Newest Aquisition, Fire Skink!(Riopa fernandi)

[Kiljosh]

So funny story on this one....

I drove to Reading on FRIDAY not SATURDAY for the reptile show. I thought it was the 25th haha. So on our way back after laughing about how neither one of us caught the indiscretion, me and my girl decided to stop into this petstore we were at last week.

I have been researching tegus, lizards in general, and have been looking to break into this area of Herping for a long time. Well the same Fire Skink was sitting in his tank when we showed up just chillin. The saleswoman walked over and was asking us/helping us with questions about him vs the geckos and swifts.

After last week I wanted this one Leopard Gecko but we had the girl bring this skink out and his skin wasn't as slimy as I thought. I gave my girl the thumbs-up if she wanted him and about $100 later he is home in his new tank. Very shy guy, they are burrowers and haven't seen him since I put him in the tank. But his colors are amazing and I love his face. Very happy with him.

So without further delay, here is Taquito(her lizard, she named him lol).
http://oi44.tinypic.com/utv9i.jpg
http://oi44.tinypic.com/p0ljs.jpg

Heres his enclosure, analog thermos will be replaced soon. I have checked their accuracy with the Infared Temp Gun I have and they are pretty close. Basking spot is monitored by the digital.
http://oi44.tinypic.com/24eus75.jpg
Sorry for the cellphone pics, found my cam battery but have NO idea where the charger is.

[alessia55]

Nice, congrats on the new skink! Taquito is an awesome name lol :p I find it so strange how long their bodies are :wacky:

[Hillsberry]

Love the colors on that guy!! Taquito is a great name! :)

[Kiljosh]

I think its strange how his back "hands" are backwards. His "thumbs" are facing the outside, I assume it's to dig better.

He's funny though he ran up my shoulder and down my back in the store.

[Kiljosh]

Gonna add a pic of his enclosure, let me know if everything looks ok. These guys seem basic in care.

75cold/85hot temp gradient with a basking areas of 90-95. 12/12 day night cycle and high humidity required.

I have him under a R-Zilla 10.0 UVB tube, a 60w Neodymium Basking light, and he's sitting on Coco Fiber substrate with some Spag Moss to get humidity up.

My girl is out shopping for him now haha, all this was created from what I had handy at home. I still have TWO UVA/B bulb housings I got with Stubbs' tank, I don't trust the bulbs in them now so he has the 10.0 on him. I've gotten replies from "skink people" that say as long as he has some shelter and it's on a screen top 10.0 is ok for him and I don't have to worry bout dropping down to 5.0

She's out getting a mat and thermostat for his nightitme temps. Also looking for a combo basking area/hide. Currently the basking area heats the whole tank perfectly, but it's Rheo'd and it makes me nervous, so I'm playing watchful parent today.

[youngster]

I think its strange how his back "hands" are backwards. His "thumbs" are facing the outside, I assume it's to dig better.

Most lizards are like that. I'm not exactly sure why but your guess is pretty good.

[Trent]

Congrats!!

[Kiljosh]

Does anyone have any tips for feeding. I was told to feed him 5-7 crickets every other day. I've read you can feed them a variety of worms, and some will even eat fruit. I got some D3/Calcium/Vitamin powder and read to give my crickets orange slices or watergel for water and dried dogfood to eat.

Anything I can do to make this guy healthy I will do. Just want to make sure this info seems correct.

[millertime89]

He looks cool, I really like the name too, your girl has good taste.

[DragonsEye]

Very nice looking species of skink. :)

[Skumbo]

Oh man thats awesome!

[Kiljosh]

Hey check out some new pics! Enclosure has a digital thermometer now for Humidity/Hot and Cold side temps. Also a new digital probe for the hot spot so Stubb's can go back to having 4 temp readings now haha..

I mixed some cypress in with the coco fiber for humidity and help with his burrowing but I didn't get the ratio right. There's too much wood right now so before I feed him tomorrow I'm gonna put a layer of just coco fiber down so he doesn't accidentally eat a piece of wood. I want him to be able to make tunnels under the ground that are semi permanent and the coco fiber was just falling in on itself. I'll try to get a movie of him hunting though it's hilarious. Heres the pics, I found my camera battery but it's charging and this is the first I've been able to get some decent shots of him before he runs from me, so cell phone pics still. I think he's curious about me though, he watched me last night for a half hour or so.

http://i40.tinypic.com/1z52esl.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/apfktt.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/o0vsrs.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/96f0bb.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/k1f57b.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/23u5uub.jpg

Enjoy I know they are crappy but everyone on this board loves pics so it shouldn't matter haha

[alessia55]

Such an awesome, awesome animal :yes:

[Gungirl]

Love the pics.

[millertime89]

very cool looking skink!

[Trent]

Cool pics!!!