Well, I'm bad at keeping people posted as it turns out, hahaha.
So update time! Spud has grown quite a bit (mostly length) and has definitely lightened up considerably from his baby picture.
I've gone through a few different substrate and cage designs figuring out what works for us both and I've settled on something I haven't really seen done before, so I want to share that here.
I've settled on indented kraft paper with the warm side mostly covered in slate-like textured tiles and an added 28qt tub full of a (organic, no additives) topsoil/reptichip mix for him to dig. Cork bark at the surface for hiding under if being buried isn't enough and he can still currently fit around the edges between the dig box and the walls. I set a few of his stones up to make stairs up to the bin edge and he's had no issues going back and forth, so it is working out well.
More bare floor is much easier to clean and a removable box is easier to clean as well. It is also simpler to change it out more often (not to mention cheaper).
Warm side
Cool side (buried skink slightly visible in the box)
Outdoor natural light shot
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