The western African fire skink is a lively lizard. The fire skink has red and orange coloring and a golden dorsal. They also have black and white spots along their sides.
The fire skink is a great choice for hobbyists and beginners alike. This lizard is tough and easy to take care of. Because of their calm temperament, they make a great pet.
Fire Skink Overview
| Common names: | Togo fire skink. True fire skink. |
| Scientific Name: | Lepidothyris fernandi |
| Natural Habitat | West Africa is home to forests, woodlands, and grasslands. |
| Size for Adults: | 14-15 inches |
| Average Lifespan | 15-20 years |
| Diet: | Locusts, worms and crickets are all live insects. |
| Housing: | A 40-50 gallon tank with high humidity. Three temperature zones should be provided in the tank, ranging between 75-96degF. |
| Experience level: | For Beginners |
See more: Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink, Blue-Tongued Skink
Origin
The Lepidothyris Fernandi fire skink is a species that is primarily found in West Africa. However, it can also be found in Angola or Guinea. They prefer forests and grasslands that offer plenty of hiding places.
Although they are considered a peaceful species, these reptiles can bite or arch their backs when provoked. Many fire skinks can be caught wild and kept as pets by hobbyists.They that are captive-bred are becoming more popular.
They can survive in the wild by outrunning prey and blending into their environment. If a predator grabs the fire skink, it will shed its tail.
They are oviparous. This means that they lay eggs after mating. Only breed skinks if your hobby is a skilled one.
Appearance & Behavior
With its vibrant colors, the fire skink is one among the most beautiful skinks. The brightly colored fire skinks are orange and bright with golden-bronze backs. The body of the fireskink is black with white stripes, flecking, and bars along the sides and legs.
The fire skink is similar to other skinks. It has a long, strong body with bulky tail and sturdy legs. They can change their color depending on their environment and moods.
It can be difficult to identify the gender of them. Fire skinks that are males are usually larger than those of females, and have thicker tails. A jowl is a bulge under the ears that indicates a healthy male fire skink.
Females have tails that taper past the hips. This characteristic is difficult to spot. Many fire skinks are mis-generated, and expectant breeders might be disappointed if a couple does not mate.
Lifespan
They measure approximately two inches in length when they are born. Fire skinks adult males can grow up to 15 inches, while their female counterparts are slightly shorter.
In captivity, they can live for up to 15 years. Their lifespan will depend on how well it is cared for and the conditions in which it lives. Your fire skink’s life span can be extended by caring for it, giving it a healthy diet and providing a safe environment.
Temperament
They can burrow into the substrate in captivity to feel safe. Your fire skinks will be able to show their personality and bright colors if you provide the right environment.
Fire skinks that have been captured in captivity will behave differently to wild ones. Wild skinks can be very skittish so you need to be careful when taming them.
They are diurnal and will be found basking throughout the day. Although they can be quite active when tamed they will hide if they feel threatened.
They are calm and won’t bite if they are provoked. You can handle your skink gently if it is calm enough. They will not like to be held too tightly.
A 40-gallon tank can hold a pair of fireskinks, provided it is a male or female pair. You should take care of your fire skinks during breeding season.
Housing Fire Skinks
They prefer areas that are well-vegetated and have plenty of food sources. By filling your tank with plants, misting frequently, you can create a similar habitat.
They can be housed in an acrylic or glass tank that has enough room for it to move about in. Make sure your fire skink has plenty of hiding places and plants. Three temperature zones should be included in your tank setup.
Enclosure Size
A 20-gallon tank will do the job, but a 40 gallon tank is more suitable for fire skinks. They can use every inch of space available, so a pair will require a larger tank.
To give them more freedom, the tank should be wider than tall. A little bit of height is good for them, as they love to climb on driftwood and branches. Your skink may be found basting on a branch when the tank is warmer.
A 20-gallon tank of this size is 36 inches in width, 12 inches tall, and 12 inches deep.
Lighting
They are active throughout the day. During summer and spring, they should have 10-12 hours of sunlight. You should decrease the daylight hours to eight to ten hours per day during winter.
Although lighting is often disputed for them, UVA exposure will be beneficial. A 40-watt day light bulb can be placed above the tank to provide sufficient exposure.
Exposure to UVA light can make them healthier and more vibrant. UVA light will also lower the risk of developing metabolic bone disease.
They may benefit from UVB light. Calcium dust can be used to supplement the lack of UVB lighting in your fire skink’s diet. Dual light bulbs allow you to provide UVA and UVB lighting for your fire skink.
Humidity and Temperature
To replicate their natural habitat, they require gradient heating. Three temperature zones should be created by the heat gradient.
The hot zone should be kept at 90-95degF. For your fire skinks to enjoy, place a flat rock or branches in this area.
The tank’s middle zone should be between 84 and 86 degrees F. It should also make up the largest section. The tank’s cooler side and nighttime temperatures should be 75 degrees F.
Use an under-tank heater that has dome lights above it to create heat gradient. Side heaters may be required for larger tanks to maintain the desired temperatures.
To monitor all three zones, you should have at least three thermostats in the tank. Heat sources should not be placed inside the tank, as heat can cause burns to your fire skink.
