A sandfish in captivity
The sandfish (Scincus scincus) is a small, burrowing skink that lives from North Africa into the Middle East. It gets its name from the way it "swims" through the sand.
Description[]
The sandfish is small, reaching a length of about 8 inches (20 cm). It also jumps into the soft sand when it feels threatened. The species has a wedge-shaped snout to help burrow through the sand. It has been discovered that the sandfish does not use its arms to paddle through the substrate, it wriggles. The shiny scales and coloration of this skink have made it long sought for the pet trade.
Diet[]
The sandfish eats mostly insects.
In captivity[]
The sandfish is fairly common in pet stores, despite most specimens being parasite-heavy when brought in from the wild. If healthy and given proper care, however, these skinks are long-lived and are a good choice for beginner lizard keepers who want more than just the normal bearded dragon or leopard gecko.
References[]
Sandfish on Wikipedia