This will provide the skinks with plenty of places to hide, and will also help to create a more naturalistic environment. This will help to ensure that your lizard remains healthy and vibrant. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. For the health and happiness of your pet, the enclosure needs to be immaculately clean as well. Skinks are diurnal (active during the day) Skinks spend their time looking for crickets, flies, grubs, worms and spiders to eat and sunning themselves on rocks or tree limbs when they need to warm up. They are among the best rated in terms of conservation purposes. She is an established authority in the pet blogging community, and her blog, "Paws and Claws," has been featured in numerous publications. Can Fire Skinks Live Together? A Comprehensive Guide Now that you have moved them to an enclosure you may have to provide food. In case you only have one skink you may be required to measure their length. For purposes of confirming the humidity levels, you can use a hygrometer. The species has strength in numbers - living in a group makes it easier to spot threats, which helps the group survive. There are always exceptions and anyone desiring to keep a pair should carefully monitor the skinks, especially during breeding season, to make sure they are both eating well and that there is no fighting.Jan 6, 2015 [8] Some will live on the land over the soil while others will hide in plant matter. These supplements enable their bones to remain strong. Fire skinks undergo slight color changes according to their moods and environment. The enclosure is much more limiting even in terms of access to food and water. The fire skink tank shouldnt have a sandy substrate, either. Mike Grover is the owner of this website (Reptiles and Amphibians), a website dedicated to providing expert care and information for these animals. Fire skinks need gradient heating to mimic their natural habitat. African fire skinks are not hard to handle and will usually act tolerable. The smallest size for a 20-gallon tank is 36 inches wide, 12 inches high, and 12 inches deep. Try to make sure that the enclosure is as humid as possible. Male African fire skink normally has larger and heavier heads. Though the choice lies in the person taking care of the skink this is not advisable at all. Two females or a male and two females can be placed together, but they will each need their own areas within the enclosure. This is including mealworms, crickets, and earthworms. They can be kept in pairs or groups but may squabble. Remove any waste and mess from the tank and replace the substrate regularly to prevent a build-up of mildew and mold. Dusting provides extra nutrition and can prevent metabolic bone disease. African fire skinks will normally be spotted climbing up. However before allowing this fall in temperature ensures the ambient temperature between the two sides lies between 84 to 86. Three Toed Skink. Common health issues include: Mites African Fire Skink Care Sheet - Reptiles Magazine Using a 40 watt reptile bulb is often enough to give your skink enough UVA light. Adding in caves will offer space for your fire skink to hide and sleep. The fire skinks may experience respiratory infections, poor sheds or ingestion. The rest of the body of the fire skink is black with white flecking, stripes, and bars across the sides, underbelly, and legs. The African fire skink can be found in western countries in Africa. The heat should not be in excess. Finally, remember that skinks are notoriously good escape artists. You can keep the humidity up in the tank by misting once or twice a day. A thermostat can be very useful but may at times be faulty. Though they don't like to be held often, they are mellow enough to allow it. Fire Skink. It is not intended to constitute veterinary advice. Most of the time you will hardly notice the skink eat as they will be in hiding. You need to create a good relationship with it. The fire skink (Lepidothyris fernandi) is also sometimes known as the Togo fire skink, true fire skink, or African fire skink. These can be caused by a number of factors, including poor ventilation, dusty substrates, and overcrowding. Separate them immediately. There is a slight difference so observe this carefully. Skinks are located in Africa and will be exported to other countries. Since there are so many different species, they can range from deserts to grasslands to mountains. Although housing two African fire skinks are recommended, gender determines how suitable the habitat will be. This family of lizards is famous for their beautiful colors and ability to change hue. How Many Fire Skinks Can Live Together? The other option could be the use of a lamp thermostat. When breeding behavior is observed, the male will chase the female and attempt to grab her tail. Fire Skink Care Guide by ReptilesNCritters.com In such a situation of territorial fights, there is no major cause for alarm unless injuries are caused. Some may reach up to eight inches in length, but this is considered to be on the large side. Leopard Gecko Lifespan, What Do Tadpoles Eat? Its always important to manually check on the temperature and humidity levels. Our main objective is to help people take care of these pets. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Skinks are smooth bodied lizards with sleek scales, long pointed tails, short chubby legs and flat stubby feet. Two females or a male and two females can be placed together, but they will each need their own areas within the enclosure. Thick, full-bodied skinks that reach an adult length of around 13 inches, Schneider's skinks are a lesser-known species that make excellent pets. Sometimes bullying may occur among hatchlings that will require you to separate them. The method of feeding the skinks also varies. Glass is among the best suggestions for enclosures. Fire skinks can be housed together if there is sufficient space and if the pairing is male to female. Your fire skink may hide in the substrate during this time and not eat for a day or two. Most times the fire skink will pass through the water to bathe. Can Skinks Live with Geckos - Raising Lizards We are passionate about these wonderful creatures and that is why we built this website. Here's a list of some lizard species that can live with certain types of snakes: Desert Banded Gecko - Can Live With Many . They are also used in the wild environment. Nighttime temps can drop as low as 65F, but should be no higher than 75F. The first time to feed them should be a week after their first shed. You should keep the hot zone at about 9095F. - If you have a large enough tank, you can try keeping several fire skinks together. . Most fire skinks are imported from the wild, but breeding them is slowly becoming more popular in the pet trade. They share food and shelter and work together to ward off predators. Mike's website provides detailed information on how to care for these animals, including what to feed them, what type of housing they need, and how to maintain their health. So far