Sandfish Food & Nutrition

Sandfish skinks are insectivores, which means that they depend on a diet of bugs for optimal health and nutrition. Their bodies are uniquely evolved to be able to detect and pinpoint the movement of insects up to 6 inches (15cm) away!

How much do sandfish skinks need to eat?

It’s difficult to say exactly how many bugs to feed a sandfish per day, as this depends on the type of bug, the age of the sandfish, and the size of the bugs in question. 

• Hatchlings (under 3” long) — 2x/day
• Juveniles (3-5” long) — 1x/day
• Adults (at least 5” long) — Once every other day

Offer as many bugs as the sandfish will finish in about 5 minutes. However it’s alright to leave some loose in the enclosure, as this will give the sandfish something to chase throughout the day.

What do sandfish skinks eat?

Sandfish rely on vibrations in the sand in order to find prey rather than using their sense of smell, so they need live insects, not dead ones.

• Crickets
• Small grasshoppers/locusts
• Dubia roaches
• Discoid roaches
• Red runner roaches
• Black soldier fly larvae
• Mealworms
• Superworms (small)
• Darkling beetles

Treats

• Hornworms (small)
• Silkworms
• Waxworms
• Butterworms

The feeders you offer should be no larger than the widest part of your sandfish’s head, because although they do chew their food, they still swallow the bugs that they catch more or less whole. Offering feeder insects that are too big may result in refusal or possibly choking.

You may notice your sandfish occasionally plunging its snout or even its entire head into the sand — this isn’t a failed attempt at hiding; it’s actually how they detect the vibrations produced by insects hidden under the sand. (Use of vibratory cues for detection of insect prey by the sandswimming lizard Scincus scincus by Thomas E. Hetherington)

For information about the nutritional value of different insect feeders, read our article, Feeder Insect Nutrition Facts for Reptile Keepers.

Can sandfish eat fruits and vegetables?

As an occasional treat, yes. Based on findings in The comparative diet of three Saharan sand dune skinks by Omar Attum et al., it is speculated that wild sandfish may snack on vegetation when they can’t find bugs to eat. However, like an average human presented with the choice between steak and salad, they prefer the bugs. 

Here are some safe options to try:

• Millet seeds
• Carrot
• Kale
• Grapes
• Banana
• Fig
• Papaya

A small, shallow bowl of reconstituted crested gecko diet powder (Pangea or Repashy brand) may also be accepted.

All fruits and vegetables should be chopped into very small pieces to be easily eaten. And let me emphasize again: fruits and vegetables should be used as a treat only. Attempting to feed a sandfish solely on an herbivorous or vegetarian diet will
result in the animal’s death.

Should I feed inside the enclosure?

Some new owners may be concerned about feeding their sandfish inside a tank full of sand. After all, won’t the sandfish ingest the sand when it catches its prey? Yes, but there’s no cause for concern. Sandfish’s stomachs and intestines are built to handle sand ingestion — and in large amounts at that. In Adaptation to life in aeolian sand: how the sandfish lizard, Scincus scincus, prevents sand particles from entering its lungs by Anna Stadler et al., researchers found that 40-60% of wild sandfish poo is, in fact, sand! They pass it just fine as long as they are adequately hydrated and have high enough basking temperatures.

Plus, letting feeder insects free roam in the enclosure for the skink to find will keep it well entertained, as it will spend all day chasing them. This is good enrichment as well as a good way to encourage exercise.