It’s a good idea to spray the tank lightly but regularly using a mister sold for use with household plants, as this help will keep the humidity up. Low humidity can cause an animal that is shedding to be left with pieces of skin stuck to its toes, legs and back, rather than losing these cleanly. Old skin on the toes is particularly hazardous, as it is likely to constrict and tighten, restricting the blood supply here which in turn can ultimately cause them to fall off. As with most shedding-related problems, a nice long warm soak in a shallow bath and a lot of TLC should loosen the dry skin and do the trick. Spraying is also especially important in the late spring and early summer when both species of Tribolonotus are breeding.

Give your vivarium a spot clean at least twice a week taking out all faeces, dry moss, dead crickets and shed skin. Cleaning the tank out fully should take place at least every other month. Use a special disinfectant as sold for reptiles which will help kill off harmful microbes that may spread though the humid environment of the tank.  By thoroughly cleaning the tank first, so you will maximise the germ-killing power of the disinfectant.  Follow the instructions for use carefully.

Even though Crocodile Skinks are not aggressive by nature, they are definitely not the easiest of pets to handle. They will go through a number of defence processes if they are nervous or frightened suddenly. When approaching a Trib, it will do one of two things - either making a straight dash for cover or stopping in its tracks, not moving until you come to close,  and then defending itself by screeching at you, or biting your fingers. They are one of only a few species of skink that have the ability to vocalize, with their strange call sounding like a small child crying!

If this fails to scare you away, they will employ another tactic, which is playing dead. This is a VERY convincing ploy. They lay totally still, closing their eyes and just sitting there. If you attempt to pick them up or turn them on their back, most will just lay there, but after 30 seconds or so, they will then roll straight back over. The best idea in this case is to leave the skink alone. 

The last resort for the Tribs under threat is that they will drop their tail, like some other lizards, in the hope of being able to get away. This of course is very stressful and can potentially prove fatal if an infection takes hold. The tail may regenerate in time, but it will never be the same.

Tribs like their enclosure to be humid and moist, but there is a downside to this type of environment. If the cage is not only moist but actually wet for some period of time, then  ulcers resembling blisters can sometimes develop on the Tribs. These are mostly found on the belly, feet or tail. I always found that any animals with these are very easily treated at home. In my experience Vetadine® solution works very well. A simple treatment is to use cotton buds and place the solution on the ulcer(s) everyday for a week, then every third day for the next two weeks.

(Note: If you are unsure about doing this treatment yourself, please seek veterinary advice.)

Purchasing your Tribolonotus:

Firstly, when selecting your animal you want to go to a reliable source, somewhere that specializes in reptiles and has a good reputation for their livestock. Of course, where possible you want to be buying captive-bred animals but unfortunately, they are not nearly as readily available as wild-caught specimens. Keep your eyes open though as some could turn up. To increase your chances of obtaining a healthy Trib in top condition, take a look below at a few things that you should to be looking for:

Healthy specimens have:

·               Clear nostrils & mouth, are bright-eyed and appear alert.

·               A firm body, with no sagging.

·               A healthy appetite and a plump belly.

·               All their body scales, with no scars, plus a full set of toes and a complete tail.

What to avoid – basically the reverse of the above:

·               Specimens that cannot walk properly or do so in an uncomfortable manner, often because of a skeletal problem.

·               Thin individuals, with very little in the way of fat reserves. Could be indicative of chronic illness, and often a heavy burden of internal parasites.

·               Those which appear to have shed skin stuck to any part of the body.

·               Any with body scars or lacerations, especially if these are recent and have not healed. 

·               Individuals which appear malformed.

What you need to know:

·               Expect to pay in the region of £60-70 each for wild-caught individuals, and up to £100 for captive-bred babies. These prices are just rough guides; the cost will vary from shop to shop and Tribolonotus gracilis is cheaper than T. novaeguineae. based on availability.

It doesn't matter whether the selected specimen is a wild-caught individual or captive-bred, as all newly-acquired animals need to be left in quarantine for a period of at least 6-8 weeks, so that you can observe and monitor their condition. Handle and disturb Tribs in quarantine as little as possible, just changing the water and checking that the food given has been consumed, cleaning their quarters as necessary.  Getting your local reptile vet to take a look at your newly-purchased skink would also be a good idea, as it is possible to check for the presence of potentially-harmful protozoa and flagellates using faecal samples, and then medicate the lizard if necessary.