Fire skink

The Fire Skink (Riopa fernandi), also known as the True Fire Skink or Togo Fire Skink, is an average sized skink, a type of lizard. They are a beautiful species known for their bright and vivid coloration. Native to Western Africa, they live fifteen to twenty years. This species is a diurnal lizard that love to burrow and hide. They are relatively shy and reclusive, but may grow to become tame in captivity.

The most unique aspect of the Fire Skink is its beautiful colors. Smooth, gold scales adorn the Fire Skinks back while red and black bars line its sides with a silver background. The males are, in general, larger and more colorful than females. They reach ten to fourteen inches on average and have sharp claws.

Fire skinks can be found in Guinea, East of Zaire, Angola and Uganda.

Fire skinks should be housed in no less than a 20-gallon tank (24 x 13 x 21) for one fire skink. Pieces of wood and/or plants to hide under should be provided to provide hiding places and security.

Keepers should use soil with mulch or sphagnum as a substrate and should be moderately moist. It should never be dry or soggy. Moisten the substrate once daily so approximate 70-80% ground humidity is maintained.

Mealworms, superworms, crickets, waxworms, spotted roaches, silkworms, phoenix worms, locusts and butterworms can all be part of a fire skinks diet. They can take fruit, egg, pinky mice, and other lizards (i.e. Anoles), low fat cat food, veggies or other grubs, but often reject nonliving prey, especially fruits and veggies. They are not active predators; they are sit-and-wait predators. Remember that a calcium supplement with lower phosphorus and D3 additive is always beneficial.

A shallow water dish is suggested for drinking, bathing, and to aid in humidity.

The enclosure temperature should be between 80 - 85 degrees during the day, and they should have a basking area that is about 90 - 95 degrees. Night time temperatures can be lowered to 75 degrees.

The size of the enclosure, room temperature, and other factors will depict how you heat your fire skinks enclosure. Some of the more common ways to maintain an adequate heat gradient is with the use of under tank heaters, ceramic heat emitters, incandescent bulbs, and heat tape. A digital thermometer with an external probe should be used to monitor the temperatures.

A basking light with a 10-12 hour light cycle is required. This is called a photoperiod.

Fire skinks have a very mild temperament but are best kept separate from one another. Females could be kept safely together, but never two males. Male and female pairs should only be kept together during breeding season.

There is no good evidence for their total lifespan in captivity, but an estimation of 10-20 years is logical.

They burrow making them feel more secure. They can be easily handled but may resist coming out by swimming away in the substrate. They can be very moody and will bite if provoked. Look out for puffing of the throat and back arching as signs of aggression and be careful, because they can inflict a painful bite. They must be handled regularly in order to calm them down. Skinks are diurnal and are most active during the day.

A well-fed Fire Skink will be necessary for a successful breeding and healthy babies. Nesting boxes are suggested but females may lay eggs within the enclosure and maybe difficult to spot. Females can lay up to 5-9 eggs. They can take as long as 40-50 days to hatch and should be incubated in vermiculite at approximately 85 degrees.

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