Peter’s Banded Skink 101 – Care, Size, Lifespan, Diet & More

Peter’s banded skink are small lizards originating from Southeast Asia. They are rare to find and uncommon while housing a reptile. Peter’s banded skink are docile creatures and easy to care for, making them a perfect choice for novice pet owners. This article will present you with a detailed care guide and the setup you will need to house them as pets.

Peter’s banded skink commonly known as white-lipped banded skink, is a species of lizard found in Southeast Asia. They have a distinctive appearance consisting of dark brown or black bands all over their body. Peter’s banded skink are beige or light brown in appearance and have a white stripe on top of their lips. They are easy to care for and omnivorous.

Overview

Peter’s banded skinks are medium-sized lizards much smaller than other species of skinks. They are also known as the white-lipped banded skink due to their unique white stripes on top of their lips.

These lizards have a unique appearance, with dark brown or black bands running all over their brown body. Peter’s banded skink has smooth and shiny scales and long tapered tails, which can come off as a defense mechanism. These lizards can grow 10-12 inches long, with males being typically larger than females.

Peter’s banded skinks are docile creatures and easy to care for, making them a popular choice in the reptile community. They need an average-sized terrarium with a ventilation lid on top. Talking about their care requirements they need a temperature gradient of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side and 90-95 degrees for the basking area. You also need to provide these creatures with access to clean drinking water and provide them with a clean and comfortable environment.

In the wild, Peter’s banded skink is found in grasslands, rocky areas, and forests. They are omnivorous and their diet consists of vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, and small insects. These lizards are diurnal, meaning they are active during the daytime. Peter’s banded skinks love to be handled and will acknowledge your presence when you are around. They are fun and lovable creatures and make perfect beginner pets.

What Does a Peter’s Banded Skink Look Like?

Peter’s banded skinks are small compared to relatively larger species of skinks. They have a unique appearance, which makes them a popular pet among the reptile community. These lizards have a calendrical and elongated body structure. Peter’s banded skinks also have a pointed snout and small eyes on top of their head.

They are very flexible due to their smooth and glossy scales that overlap each other. One of the most notable features of Peter’s banded skink is its vibrant skin colors. They also have bright yellow or orange heads with dark brown or black bands running throughout their body. The thickness of the bands or stripes may vary for every individual as it depends on several factors, such as age, size, and genetics. 

They also have thin white stripes on top of their upper lip, giving them their unique appearance. Peter’s banded skink is also sexually dysmorphic, with males and females having different appearances and characteristics. Male skinks are relatively larger, as compared to females, and have a more prominent robust head. 

Editor’s Note
Male Peter’s banded skinks have a more vibrant coloration than female skinks. This difference is prominently visible during the mating season.

Peter’s banded skinks also have short legs with sharp claws. They use these claws to borrow themselves in the wild to hide from predators and climb trees. They also have short yet thick tails that they use as their fat reserve to survive drought. Peter’s banded skinks also use their thick tails to attack and scare away threats.

Size and Growth Rate of Peter’s Banded Skinks

Peter’s banded skinks are relatively small and can grow up to 8-12 inches in length. They have a long and cylindrical body with high-set eyes and pointy snouts.  They mostly spend most of their time on the ground and thus have short sturdy legs with claws that they use to burry themselves. 

Peter’s banded skinks also have a slow yet steady growth rate. A young skink can reach the age of full maturity within a year. Although, the growth rate depends on various factors, such as diet, health, and genetics. You should provide a well-balanced diet to ensure they can grow to their full potential and live a healthy life.

Provide your Peter’s banded skink with proper care and attention to ensure their healthy growth and to prevent them from any illness. They require specific care, such as a suitable-sized terrarium, temperature regulation, substrate, and a heat lamp for the basking area. You should also make a note that the temperature and humidity levels inside the tanks remain at optimal levels.

They are primarily insectivorous, and their diet includes small feeder insects such as crickets, mealworms, and roaches. Peter’s banded skink gets most of its protein and nutrients from food, make sure you provide them with a healthy and versatile diet. Provide them with a safe and comfortable environment so they can grow to their full potential.

Editor’s Note
Male Peter’s banded skinks are known to be larger, as compared to the female skinks. Male skinks have larger heads and thicker tails with vibrant colors.

The Temperament of Peter’s Banded Skinks

Peter’s banded skinks are docile and have a calm temperament. They are easy to care for and known for their active and curious nature. These skinks have a non-aggressive temperament and will only get defensive when agitated or under stress. Peter’s banded skinks will not bite and have no terrestrial nature, thus making them a great choice to house as pets.

Although, it is important to note that each skink has their personality and can vary from one another. Some of Peter’s band skinks are known to be defensive and even aggressive. Provide them with a comfortable environment and avoid causing them any stress. You should also respect your skink’s boundaries and never do anything that will agitate them and perceive you as a threat.

