🔥 African Fire Skink Care Guide
| 🏆 VITAL STATS & DIFFICULTY | |
|---|---|
| Experience Level: | Beginner/Intermediate |
| Max Size: | 12–15 Inches |
| Lifespan: | 15–20 Years |
🏗️ Enclosure & Burrowing Design
African Fire Skinks (Lepidothyris fernandi) are native to the woodlands of West Africa. They are active, terrestrial burrowers that need floor space and deep soil.
Minimum Enclosure Dimensions:
- Single/Pair: 40 Gallon Breeder (36" x 18" x 18") minimum. Bigger is always better to accommodate their active hunting behavior.
A front-opening PVC or glass enclosure is ideal. While they don't climb high, they are sturdy and need a secure lid to prevent escape attempts.
Fire Skinks are deceptively fast. They are often calm when held but can bolt with lightning speed if startled. Always interact with them low to the ground or over a safe surface.
☀️ UVB & Ferguson Zones
Fire skinks are diurnal/crepuscular and bask in partial sunlight. Unlike nocturnal skinks, they benefit significantly from proper UV lighting for health and color.
Ferguson Zone Classification:
- ★ Zone 2 (Fire Skinks): Partial Sun/Occasional Basker. Target UVI range: 1.1 to 3.0.
- Zone 3-4: Too intense; ensure they have plenty of shade and burrows to escape the light.
UVB Requirements:
- Type: T5 HO Linear Tube (Arcadia 6% or Reptisun 5.0).
- Strength: 5.0 to 6% is usually ideal for a 18" tall tank.
- Coverage: Cover 50% of the enclosure length to create a light gradient.
📐 The "Gradient" Strategy
Since they burrow to regulate temperature and UV exposure:
- Distance: Ensure the basking branch/rock is 10-12" away from the UVB bulb.
- Clutter: Provide cork bark flats and plants so they can "cryptic bask" (expose part of their body while hidden).
🌡️ Temperature Gradient & Humidity
Fire skinks require a distinct basking spot to energize them for hunting, but a cool end to retreat to. High humidity is key for shedding.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Basking Spot (Surface) | 92°F - 96°F |
| Cool Side Ambient | 75°F - 80°F |
| Humidity Level | 60% - 75% (Moist Soil) |
| CRITICAL LOWER LIMIT | NEVER BELOW 70°F |
| CRITICAL DRYNESS | AVOID DRY DUSTY SOIL |
🦗 Carnivorous Diet & Feeding
They are voracious carnivores with strong jaws. They have a high food drive and will chase down prey enthusiastically.
Dietary Staples:
- Crickets/Roaches: The primary staples. Gut-load them well.
- Snails/Grubs: Canned or captive-bred snails are excellent treats.
- Pinky Mice: Offer rarely (once a month) as a high-fat treat for adults only.
- Hard-shelled bugs: Mealworms/Superworms are fine in moderation.
Supplementation:
Dust insects with Calcium (with D3) every other feeding. Use a multivitamin once a week. They grow fast and need the calcium.
🌿 Bioactive Substrate & Decor
These skinks are "fossorial," meaning they love to dig. The substrate is the most important part of their enclosure setup.
Substrate & Layout:
- Mix: Organic topsoil, play sand, and coco fiber (60/20/20 ratio).
- Depth: Must be at least 4–6 inches deep to allow full tunneling.
- Decor: Use cork bark flats and heavy rocks (placed on the tank bottom, not on top of dirt) to prevent crushing hazards when they dig under them.
Avoid using large bark chips or calcium sand. Fire skinks attack food aggressively and can swallow loose substrate. Soil/dirt passes easily; wood chips do not.
