Eat fruits and veggies and insects. Crickets meal worms. Omnivores (eat everything)
Skinks are more of a look at than handle pet.
Calcium sand from the pet store.
I believe the skinks are 10-15 years
If you are looking at lizards, I personally recommend the crested gecko we have. Or other gecko. Actually, there are quite a few good lizards. Fun to handle and watch. I wouldn't be the best to ask which one is best as to the fact that we just got the gecko 2 weeks ago and is the only experience we have.
The climates vary with each lizard type. From desert to tropical. The Gecko we have is tropical so warm with high humidity. So, we had to get a mister or mist him several times a day. Temp from 68-75 basic room temp but humidity of 60% or greater.
Hope I helped a little