Emerald Tree Skink (Lamprolepis smaragdina) Care Sheet
The Emerald Tree Skink (Lamprolepis smaragdina) is a striking, highly active arboreal skink found across parts of Southeast Asia and the western Pacific.
Best known for its vivid green to turquoise colouration, this species differs considerably from the predominantly terrestrial lifestyle associated with many commonly kept skinks. Emerald Tree Skinks are agile climbers that spend much of their time on tree trunks, branches and other elevated surfaces.
They have become increasingly popular as inhabitants of large, densely planted naturalistic and bioactive vivariums. Their combination of bright colouration, constant daytime activity and relatively bold behaviour makes them particularly engaging display animals.
Well-established captive animals can become remarkably confident around their keeper. Some individuals will readily approach for food and may voluntarily climb onto a keeper, although unnecessary restraint should still be avoided.
Successful husbandry centres on a spacious vertical enclosure, extensive climbing structure, dense vegetation, appropriate UVB, bright visible lighting, a suitable basking area, high but fluctuating humidity, excellent ventilation and a varied insect-based diet.
Quick Facts
Scientific name: Lamprolepis smaragdina
Common name: Emerald Tree Skink
Family: Scincidae
Native range: Southeast Asia and parts of the western Pacific
Lifestyle: Arboreal
Activity: Diurnal
Adult length: Approximately 8–10 inches including the tail
Lifespan: Approximately 8–12+ years with excellent care
Experience level: Intermediate
Diet: Primarily insectivorous/omnivorous
Temperament: Active, alert and often relatively bold
Adult enclosure: Approximately 24" × 18" × 36" minimum for one adult; larger strongly preferred
Basking area: Approximately 32–35°C
General daytime temperature: Approximately 24–28°C
Cool area: Approximately 22–24°C
Night temperature: Approximately 20–23°C
Humidity: Approximately 60–80% with regular drying periods
UVB: Essential
Handling: Limited; voluntary interaction preferable
Social housing: Individual housing safest; carefully managed groups possible for experienced keepers
Natural Distribution
Emerald Tree Skinks have a broad distribution across parts of Southeast Asia and the western Pacific.
Populations occur across numerous islands and geographical regions.
Animals from different populations may vary considerably in:
- Colouration
- Pattern
- Size
- Behaviour
Where locality information is known, accurate records should be maintained.
Captive-bred animals should be strongly preferred.
Natural Habitat
Emerald Tree Skinks are strongly associated with warm, humid tropical environments.
They may be found in:
- Tropical forest
- Forest edges
- Trees
- Palms
- Plantations
- Gardens
- Vegetated areas around human habitation
Unlike many terrestrial skinks, they spend considerable amounts of time above ground.
They are excellent climbers and readily move vertically across trunks and branches.
Appearance
The species is named for its characteristic green colouration.
Depending on locality and individual, animals may display:
- Emerald green
- Lime green
- Turquoise
- Blue-green
- Olive
- Brown
- Grey
Some individuals display considerably brighter colouration than others.
Colour Variation
Not every Emerald Tree Skink is uniformly bright green.
Colouration can vary according to:
- Locality
- Genetics
- Sex
- Age
- Temperature
- Lighting
- Stress
- Health
Wild populations show considerable geographical variation.
Adult Size
Adults generally reach approximately:
8–10 inches total length
including the long tail.
The tail makes up a substantial proportion of the animal’s overall length.
Body Shape
Emerald Tree Skinks possess a slender body and relatively long limbs compared with many terrestrial skinks.
Their build is adapted to rapid movement across vertical surfaces and branches.
They are capable of:
- Rapid climbing
- Short jumps
- Moving quickly between branches
- Clinging to relatively smooth surfaces
Behaviour
Emerald Tree Skinks are strongly diurnal.
Normal daytime behaviour includes:
- Basking
- Climbing
- Hunting insects
- Exploring
- Moving through foliage
- Resting on elevated branches
- Investigating their surroundings
They can be considerably more visible and active than many secretive skink species.
Intelligence and Curiosity
Emerald Tree Skinks frequently display curious behaviour.
Well-established individuals may learn to associate their keeper with food and investigate activity outside the enclosure.
Their boldness is one reason the species has become popular as a display animal.
Temperament
Captive-bred and well-established animals can become relatively confident.
