The Basics:

This strikingly colored orange spotted skink is the most popular of the Schneider’s Skinks. It is a relatively mellow, non-aggressive skink that becomes acclimated to people, but handling should be kept to a minimum.

Substrate:
They Like To Burrow
 

Dampened tropical play sand 3-4 inches deep so the skink can bury itself makes a good substrate. Moss or mulch can also be used. One section of the substrate should have small orchid bark or cypress mulch to hold moisture when dampened. Always avoid aromatic woods like cedar.

Lighting:
UVB

The Berber Skink needs exposure to 12-14 hours of UVB lighting per day. Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

Temperature:
A Range of Temperatures

Provide the Berber Skink with an ambient temperature range of 73°-88° F during the day, in addition to a daytime basking area of 95° F (35 C) to 100٥. At night the temperature range can drop from the mid 60°s to about 73°. Position thermometers in the basking area cool spot and warm spot to monitor temperatures. Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating:

All reptiles, including this pet, must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure to maintain their biological rhythms. (See the lighting entry above for the specific length of this animal’s day/night cycle.) The day period must be light; and night must be dark. A timer should be used to set day/night periods. If a heat source is required to maintain correct nighttime temperatures, use heat mats or strips mounted below or on the side of the tank, infrared heat lamps, ceramic heat emitters, or a combination of these products. This will allow the enclosure to be heated while remaining dark. Follow directions carefully with all products. If ceramic heat emitters are used, always choose fixtures with porcelain or ceramic sockets, and to protect against fires do not place them by dry wood or flammable fabrics. Ceramic heat emitters must be kept out of the reach of children and all pets, including dogs and cats.

Humidity:

The skink’s enclosure should be relatively arid, but a section of the substrate should be dampened for humidity. Provide a clean shallow bowl of chlorine-free water for drinking and soaking.

A NOTE ABOUT WATER:

All water given to this pet for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals. (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. If tap water is used, you should treat it with a dechlorinating treatment. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions.

Supplements:

Dust insects with calcium supplement and vitamin supplements. As a rule, a growing juvenile's food should be dusted more often than an adult's. Follow product label directions when applying supplements, and avoid over-supplementing food. The following is a possible supplementing schedule for this reptile. Our veterinarian recommends dusting insects with a plain calcium supplement every time they are offered to the pet. (Avoid using a calcium supplement with added phosphorous, unless specifically directed by your veterinarian, since this can promote kidney disease.) Our veterinarian also recommends dusting insects with a D3 supplement once a week and a vitamin supplement two times a month. This is only one recommendation, consult your veterinarian for specific directions on supplementing your pet’s food, since there are many variables that go into determining the best supplementing regimen for a given animal.