Description
- Common Name: Berber Skink / Schneider’s Skink
- Scientific Name: Eumeces schneideri
- Locality/Morph: Wild Type
- Sex: Mixed
- Age: Mixed
- Source: Wild caught
- Native Range: North Africa and the Middle East – Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and surrounding regions
- Natural Habitat: Rocky deserts, semi-arid scrublands, and sand dunes with scattered stones and vegetation
- Diet: Insectivorous – crickets, locusts, beetles, roaches, worms; may take occasional soft plant matter
- Basking Temperature: 35–40°C hotspot
- Ambient Temperature: 25–32°C (night drop to ~18°C)
- Average Adult Size: 20–35 cm (including tail)
The Berber Skink (Eumeces schneideri), also known as Schneider’s Skink, is a robust, ground-dwelling skink adapted to the arid and semi-arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East. It is recognised by its smooth, glossy scales, cylindrical body, and often olive, tan, or brown coloration, sometimes with faint lateral stripes or spotting. This species is active during the day, spending much of its time basking on rocks or loose soil and hunting small invertebrates.
In captivity, E. schneideri requires a spacious, dry desert-style terrarium. A basking hotspot of 35–40°C should be provided, with a cooler ambient gradient around 25–32°C. The enclosure should include flat stones, rock piles, and loose substrate to allow digging and natural hiding behaviours. UVB lighting is recommended to support calcium metabolism and overall health.
Their diet is primarily insectivorous, consisting of gut-loaded crickets, locusts, roaches, and other small invertebrates. Occasional supplementation with soft fruits or leafy greens is possible but should remain minor. Calcium and vitamin supplementation are essential, particularly for juveniles and breeding adults.
Berber Skinks are hardy, terrestrial lizards suitable for display terrariums. They are moderately active and mostly tolerate observation rather than handling, making them a rewarding species for keepers who can replicate their arid habitat. Lifespan in captivity can be over 10 years with proper care.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