Some individuals may:
- Approach the enclosure door
- Take food from feeding tongs
- Investigate a keeper’s hand
- Voluntarily climb onto a keeper
This behaviour should not be confused with a need for routine handling.
Handling
Forced handling should be kept to a minimum.
Where interaction is desired, allowing the animal to voluntarily approach is preferable.
Never:
- Grab the tail
- Chase the skink repeatedly
- Restrain it tightly
- Allow it loose in an unsecured room
Tail Loss
Emerald Tree Skinks can shed their tails as a defensive response.
Never lift or restrain an animal by its tail.
A lost tail can regenerate, but the replacement may differ noticeably in appearance.
Enclosure Size
For a single adult, approximately:
24" × 18" × 36"
should be considered a practical minimum.
Larger accommodation is strongly preferred.
An enclosure around:
36" × 18" × 36"
or larger provides substantially greater opportunity for natural movement.
Vertical Space
Vertical space is essential.
The enclosure should contain usable structure throughout its height.
A tall enclosure containing only a few branches does not provide sufficient usable arboreal habitat.
Group Enclosures
Where compatible animals are maintained together, substantially more space is required.
Group accommodation should provide:
- Multiple basking sites
- Multiple feeding areas
- Extensive visual barriers
- Numerous elevated retreats
- Several independent climbing routes
Separate accommodation should always be available.
Climbing Structure
Provide extensive climbing opportunities using:
- Natural branches
- Cork tubes
- Cork bark
- Bamboo
- Vines
- Robust live plants
Arrange branches:
- Vertically
- Horizontally
- Diagonally
This creates a three-dimensional environment rather than an enclosure with unused open space.
Branch Diameter
Provide several different branch diameters.
Branches should be sufficiently sturdy to support the skink securely while climbing and basking.
All furnishings must be firmly anchored.
Cork
Cork bark is particularly useful.
It can provide:
- Climbing surfaces
- Elevated hides
- Visual barriers
- Basking positions
Large vertical cork sections can imitate the tree trunks frequently used by the species in nature.
Foliage
Dense foliage is strongly recommended.
Vegetation provides:
- Security
- Shade
- Drinking surfaces
- Visual barriers
- Climbing opportunities
- Humidity gradients
Suitable reptile-safe plants may include robust:
- Pothos
- Ficus
- Schefflera
- Bromeliads
- Other suitable tropical plants
Ensure plants are free from pesticides and harmful chemicals.
Open Areas
The enclosure should not be completely overgrown.
Provide open areas where the skink can:
- Bask
- Hunt
- Observe its surroundings
- Move rapidly between structures
A mixture of dense cover and open basking areas provides greater behavioural choice.
Elevated Hides
Provide several elevated retreats.
Suitable options include:
- Cork tubes
- Hollow branches
- Dense vegetation
- Cork positioned behind branches
The animal should always be able to move completely out of sight.
Enclosure Security
Escape prevention is essential.
Emerald Tree Skinks are fast and agile.
Carefully check:
- Doors
- Locks
- Sliding tracks
- Ventilation
- Cable ports
- Background edges
before introducing the animal.
Substrate
Suitable substrates include:
- Organic topsoil
- Coco fibre
- Tropical soil mixtures
- Orchid bark
- Leaf litter
The substrate should retain moisture without remaining permanently waterlogged.
Drainage
A drainage layer may be beneficial in heavily planted enclosures receiving regular misting.
Standing water within the substrate should be avoided.
Bioactive Housing
Emerald Tree Skinks are particularly well suited to naturalistic bioactive enclosures.
A properly established bioactive system may include:
- Live plants
- Natural soil
- Leaf litter
- Springtails
- Suitable isopods
Their active arboreal lifestyle makes a well-designed planted enclosure particularly effective for this species.
Bioactive housing does not eliminate the need for routine maintenance.
Temperature Gradient
Provide a clear thermal gradient.
The skink should be able to move freely between warm basking areas and cooler shaded retreats.
Basking Temperature
Provide a localised basking surface around:
32–35°C
The basking area should occupy only part of the enclosure.
General Day Temperature
Most of the enclosure can remain around:
24–28°C
Cool Area
Provide cooler shaded areas around:
22–24°C
Night Temperature
Night temperatures can generally fall to approximately:
20–23°C
A modest nighttime reduction is appropriate.
Overheating
Do not maintain the entire enclosure at basking temperature.
