Reptile Rapture,
6308 Monona dr, Monona WI 53513
608-221-0094 www.reptilerapture.net
PETER'S BANDED SAND SKINK Caresheet
Common Name: Peter's Banded Sand SkinkScientific Name: Scincopus fasciatus
Origin: Northern Africa
Size: 8" to 10.5"
Lifespan: 15 - 20 years
You will find many ways on the internet on "how to" take care of this animal. This care sheet is showing the way we found works best for us from our many years of experience and caring for this species. Note: There are places on the internet that say these are live bearing, they are not. These skinks lay eggs. We have experienced this first hand here at Reptile Rapture.
HOUSING
In the wild, Peter's Banded Sand Skinks spend their time on the ground or living under the sand. So floor space is more important than height in your enclosure. Young skinks up to about 6 months of age can be housed in a 20 gal long enclosure or Exo Terras 18" x 18" x 12". A couple adults can be housed in a minimum of a 36" long enclosure. Exo Terra's 36" x 18" x 12" , Zilla's 30 breeder critter cage or Zoo meds low boy tank all work well.
They like to dig so provide a loose substrate such as exo terra natural sand, 1"-2" is usually fine. You may see your skink sleeping behind a log with just his head buried in the sand and they seem to be fine with this. Give them plenty of hiding spots to choose from so they feel safe. This can be as simple as a flat rock or driftwood for them to go under. Several choices is especially important if you keep more than one skink. They like to bury themselves in the sand but some of them seem to prefer to be in the sand and under a "structure' of some kind, like a food dish or a log. More than likely to feel safe from predators.
LIGHTING & TEMPERATURES
These skinks come from a harsh environment and as such are quite hardy creatures. However, like all reptiles, they are dependent on thermoregulation to control their body temperature. This essentially means you need to provide a hot side and a cool side to your enclosure. All the heat elements should be on one side and the other will be the cool side. This way your skink can move back and forth between the different temperatures depending on its needs.
A basking area of 115-125 degrees should be provided. The cool side of the enclosure can be around 84 degrees. At night, temps can drop to the low 70s. Use a good quality temperature gauge, like Zoo Meds digital temp gauge or Exo Terras Thermometer. The easiest way to increase the heat in your enclosure is with a Reptile basking bulb and/or an Exo terra or Zoo Med heat pad.
These are nocturnal lizards so UVB is not necessarily mandatory. But due to the fact that we see them out and about a little bit during the day. We feel, Peter's Banded Sand Skinks may benefit from having UVB lighting.
The best bulbs are the mercury vapors such as Exo Terra's Solar Glo bulbs, ZooMed's Powersun, or Solar bright bulbs. These provide heat and UVB all in one bulb. You can also use separate basking (heat) bulb and UVB bulbs. If you use these you will want the Zoo Med 10.0 or Exo Terra UVB 150 variety.
HUMIDITY
Always provide a water dish with fresh water. These skinks will drink some. You might have to change the water everyday if your lizard defecates or kicks bedding into it. Scrub the bowl at least once a week to keep bacteria slime from building up. Exo Terra bowls or Flukers rock dish are nice naturalistic non-porous water bowls.
FEEDING
Peter's Banded Sand Skinks are omnivores. As such, they have quite a varied diet. They will eat proteins, vegetables/greens and fruits. Variety is important. Don't always feed them the same things. Adults can be fed 2-3 times a week. Young skinks are better fed every other day. When you feed, you can give as much as they want in one sitting. Feed greens on a shallow dish, not directly on the substrate. Remove any uneaten food.
Make sure to supplement your skinks food at least every feeding with calcium and vitamins such as Repashy Calcium Plus or Zoo Med Reptivite with D3.
SUGGESTED FOODS
Proteins:
Live bugs: dubia roaches, mealworms, hornworms, superworms, etc
Canned insects, snails
Scrambled eggs
Repashys Bluey Buffet
Other suggested foods: Fruits and Veggies (rarely seen eating these)
Turnip greens
Mustard greens
Collard greens
Peas
Carrots
Squashes
Dandelions (pesticide free)
Blue berries
TEMPERAMENT
Peter's Banded Sand Skinks can be quite friendly and are a good first lizard choice. They tolerate quite a lot of handling. Start slow with your new pet and gradually increase the amount of time you hold it. It won't be long before your skink gets used to being held.