Although the African Fire skink lays eggs the process of feeding the young ones is not much different. In such a case you can put them in separate tanks. The nesting box should be filled with perlite or sphagnum moss. When the fire skink is comfortable in their closure they will be very active and easy to handle. Whenever you intend to take care of reptiles such as lizards it’s quite important to consider the health condition. 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. It is essential to meet the horizontal gradient level. This is among the reasons the horizontal side is considered to be of more importance. Housing: A 20-30 gallon tank is ideal for an adult Fire Skink. However, in case the Fire skinks do not get the substrate humidity at the 60%-70% level it may require high surface humidity. In terms of eating fruits, only the adults are allowed to. For an adult skink, at least a 20 gallon tank is required with dimensions of 30*12*12 inches long, deep, and tall, respectively. Although there are very many species of fire skinks you can easily tame them. An adult fire skink needs a minimum of a 40 gallon breeder but can thrive in much larger vivariums. Based on behavior male are usually more aggressive. Never house two males together in the same tank. Normally when you have a grip of their tail the tail will fall off. You may at times be required to provide feeder insects such as King Worms, crickets, wax worms and mealworms. Water is very essential for all animals. The most important of all is to know how to meet its basic maintenance needs, to keep it nourished and learn its behavioral patterns. The most important thing is to ensure the substrate is moist.  There is a variety of substrate mixes that could apply but you need to be sure about the performance. A male and female can be housed together and will even show signs of being a mated pair. The substrate should also be part of the cleaning process. The fire skink has a fairly calm temperament that can make it a good match for novice reptile owners. What initially started as curiosity quickly turned into a deep passion for herpetology, and a connection with the reptile community as a whole. Caging. Keep the basking area somewhere between 92 and 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The fire skink will also jump to your hand. This type of appearance equals all other species of the fire skinks.Â, The African fire skink can be found in western countries in Africa. However, you should ensure they are peaceful and not bullying each other. Also, remember there is a specific mating season. If you observe the African fire skink for a while you may be able to do this however it may not be as easy. In captivity, Adults require a vivarium 3'x12"x18". It’s not easy to identify the gender by just a simple look. The main factors that can impact their size are care, genetics, and the manner in which they were bred. It will be much easy to handle and care for captive breed African fire skink. The main challenge when it comes to handling this species is that they are very squirmy, and they can easily escape from your grasp. It’s easy to notice the thick tails and stout legs. However, after feeding they may want to bask. The best-recommended substrate mixture will comprise of Sphagnum moss, cypress Zoo Med mulch, Exo Terra Coconut husk, and soil. Schneider’s Skinks may be kept alone or in pairs. The other option could be the use of a lamp thermostat. Although it is regarded as shy it has its own defensive mechanisms. These types of skink have bright red color while their side is flecked with black and white bars. If housed together skinks should be of similar size to avoid injury. An adult skink can be kept in a 20-gallon long tank measuring 30 inches long by 12 inches deep and 12 inches tall, but nothing any smaller. They can live happily in a 20 gallon long until they are about 8 or 9 months of age. The average fire skink lifespan is between 15 and 20 years. Never pick up your African fire skink by the tail, and always supervise children when they’re around your pet (you never know what kids will do). Most of the times this may not seem effective as the fire skink rarely drinks the water. This is why it is going to be very important to create some kind of gradient heating set-up in the enclosure. There is no proper documentation in terms of the Skinks status in the wild. Yes, it is possible to have African fire Skinks live together however there are reservations. Reptile Direct is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Normally you will identify their sex based on how bulky they are. With this in mind, it is very important to hold them in a place where they can’t get hurt if they do make the great escape. They are regarded as insectivores as they will most hunt for insects. Normally you will be required to use lamps with a thermostat. For adult fire skink you can do it once in a while. It’s always important to be careful with African fire skink as wrong handling could cause you a bite. The design of the enclosure should cater both for horizontal and vertical needs. It’s also possible to house a pair of African fire skinks in one enclosure. Just make sure they have enough room to bury and be away from each other if need be (a 40 gal tank is good for 3 skinks as long as they aren't acting territorial.) The scales are quite shiny and noticeable from a distance. It may be recommended to add plants that make the enclosure seem more like the natural environment. Among the most important is humidity. You can mount the heaters on the sides and at least one to be placed below the tank. The best method to know is during breeding. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. If you’re looking for a reptile with stunning visual appeal, then the fire skink is one to consider. Although they can tolerate your handling they are very fast. It’s also better for this species if the enclosure has more horizontal space than vertical space. Skinks need lots of room to roam to be healthy and happy. These types of food have high-fat content hence should only be provided as a treat or during the breeding season. However, the fire skink is more of a secretive kind. This will actually seem different as compared to how lizards give birth. Expert Tip: Never put two male African fire skinks together in the same enclosure. We can’t recommend them enough! In terms of the years, you will know based on their weight. It’s advisable to do the cleaning every day. It is not regarded to be dangerous. An adult skink can be kept in a tank as small as a 20 gallon long (30” x 12” x 12”), but no smaller. In case they do you might have to separate them. The size should at least meet 30″ ×12″ ×12″ in dimensions. During the season the female African fire skink can lay 6 to 8 eggs. Most of the time you will hardly notice the skink eat as they will be in hiding. Both the hatchlings and adult African fire skink require the same conditions in the enclosure. The main factors that can impact their size are care, genetics, and the manner in which they were bred. They can become very aggressive and will often fight to the death.It’s alright to put two females together in the same enclosure, but they will need to have plenty of space. We recommend using a glass 40-50 gallon tank. When breeding, the most important thing is to ensure the African fire skink is well fed a month before breeding.  Remember to check the eating pattern by weighing the African fire skink. Development. The African fire skink is used to getting water from its habitat. The same case applies to fire skink. The enclosure should maintain the temperature of between 84° to 86 ° between the cool end and the hot spot or basking area. In most cases, supplementing with UVB lighting is optional because fire skinks will usually get what they need from their dusted food. Skink . There are also skinks with much bigger body size. This is among their best way to wait for their prey. Sometimes temperatures at night can between go as low as 65°. Male African fire skink normally has larger and heavier heads. The African fire skink is used to the forest environment and will meet its needs from the environment and prey. However, it’s important to consider gentleness when handling the African fire skink. Mostly fire skinks will feed on insects. In terms of the benefits of UVB exposure, there is no much conclusive benefit. Most skinks imported in the 30g range are a year old; skinks reaching the 50-60g range are adults and about 2 years old. However, this is not a compulsory requirement, although it is important. Most lizards normally reproduce to live lizards although small in size. Your email address will not be published. The process of hatching and mating is not difficult as long as the required conditions are met. This species active primarily during the day. Fire skinks are very good at climbing. The African fire skink has squarish bodies that are long. In case you take care of a dangerous species of the lizard you can easily get infected. 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. The condition set in the enclosure is very important as it determines the survival of the African fire skink. This is including mealworms, crickets, and earthworms. While most Lizards give birth to live young ones, the African Fire skink reproduces in a different manner. Among the suggested way is by using a thermometer. Although you can at first keep them together you may be required to separate them as they grow. However, it’s important to have adequate space for proper survival. The African fire skink will normally hatch at any place in the enclosure.