Arboreal glass enclosures can heat rapidly.
Particular care is required during warm weather.
Cooler shaded retreats must always remain available.
Heating
Suitable overhead heating can be used to create a localised basking area.
All heating equipment should be:
- Securely installed
- Protected from direct contact
- Appropriately controlled
- Regularly monitored
Temperature Monitoring
Use reliable digital thermometers to monitor:
- Warm ambient areas
- Cool areas
An infrared thermometer is useful for checking basking surface temperatures.
UVB
UVB is essential.
Emerald Tree Skinks are active diurnal reptiles.
Appropriate UVB supports:
- Vitamin D3 synthesis
- Calcium metabolism
- Healthy skeletal development
- Normal muscular function
- Natural basking behaviour
UV Gradient
The enclosure should provide:
- Appropriate UV exposure around basking areas
- Moderate exposure
- Filtered exposure
- Complete shade
The animal must be able to regulate its exposure behaviourally.
UVB Placement
UVB effectiveness depends on:
- Lamp output
- Distance
- Mesh obstruction
- Reflector
- Enclosure design
Follow current manufacturer recommendations when selecting and positioning UVB equipment.
Visible Lighting
Bright visible lighting is extremely important.
These are strongly diurnal reptiles.
Good visible lighting supports:
- Natural activity
- Basking
- Feeding
- Colour display
- Plant growth
- Normal day/night rhythms
Suitable daylight LED lighting can be used alongside UVB and basking equipment.
Photoperiod
Approximately:
11–13 hours of daylight
is suitable depending on season.
Night Lighting
The enclosure should become dark at night.
Do not leave visible red, blue or purple lamps operating throughout the night.
Humidity
General humidity around:
60–80%
is appropriate.
Humidity should fluctuate rather than remain constantly high.
Humidity Cycle
Humidity will normally rise after misting and gradually fall as the enclosure dries.
This fluctuation is desirable.
The enclosure should not remain permanently saturated.
Misting
Light misting:
Once or twice daily
works well in many setups.
Frequency depends on:
- Ventilation
- Planting
- Substrate
- Room humidity
- Season
Allow surfaces to partially dry between misting sessions.
Hydration
Emerald Tree Skinks may drink droplets from:
- Leaves
- Glass
- Branches
- Other enclosure surfaces
Misting therefore provides useful drinking opportunities.
Water Bowl
A clean water dish should always be available.
Replace the water regularly.
The bowl should be stable and positioned where contamination is minimised.
Ventilation
Excellent ventilation is essential.
High humidity combined with stagnant air can encourage:
- Mould
- Bacterial growth
- Skin problems
- Respiratory disease
The enclosure should remain humid but well ventilated.
Diet
Emerald Tree Skinks are primarily insectivorous but may consume a broader range of foods.
A varied captive diet is important.
Live Insects
Suitable feeders include:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Roaches
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Silkworms
- Appropriate caterpillars
- Other suitable captive-produced insects
Prey should always be appropriately sized.
Dietary Variety
Avoid relying on a single feeder species.
Offering a range of nutritionally appropriate insects provides:
- Nutritional variety
- Different hunting opportunities
- Behavioural enrichment
Gut Loading
Feeder insects should be properly gut-loaded before use.
Suitable gut-loading foods include:
- Leafy greens
- Vegetables
- Appropriate commercial gut-loading products
Calcium Supplementation
Live insects should be appropriately dusted with calcium.
Requirements depend on:
- Age
- UVB provision
- Overall diet
- Reproductive status
Growing juveniles and breeding females require particularly careful calcium management.
Multivitamins
A suitable reptile multivitamin can be offered periodically.
Avoid excessive supplementation.
Fruit and Gecko Diet
Emerald Tree Skinks may occasionally accept small amounts of:
- Suitable soft fruit
- Nutritionally complete gecko diet
These should be regarded as supplementary foods rather than the foundation of the diet.
Live invertebrate prey should remain a major component of captive feeding.
Feeding Frequency
Juveniles can generally be offered appropriately sized food:
Daily or almost daily
Adults can generally be fed:
Approximately 3–5 times per week
Adjust feeding according to:
- Body condition
- Activity
- Age
- Reproductive status
Elevated Feeding
Because Emerald Tree Skinks are strongly arboreal, elevated feeding stations can be useful.
