Care Sheet - Fire Skink (Riopa fernandi)

Distribution: Fire skinks can be found in Guinea, East of Zaire, Angola and
Uganda.
Size: Adult fire skinks will reach approximately 10-14 inches in length, with males
being slightly larger.
Description: These Skinks are extremely colourful. They have a golden back with
a bright black, red and white pattern on the flanks. Fire Skinks have a black and
white throat; they have a black tail speckled in white. The scales are very smooth
and glossy.
Heavy bodied with short legs.
Diet: They require as varied a diet as you can manage to include. Morio worms,
Meal worms, roaches, locusts, brown and black crickets, Silk worms. Offer some
fruits and chopped hard boiled egg as well.
Dust food with a calcium supplement two or three times a week and added
vitamins once or twice a week. Make sure the Calcium and vitamins are low in
phosphorus. Calcium with D3 is recommended.
Water: A shallow water dish is suggested for drinking, bathing, it also helps keep
the humidity up.
Housing: These skinks should be housed in a 24 vivarium minimum though a
36 vivarium would be best for one or two skinks. Give plenty of hiding places
made of pieces of wood/branches, cork bark, stones/rocks and artificial plants.
This will offer the skink hiding places and security.

Substrate: Use coir (coconut fibre) or forest bark and keep it slightly damp not
wet. Never allow it to dry out. Spray the substrate daily and maintain a humidity
of 70-80% humidity.
Temperature: Fire Skinks require a day temperature of 80-85F with a basking
spot of 90-95F.
Allow the night time temperature to drop to 75F.
Heating: Heating can be by either ceramic heaters or Infra red bulbs. I prefer
ceramic heaters, both need to be used with the appropriate thermostat and
safety guard.
A digital thermometer with an external probe should be used to monitor the
temperatures.
A digital hydrometer should be used to keep a check on the humidity levels.
Temperament: Males should not be housed together as fighting will break out
though you can keep females together. Only keep a male and females together
during the breeding season.
Life Span: 10-20 years
Behaviour: Fire Skinks like to burrow searching for insects and for security. They
can be handled and soon become tame with handling. The bite can be painful
like a clamp so initially be careful and wear a glove until they become
accustomed to you.
They are diurnal, active during the day.
Lighting: The use of a spot bulb as a basking light is required and should be on
for 10-12 hours to give them a photo period.
They also require UVA and UVB this helps them to synthesis the vitamin D3, it
also stimulates appetite, sex drive colouration and general health.
Sexing: Males are generally brighter coloured; larger and broader headed then
females.
Breeding: The Fire Skinks need to be well fed and in tip top condition for
successful breeding. Moss boxes should be used and checked daily for eggs
also check the rest of the vivarium for eggs that may have been laid elsewhere.
The females can lay 5-9 eggs.
The eggs take 40-50 days to hatch in damp vermiculite or moss at 82-85F.
Eggs may be laid between March and October if the Skinks are in good
condition.
A well-fed Fire Skink will be necessary for a successful breeding and healthy
babies.

Calcium and vitamins: Add Calcium +D3 three times a week and added
vitamins about twice a week.
John Gamesby