Mabuya quinquetaeniata (Five-striped mabuya)

Age: Up to 15 years
Origin: Eastern Africa
Length: 20 to 30 Centimeters
The coloration of this species is quite variable depending on sex and age. The scales are shiny, with reflections. The base color is usually olive or dark brown, sometimes with pearly whitish spots and with three light olive or dark brown stripes running from the head to the blue tail. These stripes may fade and become indistinct in adults.

Care
Experience: Average lizard keeper
Food: Insectivore
Feed adult: 3 times a week
Feed young: Daily
Water bowl: Yes
Water change: Daily

Power supply
The emerald skink is an insectivore, the insects that can be offered are, for example, crickets, curly flies and buffalo worms. This diet can possibly be supplemented with mealworms or wax moths. The food should be smaller than the Skink's head. Feed young animals daily with small crickets or fruit flies. Feed as much as they can eat in an hour, removing uneaten prey to prevent them from disturbing a resting skink.

These animals also need extra calcium and vitamins. You can give this by always dusting the food animals with so-called calcium and vitamin preparations for reptiles. Fresh drinking water should always be available.

Water
Water must always be available, you can offer this in a small water bowl, but change the water daily to prevent bacterial accumulations in the water. This species receives the most water by spraying the terrarium, so also spray the terrarium daily.

Cleaning
It is important to clean the terrarium properly. Therefore remove uneaten food animals every day and remove faeces before feeding the skink again. Replace the bottom material once a month or a few times a year and then immediately clean the rest of the terrarium (including the interior). If you use cleaning products, it is important to rinse everything well after the time. Always wash your hands thoroughly after coming into contact with the animals or the terrarium, as reptiles can transmit salmonella.

Handling
This kind of skink does not like to be handled and would never become an animal that can be regularly removed from his terrarium, but with patience they can be tamed fairly well. When handling the skink, pick it up by gently sliding your hands under its body. Support the lower body and lift it off the floor. While handling, keep one thumb on its back so that it cannot easily run away. During handling it is recommended to hold it above your lap or above a table. This prevents the skink from falling from too great a height. Finally, it is advisable to wash your hands before and after handling. Here you prevent the skink and yourself from getting sick.

Housing
Minimum size stay for 2 to 4 skinks: 100x45x45
Day temperature: 26-30 degrees Celsius
Night temperature: 19-25 degrees Celsius
Hours of light: 12 hours a day
Humidity Level: 50-80%
Soil cover: Desert sand or dry humus

Design
This is a ground dweller so a high terrarium with climbing possibilities is not necessary and they would not use it. It is important that there are hiding places in the terrarium. You can also decorate it with stones, trunks and fake plants.
The enclosure must offer different temperatures. There should be both warmer and colder areas for the animals to choose from. A UV-b lamp must still be hung. In this way, the animals can build up sufficient calcium in their bodies. Without this relief, they can become very ill. Use light bulbs, low-energy light bulbs or possibly daylight lamps and leave the light on twelve hours a day.
Behaviour
Lifestyle: Diurnal and land dweller

Character
This species of skink is an active animal that would be busy during the day. They can be a little nervous to be handled but with a little patience and the right approach they can become tame.

Points of attention
Keeping several males together is not a good idea as they can show territorial behavior and react aggressively towards each other.

Cost and Purchase
Legislation:-
One-off costs: This includes the costs for accommodation, lighting, heating, water bowl and decoration. This can cost a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros in total. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the costs for the feed, which is a few tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: Costs are incurred when your Skink happens to fall ill or your equipment breaks down.