Schneider's skink
(Eumeces schneideri)

Schneider's skinks come from northwest Africa and western Asia and have a sandy color with orange and yellow blotches. A solid yellow stripe running along the skink can also usually be seen. The underbelly is a lighter sand color. The legs of the Schneider's skink are short with clawed fingers for digging and moving in sand.

Difficulty

NOVICE to MODERATE: Schneider's skinks do require specialized lighting and may not be the best reptile to keep if you are new to keeping reptiles and amphibians.

Requirements

An enclosure, such as:

• Glass or acrylic aquarium (20 gallons or larger, depending on the number of Schneider's skink s kept) with a secure lid with clamps

Substrate, such as:

• Tropical Play Sand
• ground coconut fiber

A heating element, such as:

• UVB emitting bulb
• Incandescent heat bulb
• Ceramic infrared heat emitters

Enclosure

A pair of Schneider's skink s should be kept in an enclosure no smaller than a 20 gallon aquarium. Male Schneider's skinks can only housed together in large enclosures as they are territorial and will fight over the limited amount of enclosure space in smaller aquariums. Male Schneider's skinks can be kept with one or more female Schneider's skinks and any number of female Schneider's skinks can be kept together. Obviously, larger enclosures are needed for larger groups of Schneider's skinks. Hiding places should be provided for all of your Schneider's skinks and can be made from rocks or there are many comercial caves available.

Substrate

The substrate or bedding that you use is one of the most important parts of your Schneider's skink's home, since your Schneider's skink will be spending much of its time on it. Tropical play sand is most commonly used for Schneider's skinks. It is important to make sure that the substrate is at least three inches deep so the Schneider's skink can dig and bury itself. Crushed coconut fibers or other dry substrates that allow for digging can also be used.

Heating and Light

Daytime temperatures for Schneider's skink s should be 85°F to 90°F with basking temperatures of 95°F to 105°F. Nighttime temperatures should be 65°F to 70°F. Schneider's skinks also require ultraviolet (UV) light which can be provided with fluorescent UVB bulbs or mercury vapor bulbs that can also provide heat for the basking spot. Basking temperatures for your Schneider's skinks can also be achieved using incandescent bulbs, infrared bulbs, or ceramic emitters if using fluorescent bulbs for UV light. Under the tank (UTH) heaters can be used to raise the ambient temperature of the enclosure if needed. Heat rocks, heat caves, and other similar items should never be used under any circumstance since they can cause serious burns to your Schneider's skink.

Diet

Schneider's skinks are omnivores. Schneider's skinks should be offered a variety of insects including crickets, mealworms, earthworms, superworms, and waxworms. Pinkie mice can be offered occasionally. Vegetables should be offered two to three times a week, Some suitable items include kale, collard greens, legumes, carrots, squash, and mashed fruits. Fresh water in a shallow dish should be offered daily.