Kenyan Sand Boa

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

Most of the pet is underground

Kenyan sand boas, Eryx colubrinus, are stout burrowers from East Africa. Males and females are sized apart on purpose: males often 15 to 20 inches, females often 24 to 36 inches. Lifespan is 15 to 20 years or more. Care is beginner. They are calm, they rarely bite, and they are a poor display animal because the correct tank looks empty.

Give several inches of dry aspen or a sand-soil mix they can move through, a warm spot in the upper 80s to low 90s, and a cool side near 80°F. A fair range is 80 to 95°F. Humidity of 30 to 40 percent is the target. A water bowl still belongs in the cage. Ten to twenty gallons is a fair adult size. A larger female needs the upper end, with floor space, not height.

Small mice, one snake

They eat mice, often with enthusiasm, sometimes from under the bedding. Use tongs. Live rodents are an unnecessary injury risk. They give birth to live young. Housing two together is how one gets bitten or stressed. Babies are tiny and easy to lose in a rack.

Weight is the health check you can actually do. A spine that suddenly shows, or a shed stuck across the eyes, is a reason to call a reptile vet. ARAV is the clinic list.

Kenyan sand boa questions

Why is my sand boa always buried?

That is the species. A sand boa on the surface all day is the unusual one. Offer depth, and judge health by weight, sheds, and a tongue that still flicks when you uncover the snake.

Do males and females look different?

Females get much thicker and longer, often 24 to 36 inches. Males commonly stay 15 to 20 inches. Both species belong here.

What humidity does a Kenyan sand boa need?

About 30 to 40 percent. Wet bedding rots the belly. A slightly damp hide only while the snake is in shed is the usual extra.