Leaving a skink for a while

[DracoDussumieri]

So i have to leave my skink for 12 days. How do you handle these situations? I make sure he has enough water but he would have no food. Is that ok? Should i just add a few desert grashoppers into the enclosure?
The skink is not very active right now since its winter here in Germany.

[GlassWalker]

12 days is way too long to leave a skink by itself. If you were gone for a weekend, I'd say sure, but anything longer than 2-3 days, you'll want to ask a friend to stop in and feed him on his regular schedule.
(I may not post often on this forum but I've been keeping reptiles for close to 10 years)

[Janella]

Ditto to the above post. You will either have to find a reptile sitter or someone to come in your home and feed/care for your skink. Being gone for 12 days is WAY to long to leave any pet home by itself.

[splashy07]

Water changes are mandatory. Food is not unless he/she is still in active growth period.

[DracoDussumieri]

Thanks for your opinions, I organized someone to feed the skink every 2-3 Days and change the water just to be sure that the skink has everything it needs.

However in general, as an ectotherm, a skink that should or could be brumating in the winter does not need anything else than a quiet hide and water. With a constant lower temperature the skink won't need anything except water for 2 months while brumating.

[GlassWalker]

However in general, as an ectotherm, a skink that should or could be brumating in the winter does not need anything else than a quiet hide and water. With a constant lower temperature the skink won't need anything except water for 2 months while brumating.

We are all well familiar with the concept of brumation. There's no reason to let your pet brumate if it's kept indoors with a regulated temperature and feeding schedule. You shouldn't do it just because it's convenient to your travel schedule. Because if you're not fully prepared to let your pet sleep for a long period of time, it might not wake back up.

[splashy07]

You should let your skink brumate if he/she chooses to. There is no reason to encourage brumation if you are not breeding. If he is simply a pet and not a breeder, you need not change anything regarding heat and light.