Live insects can also be released in controlled numbers to encourage natural hunting.
Do not allow large numbers of uneaten feeder insects to remain in the enclosure.
Tong Feeding
Many established animals readily learn to take food from feeding tongs.
Tong feeding can be useful for:
- Monitoring food intake
- Offering specific prey
- Building confidence
- Providing controlled interaction
Avoid encouraging the animal to associate fingers directly with food.
Food Enrichment
Encourage natural feeding behaviour through:
- Live prey hunting
- Varying feeding locations
- Elevated feeding
- Allowing controlled searching among branches and foliage
Social Behaviour
Emerald Tree Skinks can display more complex social behaviour than many commonly kept skinks.
They are sometimes maintained successfully in compatible groups.
However, successful group housing should never be assumed.
Individual Housing
Individual housing remains the safest general recommendation.
It allows:
- Accurate feeding monitoring
- Easier health assessment
- Prevention of aggression
- Prevention of unwanted breeding
Group Housing
Experienced keepers may maintain carefully selected compatible groups in large, complex enclosures.
Group housing requires close observation.
Monitor for:
- Chasing
- Biting
- Food competition
- Basking exclusion
- Weight loss
- Persistent hiding
- Chronic stress
Adult Males
Multiple mature males may display territorial aggression.
Housing several adult males together should generally be avoided unless the keeper has extensive experience and a suitably large environment.
Male/Female Groups
Compatible male/female groups may sometimes be maintained by experienced keepers.
Females must be monitored for:
- Persistent mating attention
- Weight loss
- Injury
- Stress
Separate accommodation should always be immediately available.
Sexing
Sexual differences may become more apparent as animals mature.
Males may develop:
- Broader heads
- More robust body proportions
- More obvious reproductive structures
Sexing juveniles can be difficult.
Breeding
Emerald Tree Skinks can be bred successfully in captivity.
Only healthy mature animals in excellent condition should be bred.
Reproduction
Emerald Tree Skinks are egg-laying reptiles.
Females typically deposit small clutches in protected locations.
Female Condition
Breeding females require excellent:
- Nutrition
- Calcium provision
- UVB
- Hydration
- Body condition
Monitor breeding females carefully.
Egg Laying
Females commonly produce:
1–2 eggs per clutch
Multiple clutches may be possible under suitable conditions.
Provide suitable laying opportunities.
Laying Sites
Females may deposit eggs in protected locations such as:
- Substrate
- Cork crevices
- Plant bases
- Other concealed areas
The enclosure should contain several suitable options.
Incubation
Eggs can generally be incubated under warm, stable conditions around:
26–28°C
Incubation time varies with temperature and other factors but may commonly take approximately:
45–70+ days
Avoid excessive incubation temperatures.
Eggs should not be rotated after laying.
Hatchlings
Hatchlings are small, fast and active.
Provide:
- Secure escape-proof accommodation
- Fine climbing structures
- Dense foliage
- Appropriate UVB
- Moderate basking temperatures
- Appropriate humidity
- Tiny live prey
- Appropriate supplementation
Hatchling Food
Suitable prey may include:
- Flightless fruit flies
- Pinhead crickets
- Tiny roach nymphs
- Small black soldier fly larvae
- Other appropriately sized captive-produced insects
Growing juveniles require careful calcium and UVB provision.
Hatchling Security
Young Emerald Tree Skinks can exploit surprisingly small gaps.
Carefully check:
- Doors
- Ventilation
- Cable ports
- Sliding tracks
- Lid fittings
before introducing hatchlings.
Quarantine
All newly acquired reptiles should undergo quarantine.
A minimum of approximately:
90 days
is a sensible starting point.
Monitor:
- Feeding
- Weight
- Faeces
- Skin
- Shedding
- Respiration
- Activity
Veterinary parasite screening may be appropriate, particularly for animals of uncertain origin.
Shedding
Healthy Emerald Tree Skinks generally shed successfully when provided with suitable hydration and humidity.
Retained shed may occasionally occur around:
- Toes
- Tail
- Limbs
Avoid forcibly removing firmly attached skin.
