The Apothecary’s Kink (Scincus Scincus): Care And Rearing In Captivity
The apothecary kink (Scincus scincus) , also known as the sandfish, is an animal that has recently become a popular exotic pet. Despite its name, this animal is actually not a fish at all, but a reptile. Reptile lovers are fascinated by the Apothekerkink because it moves almost like a fish in the sand. He dives and swims in the sand as if it were water.
This animal inhabits deserts such as the Sahara and also the desert and arid regions of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. The Apothekerkink is a reptile that is easy to keep in captivity. In fact, he spends most of his time burying himself in the sand of his terrarium. In today’s article you will learn everything you need to know about the optimal housing conditions for this elusive reptile.
Some thoughts to start with
The apothecary kink (Scincus scincus) is a really eye-catching animal because of its elongated body, short legs and skin color. However, you should know that it is a rare species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature or the World Conservation Union for short (IUCN) has not yet been able to provide precise information about its current state of conservation, as this species is difficult to observe.
Due to the complete lack of information, this species is not listed in the appendices of the Washington Convention on Endangered Species (CITES). In addition, this species rarely reproduces in captivity and there are no valid data on how reproduction occurs in the first place. Experts are unsure whether the females lay eggs or give birth to live young.
Therefore , the apothecary kink, or sandfish, is sold in stores or by individuals who have previously captured it in its natural habitat rather than being raised in captivity. As a result, buying such a reptile is tantamount to supporting the illegal wildlife trade and all the consequences that arise from it.
Apothekerskink: Keeping in captivity
Although this animal cannot be bred in captivity, and the lack of information about it means that the likelihood that it will reproduce in these circumstances is minimal, caring for this reptile at home is still fairly simple. As long as you provide him with everything he needs, the apothecary’s kink will thrive in his terrarium.
The terrarium
Although Scincus scincus spends most of its life under the sand, it is active at night looking for food or a partner. Since it can be up to eight inches long, it is important that the terrarium is large enough.
The terrarium should be at least 125 x 50 x 60 centimeters (length, width and height) and about the size of a 75 liter aquarium. The terrarium must be protected with a lid so that the animal cannot escape.
The substrate of the terrarium should consist exclusively of fine sand and be about 5 centimeters deep, as the apothecary’s kink usually does not dig itself more than 2.5 centimeters deep. However, he spends most of his time buried in the sand.
Some types of sand, which are made of calcium carbonate, are digestible for reptiles in the event that they accidentally swallowed the sand. This is always the best substrate option because it will help prevent long-term and unwanted problems.
In addition, you should place artificial or natural plants such as cacti and succulents in the terrarium that require little water. You should also consider building several caves and rocks for the reptile to hide.
Environmental parameters
This animal comes from the desert climate. Although it can withstand very high temperatures, it is best if the temperature in the terrarium does not exceed 35 ° C. The optimal temperature range for this species is between 23 and 27 ° C. At night, when the heat lamp is off, the temperature should drop to around 21 ° C.
Heat and light are two other environmental factors that you should consider. Therefore, you should install a UV lamp that needs to be changed approximately every six months. A heat lamp and a cold light lamp are also required so that the animal can distinguish between day and night.
The last factor to consider is humidity. You have to keep it below 30%. Therefore, you should only place plants such as cacti or succulents or other drought-tolerant plants in the terrarium.
How to feed a pharmacist’s kink
The apothecary’s kink is an insect eater. He has the ability to sense the minimal vibrations these animals generate when walking on the sand. Therefore, these reptiles are also very good hunters. However, you should never feed your sandfish more insects than it can eat in 10 minutes.
According to several owners, these animals can occasionally eat leaves and vegetables, which provide a little more water. Nevertheless, you should put a small bowl of water in the terrarium so that the sandfish can drink whenever necessary.
As you have learned in this article, the apothecary’s kink requires similar care as other desert lizards. The main difference is that it is very difficult to breed in captivity, which is why the animals are caught in their natural habitat and then offered for sale. Therefore , every reptile friend should carefully consider whether he or she can and will actually be responsible for buying such an animal.
