, cooked lean meat or quality dog food for protein. Dust food with calcium powder, such as the Zoo Med Repti Calcium without D3, several times a week, especially for growing animals.

Younger shinglebacks eat every 2 to 3 days. Adults do well fed every 3 to 5 days. Keep fatty or sugary treats occasional, since this species gains weight easily in a small enclosure.

Common Health Problems

Metabolic bone disease is the most serious risk for a pet skink. It comes from too little calcium or UVB light. Correct lighting and supplements prevent most cases.

Respiratory infections tend to show up when humidity or temperature swings too much. This is a dry adapted species, so damp, poorly heated setups cause trouble. Wheezing, bubbling at the nose and lethargy are warning signs.

Internal and external parasites are more common on damp or loose substrates. Moist bedding lets eggs and mites survive longer. Obesity, mouth rot and thermal burns from unshielded heaters round out the common issues keepers report.

See the full lizard health guide for signs to watch across species. A reptile veterinarian should check any shingleback with weight loss, swelling or discharge. Annual fecal parasite checks are a reasonable habit even for animals that look healthy.

Quarantine is worth the effort for any new arrival. A separate enclosure for several weeks lets a keeper watch for hidden parasites or illness before introducing the animal to an established collection. This matters even more for a species with a history of wildlife smuggling, since the health background of some animals is harder to confirm.

Behavior and Defense

Shinglebacks are slow, deliberate animals, largely unbothered by the world around them. They bask in the morning, then forage through the warmer part of the day. Cover is where they retreat once the heat fades.

Outside the breeding season, this species is mostly solitary. It tolerates other shinglebacks moving through overlapping home ranges. It is not an aggressive lizard by nature.

When threatened, a shingleback turns to face the danger. It gapes its mouth wide and flattens its body. The dark blue tongue and bright pink mouth lining make a strong warning display.

Hissing usually comes next, and a bite is the last resort. A shingleback skink bite can break skin and leave a bruise, since the jaws crush snail shells with ease. There is no venom, so there is no lasting harm beyond basic wound care.

Breeding and Reproduction

The shingleback skink is one of the very few reptiles known to form long term, monogamous pair bonds. Pairs reunite each spring. Often it is the same two animals coming back to each other, sometimes for ten years running.

Mating happens in the Australian spring. Females give birth to live young several months later, rather than laying eggs. Litters usually number one to three offspring.

Newborn shinglebacks are unusually large compared to their mother. That is rare among lizards. Most other species produce much smaller young relative to adult size.

Captive breeding is uncommon outside specialist collections. Legally held pairs are scarce, and the species follows a seasonal cycle tied to its native climate. Breeders who do work with this species rely on established, well documented lines rather than wild caught animals.

Size and Lifespan

An adult shingleback skink reaches roughly 12 to 16 inches in total length. It weighs between 600 and 900 grams, making it one of the heaviest bodied skinks kept as a pet. The tail is short and stubby, only about a quarter of the total body length.

Wild shinglebacks typically live 10 to 15 years, and captive individuals can live far longer under stable care. One captive animal reached 35 years, though Animal Diversity Web notes that such ages are extremely rare. Even so, this is one of the longest lived skinks a keeper is likely to meet.

Males and females look similar at a glance, though males tend to have a proportionally larger, blockier head and a stockier build. Both sexes shed their skin about four or five times a year. Retained shed around the toes is worth checking for after each cycle.

Shingleback Skink Cost and Legality

Shingleback skinks are native, protected wildlife in Australia. Collecting or exporting them from the wild without a permit is illegal. Australia has restricted export of its native reptiles for decades, so almost no fresh legal stock leaves the country.

That protection has not stopped demand. Wildlife researchers have documented hundreds of shinglebacks seized from smugglers over the past two decades. Buyers in Asia and Europe were the main destinations named in that research.

Slow movement and poor escape ability make this species an easy target for poachers. Because of that history, legally owned shinglebacks outside Australia almost always trace back to old, pre restriction bloodlines. Specialist breeders hold most of that limited stock.

Supply is limited and demand from collectors stays steady. Shingleback skink cost tends to run well above that of common blue tongue skinks. Most general pet stores never carry this species at all.

Anyone considering one for a best pet lizards shortlist should ask for proof of legal, captive bred origin first. Never buy an animal without clear documentation. Within Australia, keeping a shingleback still requires the correct state wildlife license, even for captive bred animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are shingleback skinks good pets?

They can be excellent pets for keepers who can find a legally captive bred animal. A dry, well heated enclosure is the other key requirement. Their calm temperament makes them easier to handle than many lizards.

Are shingleback skinks venomous?

No. Shinglebacks have no venom glands and pose no toxic threat to people or pets. A defensive bite can break skin and bruise, but it heals like any minor puncture wound.

Are shingleback lizards dangerous?

Not in any serious sense. They are shy, slow moving animals that prefer to display and hiss before ever biting. The bite itself is the main physical risk, and it carries no venom.

How much is a shingleback skink?

Prices vary by breeder and bloodline. Shinglebacks generally cost far more than common blue tongue skinks, since legal supply is so limited. Expect a premium price tied to scarcity rather than any fixed market rate.

Is the shingleback skink monogamous?

Yes. The same male and female pair often reunite each breeding season. Some pairs have been tracked together for ten years running, which researchers consider unusual among reptiles.

What does a shingleback skink eat?

Wild shinglebacks eat mostly plant material, plus snails and other slow prey. Captive diets mirror that split. Adults do well on roughly 60 percent plant matter to 40 percent animal protein.