Sand boa care sheet

Sand Boa

Care Sheet

Sand boa care sheet

Sand boas are small snakes which live in sandy desert environments in Africa. Sand boas are known for their digging habits and like to burrow under the sand in order to avoid the blistering sun.

Sand boas are a generally placid snake who tolerate human handling.

They are an extremely interesting and relatively straight forward species to keep providing they are provided with the correct housing and environmental parameters.

LIke many other species of snake, Sand boas feed on mice and should be fed items that are a similar width to the body of the snake.

OUR Sand Boa 18inch oak set up kit

HOUSING YOUR SAND BOA

There are a number of wooden, plastic and glass enclosure available for sand boas. Always purchase an enclosure which is a suitable size for your animal. Plastic or wooden and part glass enclosures are the best as glass alone can make it hard to control temperature. Always try to use a thermostat with your enclosure to enable the snake to gain suitable hot and cold temperatures.

Sand boas should be provided with a lose sand or desert substrate. Provide a large water bowl big enough for your snake to bathe in if it chooses to soak. Depending on the enclosure, you will need a heat mat or bulb/ceramic lamp for your snake in order to provide the required hot spot. The enclosure should have adequate ventilation so that the tank doesn’t become humid and mouldy.  The substrate can be spot cleaned daily and the enclosure should be fully cleaned and substrate replaced every 4 weeks or sooner.

HOUSING YOUR SAND BOA

There are a number of wooden, plastic and glass enclosure available for sand boas. Always purchase an enclosure which is a suitable size for your animal. Plastic or wooden and part glass enclosures are the best as glass alone can make it hard to control temperature. Always try to use a thermostat with your enclosure to enable the snake to gain suitable hot and cold temperatures.

Sand boas should be provided with a lose sand or desert substrate. Provide a large water bowl big enough for your snake to bathe in if it chooses to soak. Depending on the enclosure, you will need a heat mat or bulb/ceramic lamp for your snake in order to provide the required hot spot. The enclosure should have adequate ventilation so that the tank doesn’t become humid and mouldy.  The substrate can be spot cleaned daily and the enclosure should be fully cleaned and substrate replaced every 4 weeks or sooner.

OUR Sand Boa 18inch oak set up kit
Saharan Sand Boa WC

HANDLING YOUR SAND BOA

When handling your sand boa it is important to use an antibacterial hand wash before and after touching your animal. This ensure that no parasites or bacteria is passed between you and your snake. When handling, always use a hook to gently stroke the snakes head to let it know you are going to touch it.

Gently pick the snake up by scooping around 2/3 of the way down the snakes body. Don’t restrict the snake and try not to hold the first 3rd of the snake where the vital organs are, this can cause discomfort to your snake.  Always leave 48 hours or more after feeding your snake before handling to prevent bites and discomfort to your animal which can cause regurgitation.

Female Saharan Sand Boa WC

GENERAL CARE

Genus, Species Erycinae spp.
Adult Size 80-120cm
Habitat Fields, Desert, Arid
Lifespan 10-15 Years
Diet Rodents once a week
Ambient Temp (f) 80-84
Basking Temp (f) 92-95
Humidity (%) 10-20 UVI: 0.1-1.0 (shade) 1.1-3.0 (bask)
Locality America Difficulty 1
Breeding Age Female: 2 Years, Male: 18 Months
Social Structure Live alone except breeding times

GENERAL CARE

Genus, Species Erycinae spp.
Adult Size 80-120cm
Habitat Fields, Desert, Arid
Lifespan 10-15 Years
Diet Rodents once a week
Ambient Temp (f) 80-84
Basking Temp (f) 92-95
Humidity (%) 10-20 UVI: 0.1-1.0 (shade) 1.1-3.0 (bask)
Locality America Difficulty 1
Breeding Age Female: 2 Years, Male: 18 Months
Social Structure Live alone except breeding times

Female Saharan Sand Boa WC
Saharan Sand Boa WC

SEXING YOUR MANDARIN

Male and female snakes may differ between sizes and length of tail, but to get an accurate gender there are 2 methods.

1-  probe your snake by sliding the probe under the vent towards the tail. If the probe goes in a small amount then the snake is female, if the snake is male the probe will slide further, this is where the hemipenes are located.

2-  ‘pop’ the snake by holding the snakes tail in one hand and gently rolling towards the vent with the other exposing the genitals. Snakes can be badly damaged during sexing and should only be sexed by a professional.

SHOPPING LIST

SHOPPING LIST

Kenyan Sand Boa 75% DODOMA CB20

HEALTH CHECK

Health Check It is important to regularly check the health of your snake and there are a few common diseases and disorders to look out for.

Eyes– check the eyes are clear of infection, discharge or stuck eye caps (these can occur from a dry shed, increase the humidity or place snake on soak periodically until eye caps come off) You can also put a moss hide in the enclosure as your snake goes into shed. You will be able to see this as the snakes eyes will become cloudy/blue.

Skin– check the skin for black spots or raised scales which can be a sign of mites. Mites can usually be seen around the eye socket and under the chin. Mites can be treated using  a number of chemical products or for a natural cure, Taurrus predatory mites can be used regularly for prevention and treatment. Mites are rarer in sand boas but it is worth keeping an eye out for them. Some keepers choose to treat their animals regularly for mites as a preventative measure.

Respiratory Infections– RI is a term for a broad spectrum of infections in the lungs and respiratory system. It is generally caused by ill health along with damp or cold conditions and can be treated with a nebuliser. We always recommend seeing the vet if you suspect RI, however it is extremely rare and is not usually the actual cause of the symptoms that are seen. RI is not common in sand boas..

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