Lizards
Fire skink care guide
Mochlus fernandi
A brightly coloured West African skink that burrows and hides much of the day.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Fire skink enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult fire skink should live in at least 36" L × 18" W × 18" H; we build toward 48" L × 24" W × 24" H (4 × 2 × 2 ft, roughly 8 sq ft of floor and about a 120-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 18" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 30" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 24" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 18" H
Temperature and heating
Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
- Basking / warm surface
- 90–95°F basking spot
- Warm side (ambient)
- 80–85°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 72–78°F
- Night
- No lower than 70°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: UVB required (T5 HO 6% or ShadeDweller). Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–80%. Deep, damp lower substrate with a drier surface.
Substrate and depth
Soil/coco mix or bioactive. Depth: 6–8 in.
Diet and feeding
Gut-loaded insects (crickets, dubia, black soldier fly larvae) dusted with calcium; vitamins weekly.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Clutter — cork, leaf litter, plants — for cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
Fire skink FAQ
How big should an adult Fire skink enclosure be?
At least 36" L × 18" W × 18" H, and we recommend building to 48" L × 24" W × 24" H — about 4 × 2 × 2 ft, or a 120-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Fire skink need?
Basking or warm surface 90–95°F basking spot, warm side 80–85°F, cool side 72–78°F, night No lower than 70°F. Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
Does a Fire skink need UVB?
UVB required (T5 HO 6% or ShadeDweller). Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does a Fire skink need?
60–80%. Deep, damp lower substrate with a drier surface.
What substrate is best for a Fire skink?
Soil/coco mix or bioactive, at a depth of 6–8 in.
How big does a Fire skink enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 18" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 12" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own fire skink record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.