Skinks · Care guide
Scincopus fasciatus
A medium-sized fossorial skink from the Sahara’s borders in Africa (about 7″) with striking black bands. Dry heat, T5 6% UVB, warm and cool hides, a damp wet box, and an insect-led diet keep them thriving.
At a glance
Key parameters for day-to-day husbandry. Full detail is in the sections below.
Daytime probe
82 °F
28 °C · thermostat sensor
Night drop
~10 °F
~6 °C · about 72 °F / 22 °C
Adult size
48×18×18″
Or larger · fossorial desert
UVB
T5 6%
Ceiling-mounted tube
01 · Housing
Fossorial desert skinks from northern and southern Sahara borders (about 7″). Give floor space, warm and cool hides, a damp wet box, a low branch, dry substrate, and a solid temperature gradient. Minimum size is 48″ × 18″ × 18″.
Adult minimum size
48″ W × 18″ D × 18″ H
Adult minimum, or larger if you wish. Adults often reach about 7″. Terrestrial and fossorial — fill open space with hides and décor.
Housing diagram
Enclosure example
Front view 48″ wide × 18″ tall (depth 18″) · low branch · warm & cool hides · wet box · foliage · small water bowl
Setup diagram · 1 of 2
Top-down view
Heat bulb & probe left–right positions · Recommended temps need this layout
Setup diagram · 2 of 2
Front view
Looking into the vivarium · bulb on the ceiling · probe hangs down the back
02 · Climate
Day/night cycling, a proper gradient, and UVB are essential for metabolism, appetite, and long-term health.
When the heat bulb and thermostat sensor are placed as instructed, a probe target of 82 °F (28 °C) creates this spread. The probe point is not the basking spot.
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Cool side | ~80 °F (~27 °C) |
| Probe point (thermostat probe target) | 82 °F (28 °C) |
| Middle | 86–88 °F (30–31 °C) |
| Warm side | ~95 °F (~35 °C) |
| Night drop | Reduce thermostat by ~10 °F (~6 °C) to approx. 72 °F (~22 °C) |
Climate diagram
Lighting setup
T5 6% UVB on the ceiling - heat dome on the warm side - match UV to heat
Always have the dimming thermostat dial turned down before you plug it into the mains for the first time.
03 · Nutrition
Insect-led diet with method of 5, dusting every feed, and well gut-loaded insects. Staples: crickets, locusts, calci worms, mealworms.
At a glance
Fed regularly
In moderation only
Dust every feeding with a 4:1 mix of calcium : Nutrobal (4 parts calcium to 1 part Nutrobal). Store the mix in an airtight container and use it to coat food every time you feed.
New Peters Banded Skinks often will not eat well for the first few days. This is perfectly normal. Once settled, appetite usually increases.
Offer 5 insects at a time
Wait until they are eaten before adding more
Prevents dumping many insects that go uneaten — reducing stress and insect-related injuries
Gut-load insects before offering — variety matters for calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca:P) and vitamins.
Feeder insects must be well fed before offering. In the wild, lizards eat insects that themselves ate a wide variety of foods — providing complete nutrition and a better calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio.
Hand feeding can help bonding, but excessive hand feeding can lead to obesity. Hunting and chasing food provide exercise and enrichment.
Speak to a member of staff for more feeding advice.
04 · Behaviour
Patience first. Settling and regular feeding come before handling.
Allow the lizard to settle and begin eating regularly before handling — we recommend at least two successful feeds first. Adapting is stressful; early handling can make it worse.
Initial sessions: 5–10 minutes only. Lengthen as the lizard becomes more comfortable.
Always wash or disinfect hands before and after handling to prevent bacteria transfer both ways.
Do not use aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the enclosure — the chemicals can harm your lizard.
05 · Welfare
Prevention starts with correct husbandry — heat, UVB, hydration, and supplementation working together.
Correct temperatures, supplementation, hydration, and UVB keep the immune system and gut working well — supporting essential physiological processes.
Pros
Cons
Questions
A minimum of 48″ × 18″ × 18″, or larger. They are terrestrial and fossorial — provide at least two hides (warm and cool ends), a damp wet box with moss, a low branch for light climbing, artificial foliage, dry coarse desert sand or pelleted straw, and a small cool-side water bowl. Adults reach about 7″. Fill open floor space with decor — they dislike large empty areas.
Set the dimming thermostat probe to 82 °F (28 °C) by day with the heat bulb about one-quarter from one side and the probe one-quarter from the opposite side, hanging down the back a few inches from the floor. That creates a gradient of about 80 °F on the cool side, 86–88 °F in the middle, and around 95 °F on the warm side. At night reduce the thermostat by about 10 °F to around 72 °F (22 °C).
They are a desert species. Use a damp wet box or humid hide with moss so they can seek moisture as they would by digging to damp sand in the wild. Lightly spray once or twice a week around the vivarium and onto artificial plants to mimic dew — they often lick droplets from leaves. Do not keep the whole enclosure wet. A small water bowl on the cool side is fine.
Allow the lizard to settle and begin eating regularly before handling — we recommend at least two successful feeds first. Initial sessions should be 5–10 minutes only; lengthen as they become more comfortable. Always wash or disinfect hands before and after handling. Do not use aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the enclosure.
A T5 tube that emits about 6% UV, mounted on the ceiling of the vivarium. Run UV about 9–10 hours in winter and 14–16 hours in summer (match daylight). Heat day length is about 12 hours in winter and up to 16 hours in summer. Replace the tube every 12 months because UV output degrades.
Offer five insects at a time and wait until you see them eaten before adding more. This reduces uneaten insects, stress, and possible insect-related injuries. Once settled, it is relatively common for 5–10 crickets to be consumed daily. Dust every feed with a 4:1 calcium : Nutrobal mix. Keep food appropriately sized.
Next steps
Shop heating, housing and lighting on this site, browse livestock when available, or speak to our team for a tailored kit list.
More in Skinks
