Live insects are a proper diet, and some keepers provide an occasional pinkie mouse. If youre looking for a reptile with stunning visual appeal, then the fire skink is one to consider. The long tail of these creatures is black with white markings. They need access to water in order to shed skin. They are a great reptile to own and will tolerate handling very well. You can keep the skink as your pet if you Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fire_skink&oldid=980292667, Articles needing additional references from February 2013, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 September 2020, at 17:48. Being consistent about addressing the points above will help you have an enjoyable and long-lasting relationship with your pet! 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. A good habitat setup, nutritious diet, and careful handling go a long way. The fire skink (Mochlus fernandi), also known as the true fire skink or Togo fire skink, is a fairly large skink, a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. Fire Skinks are not social and should be kept alone. Doing so can cause burns, or the heat in the enclosure may get too high. This isnt something youll have to worry much about, but its worth pointing out that it is a possibility. They also have the sharp claws. One reason why fire skink care is so simple (making them great pet reptiles for beginners), is that they dont have a lot of fussy food requirements. [3], The fire skink is a fairly large species of skink, reaching up to 37cm (15in) in total length (including tail). Most of the health issues you may encounter have to do with nutrition or an unclean enclosure. striatus. These beautiful reptiles are very popular as pets. They have a stocky tubular body covered in smooth scales that gleam in the sunlight. Exotic pets have a reputation for being trickier than the normal kind of pet when it comes to what they need to stay healthy and to thrive as domesticated animals under captive care. An under-the-tank heater on the warm end of the tank is helpful, and dome lights can be useful as well. Reptiles that do not get enough UVA exposure may develop metabolic bone disease. As a child, Isabel spent countless hours following her older brothers on their search for reptiles, amphibians, and other critters. Feeding your skink 3-5 insects every three days is the generally recommended feeding schedule. This stunning reptile can be found in the forest and woodland areas of West African countries such as Ghana, Togo and Benin. Fire Skinks have very distinctive colorations and love to burrow and dig. These mostly bite while they feel threatened or cornered. Since fire skinks are diurnal, you will notice that they are the most active during the day. The best way to do this is to put the warmer area on one side of the enclosure and the cooler section on the other side. into their habitat. Make sure that you put several thermometers in different areas of the tank. The bitten by the skink is not a problem at all. There is not much information about the reproduction of skink in wild. A single clutch may contain 5-9 eggs which take somewhere between 40-50 days to hatch when incubated at 85 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. These reptiles are a piece of cake to own and a bunch of fun to observe! A habitat without these will lead to your fire skink feeling unsafe and vulnerable. Pinkie mice can be given on occasion too (although its not necessary). These pets are not only beautiful to, African House Snake Care: Everything You Need To Know, Leopard Tortoise Care: Diet, Lifespan, Size, Enclosure, Mexican Alligator Lizard Care (Abronia Graminea), Green Tree Monitor 101 (aka Emerald): The Full Guide, 16 Best Types Of Pet Turtles: The Only List You Need, Pink-Tongued Skink 101: The Complete Care Guide. This stocky build really adds to their overall appeal! The fire skink requires a larger tank with plenty of horizontal space, as well as some vertical space for its occasional tendency to climb. While these are superficially similar to the African fire skink, they are closer to some other Asian skinks, resulting in their move to Mochlus. They get most of the water they need from their prey or from the water droplets formed during misting. Because fire skink care is a fairly straightforward process, theyre a really good choice for beginning owners. However, they still need to have certain basic requirements met. They can become very aggressive and will often fight to the death.Its alright to put two females together in the same enclosure, but they will need to have plenty of space. The typical size of a fire skink is 14 to 15 inches in length for males, and a few inches shorter for females. They can grow the total length from 10-14 inches. The fire skink, unlike many other skink species, is oviparous. The season for the reproduction of skinks starts in April to May. In the cooler months, they prefer 8 to 10 hours of daylight. This species is a diurnal lizard that loves to burrow and hide. This will allow them to receive the necessary nutrients without overeating. The fire skink (Riopa fernandi) is native to the western border of Africa. The fire skink is not closely related to other skinks and belongs to the genus Mochlus. Fire skinks have the typical skink shape with a long square body, sturdy legs. The females creatures can stay together in one cage while males are territorial and fight among themselves if kept together. The ambient temperature within the tank should be between 84 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The species requires the intermediate level of care from the owner. It is relatively shy and reclusive, but may become tame in captivity. Their mellow temperament and gorgeous coloring makes them a popular choice for reptile enthusiasts. This is a great time to watch them bask, burrow or just hang out! Making sure that you keep them in the correct tank size will go a long way towards ensuring the health and happiness of your fire skink. We will soon review and updated the post. The species is known for its bright and vivid coloration. Sometimes they also eat fruits. These lizards like to burrow and hide, so providing habitat enhancers like logs, driftwood pieces, plants and reptile hides is very important. This species of lizard is mainly carnivorous feeding on various invertebrates and small animals like snails, beetles, centipedes, frogs, mice, and small lizards. While its true that fire skinks have a pretty even temperament, they will (like all reptiles) bite if provoked. Keeping the correct level of humidity inside your skinks enclosure is going to be quite important. Fire Skink Venom: Skinks are not venomous. These have the average lifespan about 10-20 years. These interesting-looking lizards are not only fun to observe, but easy to care for as well! The species of lizard mainly found in the different regions of Africa. The fire skink (Lepidothyris fernandi) is also sometimes known as the Togo fire skink, true fire skink, or African fire skink. i'm neither a vet nor an expert, but my reptile vet has told me if any of my lizards are lethargic to give them a soak in luke warm water with a drop of mineral oil added. In most cases, your African fire skink will get what it needs from its food, but poor feeding habits can make them more apt to suffer from this preventable condition. Get more information about Reptiles Species, Copyright © 2020 | Powered by Facts Diet | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy, Togo Fire Skink, True Fire Skink, African Fire Skink. Here are the temperatures to remember for each of these areas: Expert Tip: As far as nighttime temperatures go, letting the tank temperature go as low as 70 degrees Fahrenheit is fine. Wipe down dirty areas, scoop up messes from the substrate, and replace the substrate often to prevent mold and mildew build-up. The Fire Skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. Historically, the fire skink has been placed in several different genera and was until recently placed in Riopa together with several skinks from southeast Asia. The creature mainly exists in western regions of Africa. 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