High-humidity regions are home to them, so it is important that your tank remains humid. The tank’s humidity should be between 60-70% and occasionally drop to 40%.
Misting the tank once or twice daily can help maintain humidity levels. The tank has a hygrometer that can be used to monitor the humidity levels.
Substrate and Decoration
To allow fire skinks to burrow and build tunnels, your tank should have a thick layer of substrate. The substrate should be at least 4-6 inches in depth and should remain moist at all time.
Dry substrate can lead to respiratory infections. Your fire skink might have a poor shed.
Cypress mulch, sphagnum moss, and fertilizer-free soil are the best substrates for your fire skink tank. As a substrate, you can also use reptile bark or peat moss.
Coconut husk should not be used as a substrate. It can cause digestive problems for your fire skinks if it is eaten. A sandy substrate is not recommended for their tank.
They require moisture to shed and will burrow into substrate. To stay moist, they may drink water from a shallow bowl.
To provide enough hiding spots for your fire skink, you should have plenty of fake plants. Fire skinks tunnel through the substrate and burrow into plants, so live plants are unlikely to survive. To give them more space to climb up and bask on higher ledges, add some branches and driftwood.
Dense plants will make your tank more secure for your pet. This tank setup will allow you to see them more often.
To promote basking, you should place flat rocks in the warmer areas. To keep the substrate moist, you can add leaf litter to it. You can make caves to allow your pet to sleep and hide.
Cleaning
You will need to clean your tank frequently in order to keep your fire skinks healthy. To prevent mold and mildew growth, remove any debris and waste from the tank.
As a natural cleaner-up crew, you can add micro-insects like springtails or isopods to your substrate. Every three to four months, you should clean up the substrate and change it.
Use a reptile-safe disinfectant to clean your lizard’s water and food bowls each day. The disinfectant can also be used to clean the tank after you have replaced the substrate.
Keep your fire skinks in a deep container while you clean out your tank.
Fire Skink Care
They can be cared for easily due to their tough nature. They are easy to care for if you have the right setup and keep it clean.
Although your fire skink might be shy at first, they will soon become more active if you have a well-designed tank. They require live food at least three times per week.
Food & Water
They are an omnivore, but they also eat insects. Your fire skink can be fed snails, discoid roaches and dubia, as well as worms. A varied diet is good for your fire skink. Your fire skink can be treated with pinkie mice once a month or fruits.
Feeding juvenile fire skinks should be done daily, and adult skinks two to three times per week. They should be fed three to five insects each mealtime. Dust the food with multivitamins and calcium to provide the fire skink the proper nutrients.
A shallow bowl of water can be added to the tank to keep it humid and provide water for your fireskink during shedding. The water bowl may not be used by your pet often because it is dependent on the tank’s humidity.
Handling
Fire skinks, like many reptiles, are difficult to handle. You may be able handle your fire skink for short periods of time once it is comfortable.
They can be dangerous and should be handled with care. If you don’t keep your pet in a safe area, it may escape.
Never grab a fireskink’s tail. They will shed their tail when they are grabbed. However, the tail will grow back but it will lose its bright colors.
Children are safe around them, but it is important to monitor their interactions. Although it’s rare, fire skinks can bite if provoked.
Common Health Issues
They are an extremely hardy species. However, they can develop health problems if not properly cared for.
Common health issues include:
- Mites
- Ticks
- Bacterial infections
- Metabolic bone disease
- Cryptosporidiosis Wild fire skinks
As long as the tank is kept clean and fed with proper light and food, your pet will be healthy.
Shedding
When the skink is ready for shedding, they will turn a dull brown color. The substrate may become a hiding place for your pet, and it might not eat for several days. Your fire skink will return to its normal bright colors after a few days.
Breeding
Although they can be easily bred, captive-bred fireskinks remain rare. Before breeding fire skinks, ensure that the pair is fed a healthy diet. They can be found in the spring and autumn.
You should maintain the temperature of the tank at 80 degrees F and extend the daylight hours beyond 12 hours to encourage breeding.
- Keep the egg development process going at 96°F.
- After 30 days, the female fireskink will lay three to six eggs per clutch.
- If you notice that the female is losing weight, it’s time to look for eggs. Ensure that the eggs are kept in a straight line during incubation.
- The hatchlings should hatch in 65 days. They should remain in the incubator at 85 degrees F until they hatch.
- The adult tank should have the same layout as the juvenile fire skinks. The young fire skinks should be fed small crickets until they are large enough to eat an adult-sized diet.
- The juvenile fire skinks will nip at each others’ tails when they are hungry. You can place a tray of mealworms inside the tank if they are large enough.
- The young fire skink will be ready to move into an adult-sized tank after a month.
How to Choose & Buy a Fire Skink
Although they can be difficult to find, they are becoming more popular. They can be found at reptile expos and online sellers. Prices for fire skinks range from $40 to $50.
Wildfire skinks will require more care than captive-bred skinks. A captive-bred skink is better for beginners and hobbyists.
You will be able to enjoy a stunning display of colors from your fire skink. Keep the tank clean and keep the humidity high.
