Western
New York Herpetological Society
www.wnyherp.org
©2001
- 2002 by Western New York Herpetological Society
This
document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of
information. New information is being developed daily. It is recommended that a
concerted effort be made to maintain up-to-date knowledge for the animals of
interest.
Common
Name:
Kenyan
Sand Boa, Egyptian Sand Boa, East African Sand Boa
Latin
name:
Eryx colubrinus
Native
to:
East
Africa; Egypt south to Tanzania; southwest Somalia west to Kenya
Size:
Females
are generally larger than males reaching lengths of 26 to 32 inches and
weighing up to two pounds. Some females have reached up to 40 inches in length.
Males generally only reach 15 inches in length.
Life
span:
These
sand boas can quite easily live for more than 15 years.
General
Appearance:
Both
the Egyptian sand boa (E. c.
colubrinus) and the Kenyan sand boa (E. c. loveridgei) are heavy body snakes with small
heads, small eyes, and short tails. The belly and is white or cream colored in
both subspecies. The Egyptian sand boa (E. c.
colubrinus) has a yellow coloration with dark brown splotches. The Kenyan
sand boa (E. c. loveridgei) has an orange coloration with dark brown
splotches. Various color morphs are also now available including albino and
axanthic.
Housing
requirements:
Enclosure:
Adult
female sand boas can be adequately kept in 20-gallon aquariums while males can
be kept in 10-gallon aquariums. Plastic sweater boxes can also be used as well
for these species if they are modified to provide adequate ventilation for the
boa. Generally females do well with 1½ to 2½ square feet of floor space while
males can be kept with only one square foot of floor space.
Temperature:
Sand
boas are extremely tolerant of large temperature extremes of 60° to 100° F. They
are best kept however at temperatures of 80° to 85° F with a basking
temperature of 90° to 95° F. Night temperatures can drop to as low as 75° to 77°
F.
Heat/Light:
There
has been no evidence to suggest that photoperiods affect the keeping of this species.
If a regular photoperiod is provided it is recommended to use fluorescent bulbs
in order to minimize the extra heat generated by incandescent bulbs. When
providing heat, do NOT use hot rocks. Hot rocks are notoriously unpredictable
and can cause serious burn injuries to your animal. Red basking bulbs or
ceramic emitters can be used to generate basking spots. Under the tank heating
pads can also be used to help raise the ambient temperature of the enclosure.
It is recommended to routinely check the temperatures of the enclosure with
thermometers.
Substrate:
Sand
boas require three to five inches of substrate that allows them to burrow.
Aspen or a sand/soil mix often works best to provide a suitable substrate for
the boas to create their own burrows. If using a sand/soil mix a small amount
of water added to the mix will help the formation of stable burrows.
Environment:
This
is a burrowing species and does not require any cage furniture to climb or hide
boxes. A small humidity chamber can be provided to assist in shedding if
needed.
Diet:
Sand
boas do well on a diet of rodents. Hatchlings can feed on pinky mice. Large
adult females can feed on prey as large as small adult rats. Usually one
appropriate sized prey item per week can be fed. During the winter months these
sand boas will often stop feeding with no ill effects.
Maintenance:
Fresh
water should be offered daily. The enclosure should be spot cleaned as needed. Periodically,
the enclosure should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. A 5% bleach
solution makes an excellent disinfectant. Be sure to rinse the enclosure
thoroughly after disinfecting. As always, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly
after handling your sand boa or any cage accessories.
Other
references or recommended reading:
“East
African Sand Boa.” 1999 VIDA Preciosa Publishing LLC. Retrieved 24 February
2002
<http://www.vpi.com/8VPICareSheets/Sandboas/EastAfricanSandboa/EastAfricanSandboaDesc.htm>
Harrison,
Chris. “The East African Sand Boa.” Retrieved 24 February 2002
<http://www.kingsnake.com/sandboa/colubrin.html>
Loving,
Denise. “Kenyan (EastAfrican) Sand Boa Care Sheet.” 1997 Retrieved 24 February
2002
<http://www.tbcnet.com/~gknaack/info/sbcs.html>