Five Lined/Blue Tailed Skink

Question
Hi,
I found a blue tailed skink in my back yard today. I would really like to keep her as a pet, but don't know anything about her species. I am a proud owner of two bearded dragons, so I have some experience with reptiles, but none with skinks. I have an extra 40 gallon breeder tank that I thought maybe we could divide up until she grows more. I am mainly wondering if she needs UV and if we could keep her outside most of the time instead of buying a bulb. And what to feed her, we have plenty of crickets, but they are mostly  medium size crickets and I think that she needs smaller.

Thanks you so much!

Answer
Hi Sarah-Beth,

Blue tails are diurnal (active in the daytime) and will bask so a UV source would be natural and beneficial. Glass actually filters most of the sun's UVB rays so putting her outside is unlikely to get the result you are looking for. Glass enclosures also become dangerously hot in the sun. A safer alternative would be to make sure she gets a regular dietary source of vitamin D3 by using one of the calcium with vitamin D3 powder supplements sold for reptiles. You are probably already using one for your beardeds. Diurnal reptiles can be successfully raised and kept with only dietary D3 although the use of both supplements and UVB lighting is highly recommended.
Reptiles also see in the UV range so their world just "looks right" to them when UV is provided. This can help wild caught reptiles to acclimate to captivity and encourage normal feeding and basking behaviour.
Make sure she has some hiding/ burrowing spots as well to reduce her stress. Unlike beardeds, blue tails will autotomize (drop) their tails as a defense mechanism if they feel threatened so you may want to keep handling to a minimum.
As for the cricket size, the same basic rule of thumb applies that you use for your beardeds. The crickets should be about as long as the width of her head, from eye to eye. If they are a bit bigger then that should still be fine but any larger will be more difficult for her to digest. You can also offer her some small mealworms. Small lizards like blue tails often drink from early morning condensation/dew droplets and don't always recognize standing water in a dish. You may need to mist her cage to simulate that and encourage her to drink.