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Occelated Skink
Common name: Occelated Skink
Scientific name: Chalchides Ocellatus ocellatus
Distribution: North Africa
Size: 8"-10"Other names: Eyed skink.
Introduction: The Occelated Skink is a most attractively marked sand swimming skink. The males can be territorial and aggressive, but behavior anymore agressive than chasing rivals has not been observed, they can be kept in a small community of the same species. The skink exhibits speed and ferocity in tackling its prey that defies its size.
Colouration of these skinks is golden brown to yellow with eyed scales. This eyed scale formation gives them the ocellated skink it's other name of the "Eyed Skink".
A small colony of up to 6 of these skinks can be housed comfortably in an 18"X12"X12" terrarium. The height of the terrarium is not important as these skinks stay at ground level.
Diet: During the summer months diet consists of any kind of small harmless insects to be found in the garden. Woodlice can be caught, kept and bred in a plastic tub, and provide a valuable source of calcium. Earthworms chopped and served on a small saucer will be taken when the taste is developed. Shops brought food items include crickets, mealworms and wax worms and small amount of good quality low protein dog food. As with feeding all reptiles variety is the spice.
Wet foods such as chopped earthworms dog food should be served on a small saucer to prevent soiling from the sand substrate.
All food can be dusted with a good reptile and calcium supplement once or twice a week.
Being a desert creature it is quite feasible that this skink species will get all its hydration requirements from prey sources however a small ceramic water bowl should be placed in the terrarium, these skinks have been observed drinking water from such a vessel.
Habitat: This skinks natural habitat is the hot dry deserts of North Africa. The terrarium should include Silver sand as a substrate; this should be to a depth of depth of at least 3cm to allow these little skinks to bury themselves. Substrate can be sieved with a fine mesh for extending its life at cleaning time.
In some parts Africa this skink is a protected species where the issuing of permits for the taking and keeping of these species from the wild is restricted for bona fide scientific studies or other similar purpose, though some wild caught specimens are still available in the UK trade.
An incandescent spot bulb can provide heat. Occelated skinks may benefit from UVB as they spend a lot of time basking and warming up. This UVB can be attained from moving the terrarium to a sunny out door position during the summer months. They sometimes adopt a belly down outstretched position with arms and legs placed on their back.
They like hot temperatures, hot spots of upper 90s and even 100 degrees, should be aimed for, and cooler area temperatures around the 70s and 80s. A nighttime drop to 60 can be withstood and also helps to mimic their natural environment. Plastic plants can be added to the terrarium for interest, stones and cork bark halves for hide holes.
These skinks spend much time buried in the sand and become more active during the summer months when breeding is most likely to occur, around July time, although they can breed at any time of the year. Occelated Skinks are livebearers, giving birth to up to eight young.
Brumation:These skinks do not benefit from a harsh brumation period to bring them into breeding condition as other skink species do. The hot deserts of North Africa do not experience the seasonal variations and temperature changes that we do in the UK. These interesting little skinks will produce live young when mature at 12 - 18 months.
Life expectancy: Provided proper care and feeding is followed there is no reason why these skinks should not live for between 5-10 years.
Sexing: Unusually for skink species the sexes of the adult Occelated Skink are easy to tell apart. The combined method of males exhibiting a darker colouration, the scales of their back show an eyed patterning, Females show a less distinct eyed scale pattern to the back scales, and head size, the males having larger heads.
Handling: These small skinks are very quick and agile, especially in pursuit of prey or escaping from fingers trying to pick them up. It can be difficult to pick them up and it is important to remember to never pick them up by their tails as these will easily be discarded causing disfigurement to your skink, the tail will rejuvenate fairly quickly. It may be useful to keep a small fishing net handy for catching escapees, it is much easier to scoop them up in a net than to risk having them disappear under a piece of household furniture.
Summary: These skinks are hardy and relatively easy to care for if the conditions are adhered to as stated here. They will bring many hours of pleasure to their keeper, they should be considered a skink to watch rather than be handled regularly.
The information produced here is to the best of my knowledge the best possible care for the captive husbandry of the Occelated Skink. The information has been derived through experience with this skink species and through research. I cannot accept responsibility for injury or loss do to the following of this brief plan of care. For further information please e-mail me.