You should also know the correct way to handle them to avoid any accidental bites or aggression from occurring. Skink owners should never handle their pet skinks by their tails and provide them space during the shedding or breeding season. Regular interaction and socialization should be enough for them to get comfortable and feel less stressed in captivity.

You should also know that Peter’s banded skinks are relatively shy and prefer to spend most of their time burrowed or hiding in their terrarium. You should provide them with enough hiding spaces and substrate to burrow themselves. Doing will help them feel safe and comfortable in their enclosure.

Enclosure Requirements for Peter’s Banded Skinks

Peter’s banded skinks are reasonably easy to care for and do not require a lot of experience. You should know about their specific needs before deciding to house them as pets. Providing the right enclosure environment is crucial for the health and well-being of your banded skinks. Here are a few enclosure requirements for Peter’s banded skinks.

Enclosure Size

The size of the enclosure depends on various factors, such as the age and size of your pet skink. An adult Peter’s Banded skink requires an enclosure of at least 40 gallons to live freely (similar to merauke blue tongue skink). The minimum dimensions for the terrarium should be 36” x 18” x 18”. If you are planning on housing multiple skinks, you should opt for a relatively bigger sized tank.

You should also make sure that the enclosure is escape-proof and has a ventilation lid on top of the tank. This will allow ventilation flow inside the tank and provide the necessary environment to live in. Having a secure lid will prevent your Peter’s banded skink from escaping and accidentally hurting itself. You should buy an enclosure with safe lids especially if you have other pets such as cats and dogs inside the house. 

Lighting Requirements

Lighting is another major enclosure requirement that you should keep in mind. Peter’s banded skinks need UVB lighting to metabolize calcium in their body. If there is no UVB lighting, your pet skinks bone will get brittle and weak. They can also develop a metabolic bone disease, which can prove to be fatal for your pet.

UVB lighting helps your skink produce vitamin D, which is essential for its growth. Placing UVB lighting is necessary if your Peter’s banded skinks enclosure is indoors and does not get enough sunlight. Providing the right lighting requirements will keep your pet skink healthy and growing rapidly.

Heating Requirements

Peter’s banded skinks are native to the Australian region and thus require additional lighting to create the environment inside the enclosure. You need to provide your pet skink with a dry environment with a temperature gradient.  Ensure one side of the tank remains cool while the other provides your skink with a warm basking region. 

The temperature should remain between 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit on the warmer side and 75-80 degrees on the cool side. This will provide your pet skink with the perfect basking temperature inside the tank. There should also be enough humidity inside the tank. Peter’s banded skinks require the humidity levels to remain between 30-40 percent. 

You can buy a heating lamp or an under-tank heating pad to maintain the right temperature gradient inside the tank. Placing a thermometer and humidifier will also help monitor temperature shifts and allow you to make changes accordingly.

Substrate

Peter’s banded skinks require a dry environment to live in. You should invest in a substrate that is highly absorbent and allows your pet skink to borrow in comfortably. Some of the safe options for the substrate include coconut fiber, orchid bark, and cypress mulch. Similar substrate is also suitable for Pink Tongue Skink to live in.

Also, ensure the substrate is 4-6 inches deep, hence allowing them to borrow in easily. Peter’s banded skinks spend most of their time hiding and borrowing themselves. Provide them with a variety of safe options and see which one they prefer.

Editor’s Note
You should avoid buying substrates such as sand and small pebbles as they can be accidentally swallowed by your pet skink. These substrates can cause various health problems such as impactions and other digestive issues.

Hygiene

You should thoroughly clean the enclosure daily to prevent bacteria or germ buildup inside the tank. Ensure you clean the feces and any uneaten food after every feeding session, as these can lead to parasitic infections and other health concerns such as mouth rot.

You should also change the substrate from time to time. This process should be repeated monthly and is crucial for your pet skinks health. You can also use a toxin-free disinfectant to clean the tank and avoid using harmful chemicals. Toxic chemicals can deteriorate your skink’s health and prove to be damaging in the longer run.

You should also provide your Peter’s Banded skink access to clean drinking water. Ensure to change the water after every feeding session as it might have some uneaten food that can lead to several health problems. You can also opt for a separate dish container to serve food and water to your pet skink.

Hygiene is an essential care requirement for your pet. It is important to provide your Peter’s banded skink with a clean and safe environment to live comfortably. A suitable and safe environment will prevent them from falling ill and developing any medical issues.

Diet Plan For Your Peter’s Banded Skink

Peter’s banded skinks are omnivorous and require a diet consisting of plant matter and protein sources. It is essential to provide your skink with a well-balanced diet to keep them fit and healthy. In the wild, Peter’s banded skink eats a diet including small spiders, insects, fruits, and vegetables. The diet that you offer to your pet should be versatile and contain nutrients and protein.

You can serve a variety of protein sources to your Peter’s banded skink, such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms, roaches, and other feeder insects. Feeder insects can be offered a few times per week and should not be overfed as it can lead to obesity. You should also make sure that the size of the insects is smaller than the size of your pet skink’s head. Serving large-sized insects can lead to health concerns such as impactions and other digestive issues.

