Prehensile-tailed Skink Temperature/Humidity: Ideal daytime temperature for prehensile-tailed skinks should range between 75 and 85 degrees. Night-time temperature should remain between 70-75 degrees. Additionally, a basking area should be created on one end of the enclosure to maintain a local temperature of 95-110 degrees. This can be achieved with a basking lamp and multiple perches. The humidity for these skinks should be maintained at 75 percent or higher.

Lighting: All skinks benefit from the use of ultraviolet lighting to maintain good health. Ultraviolet lighting is recommended for 12 hours per day. The use of a timer will assist in maintaining an accurate schedule of light periods.

Feeding/Watering: Prehensile-tailed skinks are mainly vegetarian (diet consists mainly of plant matter). Therefore their diet should include vegetables, fruit, and some grains, with prepared foods (such as canned lizard food or low-fat, canned cat or dog food) used for supplementation. Suggested foods: dark, leafy greens (mustard, collard, turnip greens or tops, kale, dandelion leaves-stems-flowers, non-treated backyard grasses and weeds, clover), legumes, roses, hibiscus, carnation flowers, cured alfalfa and timothy hay, thawed frozen mixed vegetables (peas, corn, lima beans, carrots, green beans), peas in the pod, cauliflower, soy bean sprouts, summer and winter squashes, grapes, apples, pear, peaches, plums, nectarines, all types of melons, strawberries, raspberries, bananas, mangoes, and tomatoes. When feeding fruits & vegetables, use four vegetables to every fruit per meal. It may be best to only offer fruits in every third or fourth feeding. Red fruits are great for shy eaters as reptiles are naturally attracted to the color red. Dust food with vitamin/calcium powder every other feeding. Always remove food four hours after it is offered to prevent spoilage. A shallow water bowl should be provided and changed daily. Adult skinks should be fed 3-4 times per week, some juveniles can be fed twice daily during their growing period. Live insects can be offered as a "treat", but the diet listed should be nutritionally complete.

Habitat/Housing: Successful permanent maintenance requires at least a 60 gallon terrarium. A screen lid is essential for proper air exchange. The enclosure must include a basking area with multiple branches for exercise and climbing, and a "cool" area to allow for thermoregulation. Artificial plants also help to create a natural look. Unless breeding is desired, skinks are best kept singularly. Substrate (Bedding): Repti-bark is a suitable substrate for these reptiles. Multiple daily mistings of the enclosure will maintain the correct humidity level.

Traits: Prehensile-tailed, or "monkey-tailed skinks", have a highly adapted tail which helps them climb readily through trees. Don't be surprised if the tail grips you as if you were a tree! It is recommended that the nails of these tree-dwelling animals are groomed frequently to avoid excessive scratches. Most skinks will readily tame down with patience and frequent gentle handling. Skinks have powerful mouths and are capable of inflicting a painful bite. Children should only handle these lizards in the company of an adult.