Occellated Skink (Baby)

Ocelleated Skink

Scientific name: Chalcides ocellatus
Common names: Ocellated Skink, Ocellated Sand Skink
Adult size: Around 20–30 cm
Lifespan: Around 8–15 years

📏 Size

• Compact, stocky skink with a cylindrical body and short legs.
• Adults usually reach 20–30 cm, including the tail.

🏡 Housing

• Terrestrial species requiring a secure, well-ventilated vivarium.
• Adult minimum around 90 × 45 × 45 cm; larger is preferable.
• Provide 10–15 cm of diggable substrate.
• Add cork, rocks, hides and low branches.
• Leave open areas for movement and basking.

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking surface: 35–40°C
• Warm end: 28–32°C
• Cool end: 22–25°C
• Night: 18–22°C
• All heating should be thermostatically controlled.

💡 Lighting

• Provide low-to-moderate UVB around 5–7%.
• Bright full-spectrum lighting for around 10–12 hours daily.
• Ensure shaded areas are available.

💧 Humidity

• Around 40–60% is generally suitable.
• Keep the enclosure well ventilated.
• Provide a slightly more humid area or humid hide during shedding.

🦗 Food

• Omnivorous, with invertebrates forming the main part of the diet.
• Offer crickets, locusts, roaches, mealworms and other suitable insects.
• Adults can also receive small amounts of suitable fruit and vegetable matter.
• Dust insects with calcium and use appropriate vitamin supplementation.

💧 Water

• Provide a shallow dish of fresh, clean water.
• Replace regularly and whenever contaminated.

🐍 Shedding

• Skin becomes dull before shedding.
• Provide appropriate humidity and rough surfaces to help remove loose skin.
• Never pull retained shed from toes or tail.

🤲 Handling

• Can become accustomed to gentle handling.
• Support the whole body and allow the skink to move naturally.
• Avoid grabbing the tail.

❤️ Health

• Monitor appetite, weight, activity and shedding.
• Watch for respiratory problems, parasites and metabolic bone disease.
• Correct UVB, calcium and temperatures are important for long-term health.

🧽 Cleaning

• Spot-clean waste and uneaten food regularly.
• Keep the water dish clean.
• Replace contaminated substrate and thoroughly clean the enclosure periodically.

🏠 Before You Bring Your Skink Home

• Set up and temperature-test the vivarium beforehand.
• Have deep substrate, hides, UVB, heating and suitable food ready.
• Secure all heating equipment with appropriate guards.

⚠️ Important Bits

• Ocellated Skinks are active burrowers, so deep, diggable substrate is important.
• Provide a clear temperature gradient with a warm basking area and cool retreat.
• Good ventilation is essential.
• Do not house males together.
• Give a new skink time to settle before beginning regular handling.