The Basics:

This is a stunningly beautiful lizard with a back that's brown, and sides that are bright red with black and white vertical markings. This distinctive coloration actually camouflages the skink when it runs through the underbrush in its natural environment, by breaking up the lines of its body. Although they are ground dwellers and burrowers, they do enjoy climbing on rocks and low branches. Like most skinks, it has a tubular shaped body with smooth scales and short black legs. The Togo Fire Skink is a somewhat shy lizard that will spend a good deal of its time buried underground. Males can be territorial, especially during the breeding season. When properly cared for, this is a long-lived lizard that can reach 20 years.

Enclosure: They Need Less Room Than Average:

A 30-gallon aquarium can accommodate 1- 3 adult Togo Fire Skinks, but a larger enclosure is preferable. In most cases, these communal lizards will get along with one another when sharing an enclosure. The Togo Fire Skink's enclosure should have rocks and low lying perches as well as hiding places.
It should also be well ventilated. Males should not be housed together.

Substrate:
Provide A Moisture Gradient:

Sterilized potting soil over a layer of leaf litter works will for this burrowing lizard. The soil should be deep enough to allow the Togo Fire Skink to burrow. Ideally, the substrate should provide a moisture gradient, being damper on one side and drier on the other. However, it should never be allowed to
become soggy. Aromatic woods, such as cedar and pine must never be used. Substrate should be spot cleaned daily, and replaced completely every month.

Temperature:
Moderately Hot:

The enclosure's ambient temperatures should range from 80-
85º Fahrenheit during the day, with a basking spot around 90-95º. At night, the temperature can be lowered to 72-74º. Providing a thermal gradient allows the Togo Fire Skink to regulate its body temperature by moving around the enclosure. A variety of combinations of overhead lamps and under-tank heat pads can be used to
maintain temperatures. To avoid burns, lamps should be screened off or positioned outside the enclosure. Using too powerful a bulb will make the enclosure too hot, and
could prove fatal to the animal. Nighttime temperatures can be maintained by using ceramic heat emitters, which do not produce light. Follow directions carefully with
ceramic heat emitters, use fixtures with porcelain or ceramic sockets and to protect against fires, do not place them by dry wood or flammable fabrics. Thermometers should
be positioned in the warmer and cooler areas of the enclosure as well as in the basking spot. 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.

Diet:
Enthusiastic Eaters:

Togo Fire Skinks love to eat, and will gladly accept any insect
or meat-based food. Earthworms are a favorite of the Togo Fire Skink. Other insects this lizard feeds on include crickets and mealworms. It will also consume a variety of washed, rinsed, dried and finely chopped fruit.  Always feed commercially available insects, since wild caught specimens can transmit disease. Insects should be gut loaded and dusted with calcium/vitamin powder. Juvenile Togo Fire Skinks should be fed daily, and then moved to every other day feeding schedules as adults. Important -- It is necessary to provide calcium and vitamin supplements as part of the diet. Please read the supplement section below:

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.