Description:
Scientific name: Lepidothyris fernandi
Life span: 15-20 years
The body of this adorable little skink can be either black, white, or silver in color. Yet, the African fire skink gets its name and beautiful color from its bright red scales. The flaming red scales are interspersed with black spots and white stripes. The skink typically has a gorgeous golden back that contrasts the red of its scales.
Native Region/Habitat
The fire skink is a native of the tropical rainforests of western Africa. It prefers open woodlands, which are situated on the outskirts of both open grasslands and tropical rainforests.
Behavior:
The fire skink might be a suitable choice for new reptile owners because of its generally placid nature. They are active burrowers and will spend a significant amount of time hiding down beneath the proper substrate. Due to their nocturnal nature, fire skinks are most active during the day. You can watch them bathe, burrow, or just hang around during this time.
Fire skinks do have a fairly balanced temperament, but they will bite if threatened, much like any reptiles. You won’t need to worry too much about this, but it’s still important to be aware of the possibilities.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
Tank: You’ll need at least a 20-gallon tank, as was previously said, to house your African Fire Skink. Because your lizard prefers to climb and sunbathe in high-up branches in their habitat, you want the tank to be taller than it is broad. You can locate your Fire Skink there if it ever goes lost.
Heating (Temperature & Humidity): This lizard, like all reptiles, is unable to control its own body temperature, so you must provide some sort of gradient heating for them. The ideal way to accomplish this is to have a cage with a colder side and a warmer side so that your Fire Skink may alternate between being cool and warm as needed.
The ideal humidity levels of between 60% and 70% should be possible to maintain if you mist your pet’s enclosure two to three times per day.
Feeding: There aren’t many elaborate feeding needs for these reptiles. They are content with waxworms, crickets, and other creatures of the same kind. Pinkie mice can be thrown in here and there, but it’s not necessary. It is advised to kill three to five insects every three days.
Just before you give your reptile food, it’s crucial to coat it with calcium and vitamin powder. This provides your reptile with more nutrition and avoids metabolic bone disease.
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