Five lined skinks are carnivorous or insectivorous species because they mostly feed on insects for their survival. Five lined skinks are non-venomous and are harmless to humans. Five lined skinks are large lizards and they are popular household pets in different regions.

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Five lined skinks can be found in southwestern New England, west to Wisconsin, south to northern Florida, and in eastern parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. These lizards can be found in every habitat but they are abundant in areas where good places are present to hide. They present in areas where there is a great amount of moisture, rocky areas, leafy debris, and wooded areas.

The average size of a five lined skinks ranges from 5 inches to 8.5 inches in length. Male have bigger heads than females. A five lined skink can live up to 6 years in the wild.

Insects and small animals

Five lined skinks feed on a variety of insects. Five lined skinks will eat spiders, millipedes, ants, beetles, and their larvae. They also feed on crickets, termites and grasshoppers. Five lined skinks do eat snails, slugs, and isopods. Five lined skinks eat frogs, small fish, and small lizards for their nutritional requirements. Some lizards also feed on newborn mice and earthworms.

A five lined skink eats a lot as they can eat any bug or insect after 3 to 5 minutes. The diet of these lizards depends upon their size and age. 

In captivity, five lined skink mostly eat crickets, mealworms, and some other insects.

Plants and fruits

Most of the five lined skink prefer insectivorous diet but some species of them can eat grass and plants. Five lined skinks can eat leafy green vegetables such as lettuce and spinach and fruits like green apples, papaya, grapes, peaches and guava.

What five lined skinks don’t eat?

Five lined skinks don’t eat avocado, rhubarb, and eggplant because these can cause toxicity to them.