Sandfish

Scincus scincus

Sandfish are an amazing type of reptile which belong to the skink family. They have evolved over the centuries and are fully adapted to life in deserts. One feature which makes Sandfish such a fantastic pet is their uncanny ability to swim through sand. They are a hardy species and make an excellent first pet.

 

Distribution:
Sandfish are a particular type of skink which can be naturally found in the sandy deserts of Northern Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and even into Iran.

 

Size:
Adult Sandfish normally grow to a very modest 7-8 inches (18-20cm) including their short tail. This makes Sandfish an ideal pet lizard if you are lacking space.

 

Life span:
Sandfish are a very hardy species of skink and when cared for correctly can live for 6-10 years or more.

 

General appearance:
As with all skinks, the Sandfish has the usual "lizard-like" body which can be easily recongnised by everyone. Sandfish have a long, wedge-shaped snout incorporating a countersunk lower jaw. Sandfish have a long tapered body which is covered with smooth shiny scales and a short tapered tail. Sandfish scales have a lower coefficient of friction than that of polished steel or glass, which allows the Sandfish to glide through sand extremely easily. Sandfish also have short, sturdy legs with long flattened fringed feet which help push them through the sand. Sandfish have very attractive colouration which consists of yellow and caramel colouring with brown and black cross bands. Their bead-like eyes and tiny nostrils help keep sand out of their eyes and lungs when burrowing.

 

Housing requirements:
The enclosure should be roughly 24inches x 12inches x 15inches (60cm x 30cm x 38cm) which could house a pair of Sandfish. I do however recommend a slightly larger enclosure if housing more than one Sandfish. Please note that males can be aggressive towards each other during the breeding season so you may want to house males seperately.

 

Temperature:
As Sandfish originate from very hot deserts, they are adapted to heat up very quickly, thus reducing their exposure to the extreme temperatures under the hot sun. As such, you will need to provide an appropriate basking spot of between 95-115F. The rest of the enclosure can be maintained at daytime temperatures of 80-85F. Sandfish dont require a basking spot at night and you can allow a 10F drop in night time temperatures.

 

Humidity:
Sandfish require very low levels of humidity, maintained at 25% or lower which can be easily achieved by placing a small, shallow water bowl at the cool end the vivarium. The bottom layer of substrate also needs to be kept moist throughout the day to help your Sandfish keep cool. To do this, you will need to push a small tube through the substrate so that it reaches the base of the vivarium and then pour a small amount of water through to the bottom.

 

Heat/Light:
Sandfish are active during the day and as such will require full-Spectrum lighting that emits UVB. Sandfish rely on this ultra-violet light to produce vitamin D3 and require it to be within 18inches of the substrate to provide maximum effect. You can provide a day/night cycle of 12 hours each by using an automatic timer with incandescent bulbs and spot lights. For night time heat you should use red/night glo bulbs or ceramic heaters.

 

Substrate:
Sandfish are a burrowing lizard and spend most of the day hiding below the surface. As such, you will need to provide a substrate of 4-6 inches of loose sand for your Sandfish to burrow into and hide.

 

Diet:
Sandfish skinks are insectivorous meaning that their diet consists mainly of insects. You should feed them a varied diet of crickets, mealworms, locusts or wax worms, which should be properly gut-loaded and dusted with a vitamin/calcium supplement. Due to their unique ability to detect vibrations from moving insects, Sandfish can burrow beneath their prey and strike from below the surface. Larger Sandfish can also be fed an occasional pinkie mice or the larger "mondo" or superworms. Adult Sandfish should be fed 3-4 times per week, allowing them to eat their fill at each feeding session. Growing juvenile Sandfish can be fed much more frequently, even going as far as twice daily feeding sessions during their most rapid growth period.

 

 

Maintenance: