Olive Tree Skink (Dasia olivacea)

Common Name: Olive Tree Skink
Scientific Name: Dasia olivacea
Source: WC
Adult Size: Approximately 20–25cm total length
Native Range: South and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and surrounding islands

Enclosure: A minimum 60×60×90cm Viperia PVC vivarium — as an arboreal (tree-dwelling) species, height is more important than floor space; furnish the enclosure with plenty of sturdy branches, cork bark tubes, and live or artificial tropical foliage to give them ample climbing opportunities and secure retreat spots
Heating: Aim for a basking spot of around 32°C, an ambient (background) temperature of 26–28°C throughout the day, and a gentle night-time drop to around 22–24°C
Humidity: Maintain relative humidity of around 60–75%; achieve this by lightly misting one side of the enclosure once or twice daily and using a moisture-retentive substrate or naturalistic base layer beneath the climbing structure
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask within approximately 20–30cm of the lamp — as a diurnal (day-active) forest skink, good UVB provision supports vitamin D₃ synthesis and long-term health
Diet: Primarily insectivorous (insect-eating) — offer a varied mix of appropriately sized live insects such as crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and waxworms every two to three days; dust feeder insects with a quality calcium supplement at most feeds and a combined vitamin/D₃ supplement once a week; occasional small pieces of ripe soft fruit can be offered as a treat

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

Olive Tree Skinks are sleek, agile lizards found across the tropical forests and forest edges of South and Southeast Asia, where they spend most of their time navigating tree trunks and branches in search of prey. They have a beautifully smooth, olive-bronze scalation with a subtle iridescent sheen that catches the light, making them a genuinely striking display animal that stands out in a well-planted vivarium.

These skinks are best appreciated as a watchable display species rather than a hands-on pet — they are quick and alert by nature, and while they can settle with calm, consistent handling over time, they tend to suit keepers who enjoy setting up a thriving naturalistic vivarium and observing active, confident behaviour day to day. Their manageable adult size and relatively straightforward tropical care requirements make them an appealing step up for a keeper ready to move beyond the more commonly kept beginner species.