Editor’s Note
You can also gut load feeder insects with calcium powder and vitamin D3 supplements to provide all the essential nutrients to your pet skink.

You should also incorporate plant matter in your Peter’s banded skinks diet. Include a wide variety of leafy greens, such as kale, collard greens, and dandelion greens. You can also serve them fruits occasionally, such as strawberries, blueberries, melons, and raspberries. It is also to serve them vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato, and green beans to provide them with all the essential nutrients. Make a note that plant matter should make up 40 percent of your skink’s diet.

Peter’s banded skinks also need access to clean drinking water at all times. The dish should be shallow enough for your pet skink to drink and bathe in. You should also clean the utensil and water after every feeding session as it can get contaminated and deteriorate the health of your pet. In addition to providing fresh water, you can also mist the tank a few times to maintain humidity levels inside the tank.

You should also be aware of the feeding schedule of your pet skink. Adult skinks should be fed every alternate day. Young skinks require food daily as they have a faster metabolism and are growing at a rapid rate.

Editor’s Note
You should never overfeed your pet skink as it can lead to obesity. By a general rule of thumb, let your Peter’s banded skink eat as much food for 10-15 minutes and remove the leftovers after each feeding session.

Shedding Process of a Peter’s Banded Skink

Peter’s banded skink takes about 2-3 weeks to complete their shedding process. Signs of shedding include dull or gray skin, loose patches of scales, and a sudden loss of appetite. During this process, old skin is shed off while a fresh layer grows underneath it. At the beginning of the shedding process, the skin may look loose or wrinkled.

Shedding is a natural process in skinks and is not painful. It occurs when the body outgrows the skin and they need to make room for their rapidly growing bodies. During the shedding process, skinks may get less active and easily irritated. Give your Peter’s banded skink space and time to complete the process and avoid handling it during these stressful times.

You can help your pet skink during the shedding process by misting the tank and providing them with access to clean drinking water at all times. Misting the tank will increase the humidity inside the enclosure and help your pet skink to get shed skin off easily.

Editor’s Note
You should never attempt to remove or pick on loose skin with your hands. This can lead to injuries and infections and should be avoided. If your Peter’s banded skink has an incomplete shed for an extended period, you should visit a vet immediately.

How to Identify the Sex of Peter’s Banded Skink?

Identifying the sex of your Peter’s Banded skink can be challenging, especially in cases of young skinks. One of the notable differences between male and female skink is their hemipenes. A male Peter’s banded skink has a set of two hemipenes on neither region of their body. Female skinks do not have these and rather have an opening for reproduction and excretion.

Another way to identify the sex of your pet skink is by seeing its size. Male skinks are relatively larger as compared to females. They have longer tails and robust heads that are used to catch the prey. The shape of the head also sets males apart from the females. Male Peter’s banded skinks have a triangular face structure, whereas females have a smaller and rounder face.

How to Handle Your Peter’s Banded Skink?

You should handle your pet skink with care and affection. Ensure to never grab your pet skink by its tail and avoid any sudden moments. If Peter’s Banded skink is going through the shedding process, you should give them space and avoid handling them. It is also important to note that you should never press down on their face as they might perceive you as a danger.

You should respect your pet skinks boundaries and establish trust before handling them. Peter’s banded skinks are shy and spend most of their time hiding and borrowing themselves. You can have engaging activities by socializing with them and spending time. 

Common Health Issues in Peter’s Banded Skinks

Common health issues in Peter’s banded skinks include respiratory infections, parasitic infestation, and digestive problems. Provide your skink with a clean and comfortable environment to avoid any medical issues.

You should also make sure the temperature gradient and humidity levels remain at optimal levels inside the tank. Peter’s banded skinks also need additional UVB lighting to maintain their body temperature and produce Vitamin D in their body. In case, there is no light provided, their bone will become weak and brittle and can develop metabolic bone disease. Some other illnesses include mouth rot and external parasitic infections. Ensure to clean the tank every few days and clean any uneaten food after every feeding session. This will prevent your pet from falling sick and developing any illnesses.

Breeding

Breeding Peter’s banded skink requires a specific environment. Firstly you will need a large enough enclosure to house a male and female skink together. Ensure there are enough hiding spaces and basking spots inside the tank. Females will lay eggs after two months of mating with the male skink. These eggs can take up to 70 days before hatching, till that time they need to be incubated. 

Editor’s Note
You should never house multiple males with a female skink. This can lead to terrestrial behavior and aggression among the male Peter’s banded skinks.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Peter’s banded skinks are docile and have very less care requirements, making them a perfect fit for beginner reptile owners. They are comfortable around their owners and do not mind being handled. Ensure to provide your Peter’s banded skink with a clean and comfortable environment to prevent any illnesses or medical issues.