Chalcides Ocellatus - Ocellated Skink - Juvenile

Application to Purchase Required - live animal purchases require a review of your setup. After placing your order, a Customer Care Specialist will reach out to review your husbandry and habitat. Approval for purchase is NOT guaranteed and if denied, the order may be cancelled. Upon approval, you will receive a link to set up a shipping date for your live animal. All animals ship via Fed Ex overnight.

Common Name: Ocellated Skink, Eyed Skink
Scientific Name: Chalcides ocellatus

Size when shipped:
Captive-bred juveniles, approximately 4"- 6" total length depending on age; adults typically reach 8"-12" with smooth, streamlined bodies and reduced limbs.

Lineage: Group 1: Purchased from "The Frog Whisperer" in 2016 as Captive Bred F2s from Wild Caught Adults. Group 2: Purchased from "The Frog Whisperer" in 2018 as Captive Bred F2s from Wild Caught Adults (different bloodline). Groups are now combined to create genetic diversity. 

In-house testing/treatment performed:

• Clean fecal
• Healthy body score
• Normal activity and behavior
• No missing limbs or toes 

Defining traits: These are one of Josh's favorite lizards in his showroom. These hotdog like critters are great display reptiles with their high activity, destructive behaviors. While they get quite rotund, they can still move quickly given the fact of how small their limbs are. They do great in harems with only 1 male, and are also live bearers. They are escape artists so be sure that your habitat is safely sealed. 

Beginner to Expert?

A fantastic choice for dedicated beginners through experienced keepers who appreciate a highly active, inquisitive, surface–burrowing lizard that absolutely thrives in bioactive, semi-arid to Mediterranean-style setups. Hardy, bold, and responsive, Ocellated Skinks are excellent ambassadors for naturalistic reptile keeping.

Size

Medium-bodied skinks reaching 8"-12" with reduced but functional limbs.
Built for speed, sand-swimming, and darting through scrubland terrain.

Biological niche

A diurnal, opportunistic insectivore/omnivore from Mediterranean to semi-arid ecosystems.
Ocellated Skinks utilize loose soil, sand, and leaf litter to dive, burrow, and thermoregulate. They bask openly but retreat quickly to crevices, shrubs, and subterranean tunnels.
A dynamic environment with both open areas and dense microhabitats best captures their natural behavior.

Native range

Native to regions surrounding the Mediterranean Basin, including North Africa (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria), Southern Europe, and parts of the Middle East.
Habitats include scrub deserts, coastal dunes, rocky semi-arid plains, agricultural edges, and Mediterranean shrublands.

Group vs. Non-group:

• Can be kept solo or in carefully established groups.
• Groups should consist of one male with multiple females or female-only groups.
• Do not house multiple males together.
• Provide large, structured enclosures with many hides, sight breaks, and deep substrate to reduce stress. Deep substrate is key with this species. 

Terrestrial vs. Arboreal

Strictly terrestrial, with strong instinct for surface burrowing and sand-swimming.
They appreciate low basking ramps, rock piles, logs, and scrub-style cover but do not require height. A deep, loose substrate blend is vital as these critters LOVE to burrow and create networks of tunnels. 

Vivarium size, Temperature, Humidity, Diet

• Single animal: Minimum 18" x18" x 18" 
• Groups: 75 Gallon minimum. They may be small, but needs LOTS of space. 
• Set up as a semi-arid to Mediterranean bioactive habitat
• Terra Sahara
• Rock slabs, cork, and driftwood for hides and thermal zones
• Leaf litter and microfauna. Arid springtails and Isopods that can handle the heat! 
• Open basking areas with sheltered retreats
• Good cross-ventilation and strong seasonal light cycles

Temperature

• Create a broad, naturalistic gradient:
• Cool side: ~75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Warm side/basking area: 95–105°F (35–40°C)
• Night drop: ~70–75°F (21–24°C)
• UVB 12% + appropriate plant bulb 
• Overhead heat 
• Ocellated Skinks are sun-loving and should have access to a strong overhead basking zone.
  Ensure thermal safety via thermostats and gradient testing.

Humidity

• General ambient: 30–50% RH, depending on season
• Provide localized humidity pockets underground or under hides
• Avoid creating a constantly wet environment; the surface should remain dry or dryish
• Light evening misting can help support microclimate diversity without oversaturation
• They originate from regions with dry air above ground and moisture-retaining refuge zones below the surface — recreating this is key.

Ocellated Skinks are insectivores with omnivorous tendencies. Offer a rotating, varied menu:

• Crickets
• Roaches (Dubia, lateralis, etc.)
• Black soldier fly larvae
• Mealworms, superworms (rotation only)
• Occasional pinky bites or scrambled egg for adults (very sparingly)
• Fruits and soft vegetables as rare enrichment items, not staples
• All feeders must be gut-loaded and dusted with high-quality calcium and multivitamins, especially for growing juveniles or breeding groups.

See our bioactive care guide for this species here.

Important Policies (Please Read Before Purchasing)

After purchasing, upload your habitat for approval here: 

After approval, we will email you the animal purchase contract found here

Read our Live Arrival Guarantee prior to purchasing here

Scheduling:

We care about long-term success. All live animals require a scheduled shipping date set after the approval process.  To book your shipping day, click here.