Kenyan Sand Boa (Eryx colubrinus) Care Sheet

Quick Facts

Behavior

• Small, docile, and beginner-friendly snake.

• Fossorial; spends most of its time buried in substrate with only eyes and snout exposed.

• Nocturnal hunter; prefers to ambush prey from under the sand.

• Rarely bites; generally tolerant of gentle handling.

Enclosure Requirements

• Tank Size: Minimum 6080 liters for a single adult

• Substrate: Fine sand or aspen mix at least 1015 cm deep for burrowing

• Decor: Hides, rocks, and logs; smooth surfaces for digging

• Humidity: 4050%

• Temperature:

  • Basking / warm spot: 3032C

  • Ambient: 2428C

  • Night: 2224C

• Lighting: Indirect light; UVB optional

• Ventilation: Moderate airflow

Compatibility

• Best housed singly; avoid housing with other snakes.

• Non-aggressive and can cohabit if feeding and space are strictly controlled, but generally unnecessary.

Diet

• Carnivorous; feeds on small rodents:

  • Frozen-thawed or pre-killed mice (size appropriate to age)

• Juveniles: feed every 57 days

• Adults: feed every 1014 days

• Provide shallow water dish for drinking

Care Tips

• Provide deep, loose substrate to allow natural burrowing behavior.

• Spot-clean daily; remove waste and uneaten food.

• Maintain stable temperature and low humidity to prevent respiratory infections.

• Handle gently and minimally to avoid stress.

• Monitor for refusal to eat, mites, or abnormal shedding.

Breeding

• Ovoviviparous; females give birth to 618 live young.

• Gestation occurs at stable temperatures of 2830C.

• Neonates are independent and require appropriately sized prey.

Visual Quick Guide

• Enclosure: 6080 L, deep substrate for burrowing, hides

• Temp: Basking 3032C / Ambient 2428C / Night 2224C

• Humidity: 4050%

• Diet: Carnivorous (appropriately sized rodents)

• Activity: Nocturnal, burrowing

• Stress: Provide deep substrate, hides, and gentle handling

Please note: We don’t ship live animals. You can order online and choose click and collect, and we will hold it for you.