the impact that you can have in their capture is unknown. However, its important to have adequate space for proper survival. It may actually take you sometime before you are fully conversant with their differences. Fire skinks have red and orange coloring, a golden dorsal, and black and white flecks along the sides of their bodies. You should avoid the female being egg-bound by having separate tanks for each. It could also be a young one. Among them is the way of reproduction. You can mount the heaters on the sides and at least one to be placed below the tank. . Even the male and female African fire skink can stay together. However, ensure you do not collect the feces with your bare hands. The colored scales will rarely provide you with enough information on gender. You should ensure there are plenty of plants and caves for your fire skink to hide when it feels threatened. Fire skinks are omnivores, but often feed on insects. Fire Skink: Care Guide & Species Profile - Everything Reptiles When you choose to pick it up do it gently. Live food items like crickets, waxworms, butterworms and mealworms are great options. When handling ensure the location is safe as the African fire skink might try to escape. But this is mainly to do with hatchlings. This is approximately 29C. Healthy male fire skinks develop a bulge below their ears, known as a jowl. Their tails make up more than half of their total body size. The behavior of African fire skink varies depending on species. However, as the African fire skink stays under your care it should jump on your hand easily. Ensure the female and male have been fed well before starting the breeding process. So, whether you are just starting out with Fire Skinks or have been keeping them for years, this guide has something for everyone. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Learn more. Fire skinks that have exposure to UVA light will be healthier and will have brighter colors. To encourage breeding, you should keep the tank at 80F and increase the daylight hours to longer than 12 hours. Females display tails that begin to taper away past their hips. Actually, most lizards sit on top of rocks and hunt moving insects. This stunning reptile can be found in the forest and woodland areas of West African countries such as Ghana, Togo and Benin. The lamps can be placed on the top side of the enclosure. Fire Skinks have been found living in a variety of habitats including rain forests, woodlands, and scrublands. He currently resides in the United Kindom with his wife and two children. Why Do Ball Pythons Yawn & Should You Be Worried? If you have more than one skink in a tank, it is important to have a large enough tank so your skinks can have their own space. The main aim of the heaters is to provide the required temperatures. What Lighting Does A Crocodile Skink Need? - Reptile Link Once you know the basics, fire skink care is really simple. Read More Fire Skink Species Profile Here are some species that are commonly housed together and typically have no issues with one another: young bearded dragons, certain species of snakes such as garters and rattlesnakes, monkey-tail skinks, shingleback skinks, some species of tortoise and many species of aquatic turtles such as sliders and cooters. Although the UVB exposure is not that necessary it can really come in handy especially during summer and spring season. In the winter months, you should reduce the daylight hours to between eight and 10 hours each day. In this enclosure, they might lack an ideal shade spot. If youre looking for a reptile with stunning visual appeal, then the fire skink is one to consider. Ensure you measure from the tip of the head to the tail. Fire skinks are not known to be overly delicate pets, but they are prone to a few health issues that you should be aware of. While they may not be as social in captivity, it is still fun to watch them interact. Skinks are naturally shy creatures, and they will be stressed if they feel exposed. Consider the African fire skink is used to the forest and woodland areas. and thick tails. This is after the matting processing is over. Actually the misty condition will work better to provide water for the African fire skink as compared to the water dish. The same case applies to fire skink. Also, remember there is a specific mating season. What Amphibians Can Coexist? Can Frogs Live Together? In such a case you can put them in separate tanks. They will also occasionally eat some vegetation. The next is to care about the habitat. [Answered]. PDF Fire Skinks, Red-Sided Skinks, Schneider Skinks, Ocellated Skinks We cant recommend them enough! Although, some skinks's personalities can get along and live together just fine, they are still quite unpredictable. Despite their popularity there is a lot of misinformation on how to care for Read More , The roughneck monitor is a medium-to-large-sized monitor lizard with a long body, pointed snout, and large pointed scales on its neck. How Many Crocodile Skinks Can I Keep Together? Although the UVB exposure is not that necessary it can really come in handy especially during summer and spring season. The fire skink will also jump to your hand. Most Fire Skinks will settle down quite nicely in due time. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'everythingreptilion_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-everythingreptilion_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); When choosing plants for your fire skink habitat, it is important to select species that are native to the skinks natural range. Do not house more than two together, and do not house two males or two females in the same enclosure. The condition present during the incubation process will determine the success rate of the breeding process. They require higher humidity levels than many other skinks, and they will thrive best with a deep layer of substrate. Ensure they wont feel cramped. It is not recommended to have the same gender of Skinks in one enclosure. Fire skinks are small lizards, averaging around 12-15 inches in length. Handling the African fire skink is quite simple as its not aggressive. The tail is also prehensile, which means it can grab onto branches or other objects to help the lizard climb. In the spring and summer months, your skink will benefit from 10 to 12 hours of daylight. Although they are relatively easy to care for, owners may become concerned if they notice their ball python drooling. Captive-bred skinks are regarded to be less temperament. After a month, the young fire skink should be ready to move to an adult-sized tank. Clean your lizards food and water bowls every day with a reptile-safe disinfectant. 9 Friendly Pet Snakes For Beginners (and Choosing the Right One), Mediterranean House Gecko Species Information and Facts, Baby Chameleon: 7 Care Tips & Facts You Need to Know, Roughneck Monitor Care Guide And Species Profile, How Long Do Leopard Geckos Live? Fire skinks are aesthetically endowed, which makes them stand out. Copyright 2021 EverythingReptiles.com.