wanted-ocellated skink care sheet

repteen · #1 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 05:49 PM

as above, really.

any1 know a good care sheet????

cheers

monitorfan666 · #2 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 07:51 PM

hmm

Common name: Occelated Skink
Scientific name: Chalchides Ocellatus ocellatus
Distribution: North Africa
Size: 8"-10"Other names: Eyed skink.
IntroductionThe Occelated Skink is a most attractively marked sand swimming skink. Both sexes can be territorial during breeding season , biting oneanothers tails and chasing rivals. They can be kept in a small colony of the same species, much of the time they remain hidden under the sand. The skink exhibits speed and ferocity in tackling its prey that defies its size, very tiny juveniles can kill and devour a fully grown mealworms at a weeks age.
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, another option is to spray the substrate and sides of the enclosure with water weekly.

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, wild caught specimens are usually 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, although I do not believe UV is essential so long as woodlice are offered at least every few weeks. 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: Some people brumate these the same as corn snakes, but I don't think this is essential to get them breeding, mine have bred without any brumation or winter rest period. These skinks do not benefit from a harsh brumation temperature drop, the hot deserts of North Africa do not experience the seasonal variations and temperature changes that we do in the UK.
Breeding will take place naturally if you have a male and a female they will produce live young when mature at 12 - 18 months. They need no brumation in my opinion to be bred successfully, they will eat their young so caution must be exercised and separate the gravid female when her time is near.

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 around the eyes and face on the males, the scales of their back show an eyed patterning, Females may 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.

repteen · #3 (**permalink**) 26-05-2007, 04:51 PM

thanks

i couldn't find one anywhere

repteen · #4 (**permalink**) 27-05-2007, 05:46 PM

do you know what size viv 2 skinks would need???
(doesn't say on care sheet)

thanks

monitorfan666 · #5 (**permalink**) 28-05-2007, 01:11 PM

no prob mate
hmm 2 skinks
not sure but by the looks of that care sheet im thinkin a pretty darn smaller viv lol

repteen · #6 (**permalink**) 28-05-2007, 01:30 PM

thanks

know any diamentions?????

monitorfan666 · #7 (**permalink**) 28-05-2007, 01:55 PM

sorry no

DeanThorpe · #8 (**permalink**) 28-05-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitorfan666

Common name: Occelated Skink
Scientific name: Chalchides Ocellatus ocellatus
Distribution: North Africa
Size: 8"-10"Other names: Eyed skink.
IntroductionThe Occelated Skink is a most attractively marked sand swimming skink. Both sexes can be territorial during breeding season , biting oneanothers tails and chasing rivals. They can be kept in a small colony of the same species, much of the time they remain hidden under the sand. The skink exhibits speed and ferocity in tackling its prey that defies its size, very tiny juveniles can kill and devour a fully grown mealworms at a weeks age.
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, another option is to spray the substrate and sides of the enclosure with water weekly.

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, wild caught specimens are usually 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, although I do not believe UV is essential so long as woodlice are offered at least every few weeks. 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: Some people brumate these the same as corn snakes, but I don't think this is essential to get them breeding, mine have bred without any brumation or winter rest period. These skinks do not benefit from a harsh brumation temperature drop, the hot deserts of North Africa do not experience the seasonal variations and temperature changes that we do in the UK.
Breeding will take place naturally if you have a male and a female they will produce live young when mature at 12 - 18 months. They need no brumation in my opinion to be bred successfully, they will eat their young so caution must be exercised and separate the gravid female when her time is near.

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 around the eyes and face on the males, the scales of their back show an eyed patterning, Females may 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.

I would have thought maybe a 2 footer [2x1.5x1.5] would be good for a few myself but apparently smaller is ok too.

repteen · #9 (**permalink**) 28-05-2007, 05:26 PM

cheers

i didn't see that-i feel like such an idiot!!!:icon_redface:

DeanThorpe · #10 (**permalink**) 29-05-2007, 01:10 AM

its all good bruv.
id go for a 2 foot viv..be it 18 inch high and 15 wide, or 2 foot high and 18 wide.
2 foots not a lot of space so i dont see much reason to use smaller vivs.

do u still plan to get some? they are cool lookin things, havemt kept them myself.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode