Scincus scincus

Horizontal desert terrarium, focused on floor area (fossorial/psammophilous)

Floor area takes priority over height. Dimensions given for 1 individual; enlarge for a pair/trio. Smooth lid and walls (an occasional good climber in loose sand). Provide a substrate depth of at least 10-15 cm to allow the natural burrowing behaviour.

Dry conditions. Nevertheless keep a lower sand layer slightly humid (never soaked): it aids hydration and a good shed, while the surface stays dry.

Deep (10-15 cm), fine, non-abrasive substrate is essential for the 'swimming' behaviour in the sand. Avoid the calcium sand (calcium carbonate) marketed for reptiles: dusty and suspected of promoting blockages and respiratory irritation. Keep the surface dry and the base barely humid.

Recommended. Low to moderate UVB (5-6% tube/lamp, Ferguson zone 2-3) above the exposure area, even if the animal only exposes itself briefly, to support calcium metabolism.

A small, shallow, stable water bowl, changed regularly; the animal drinks little and hydrates mainly through its prey and the humid sand layer. Avoid any water source that would soak the substrate.

North Africa and the Near/Middle East: the Sahara (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan) and the Arabian Peninsula. Hyper-arid, fine-sand habitats (ergs, dunes, sandy regs).

Insectivore — Crickets, mealworms, waxworms, roaches, small beetles and larvae

Hunts by detecting vibrations: live prey placed on the sand, which it locates by movement then captures by lunging out. Dust the prey with calcium (with D3) and give a vitamin supplement once a week. Prey sized to the small mouth; feed every 2-3 days (adults).

Clutch 2–10 eggs/young. Clutch generally of 2 to 4 eggs (up to ~10), buried in the sand. Incubation of about 6 to 10 weeks at around 28-31 °C. Breeding in captivity is uncommon; triggered by a seasonal cycle (winter temperature/photoperiod drop).

• Internal parasitism (nematodes, protozoa), very common in wild-caught specimens
• Digestive blockage / impaction (unsuitable, dusty or overly coarse substrate)
• Dysecdysis (poor shedding) linked to an overly dry sand layer
• Dehydration and kidney disorders (gout) in an overly dry environment without sufficient hydration
• Chronic stress, food refusal and respiratory infections (wild import, dusty substrate)