Signs of Good Health
A healthy Emerald Tree Skink should generally display:
- Clear bright eyes
- Alert daytime activity
- Strong climbing ability
- Regular basking
- Active hunting
- Appropriate body condition
- Smooth coordinated movement
- Healthy skin
- Normal faeces
Warning Signs
Seek veterinary advice for:
- Persistent food refusal
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Soft jaw
- Swollen limbs
- Respiratory symptoms
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Severe retained shed
- Skin lesions
- Significant lethargy
Metabolic Bone Disease
Inadequate UVB, calcium or overall nutrition can contribute to metabolic bone disease.
Possible signs include:
- Soft jaw
- Limb deformity
- Tremors
- Weakness
- Poor climbing ability
Prevention through appropriate UVB and balanced nutrition is essential.
Common Husbandry Mistakes
Treating Them Like a Terrestrial Skink
Emerald Tree Skinks are strongly arboreal and require extensive vertical climbing structure.
Enclosure Too Small
Their high activity level makes additional space particularly valuable.
Enclosure Too Bare
A few branches inside a tall enclosure are insufficient.
Inadequate UVB
These are active diurnal reptiles and require appropriate UVB.
Poor Visible Lighting
Bright daytime illumination supports natural behaviour and activity.
Keeping the Entire Enclosure Too Hot
Provide a localised basking area alongside cooler shaded retreats.
Constantly Wet Conditions
Humidity should fluctuate and enclosure surfaces should partially dry.
Poor Ventilation
High humidity must be combined with excellent airflow.
Poor Dietary Variety
A single feeder insect should not form the entire diet.
Forced Handling
Voluntary interaction is preferable to repeatedly catching and restraining the animal.
Grabbing the Tail
Tail loss can occur as a defensive response.
Assuming Group Housing Is Automatically Safe
Social behaviour does not guarantee compatibility.
Captive-Bred Animals
Captive-bred Emerald Tree Skinks should be strongly preferred.
Advantages include:
- Known origin
- Established feeding
- Better adaptation to captive conditions
- Reduced parasite concerns
- Reduced collection pressure on wild populations
Captive breeding is particularly valuable for reducing reliance on imported wild-collected animals.
Responsible Ownership
Before acquiring an Emerald Tree Skink, ensure you can provide:
- A spacious vertical enclosure
- Extensive climbing structure
- Dense foliage
- Elevated retreats
- Appropriate UVB
- Bright visible lighting
- A localised basking area
- Cooler shaded retreats
- High but fluctuating humidity
- Excellent ventilation
- Regular misting
- Fresh drinking water
- A varied live-insect diet
- Appropriate supplementation
- Long-term veterinary care
Suitability
Advantages
- Spectacular green or turquoise colouration
- Highly active during daylight
- Strong arboreal behaviour
- Often relatively bold
- Excellent display species
- Well suited to planted bioactive enclosures
- Can become confident around keepers
- Captive breeding achievable
Considerations
- Very fast
- Requires substantial vertical space
- Escape-proof housing essential
- UVB required
- Bright visible lighting required
- Requires live feeder insects
- Humidity and ventilation must be balanced carefully
- Tail can be shed
- Group housing requires careful monitoring
Summary
The Emerald Tree Skink (Lamprolepis smaragdina) is a colourful, active and highly arboreal skink particularly well suited to spacious naturalistic display enclosures.
Successful husbandry centres on:
- Approximately 24" × 18" × 36" minimum accommodation for one adult
- Larger accommodation strongly preferred
- Extensive branches, cork and climbing routes
- Dense vegetation and elevated retreats
- Open basking areas
- A localised basking surface around 32–35°C
- General daytime temperatures around 24–28°C
- Cooler areas around 22–24°C
- Appropriate nighttime cooling
- Strong appropriate UVB
- Bright visible daytime lighting
- Approximately 60–80% humidity with regular drying periods
- Excellent ventilation
- Regular access to drinking water
- A varied diet of appropriately sized gut-loaded live insects
- Appropriate calcium supplementation
- Minimal forced handling
- Individual housing as the safest default
When provided with sufficient vertical space, strong lighting, appropriate UVB, abundant climbing structure, correct nutrition and carefully managed humidity, captive-bred Emerald Tree Skinks can make exceptionally active and engaging display reptiles.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance and does not replace species-specific research or veterinary advice. Individual requirements may vary.
Always check current legislation governing the acquisition, collection, import, transport, keeping, breeding or sale of reptiles in your jurisdiction.
If you have concerns about an animal’s health or care, consult a suitably experienced exotic or reptile veterinarian.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: August 2026