Kenyan Sand Boa

Overview

Sand boas are docile, slow-moving, stout-bodied snakes with small eyes and a blunt tail ¹. They rarely bite, preferring to ball up or escape, and they're popular for their many morphs ¹. Sand boas are usually 2 to 3 feet long, and by two years old females are much larger than males ¹. They live 15 to 20 years, sometimes longer ¹.

Natural history

The Kenyan sand boa lives in Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia ². Sand boas are nocturnal burrowers of dry country with partly sandy soil, not pure sand. In captivity you will often see only a head poking out of the substrate ¹. Wild sand boas ambush rodents, lizards and small birds ¹.

Enclosure

• Size. A 10- to 20-gallon enclosure is a good size, and larger is better ¹.
• Floor space beats height ¹.
• Opaque tubs work well. Ventilated sweater boxes work especially well, because the solid walls feel secure ¹.
• Hides. Two hides, warm and cool, if you don't provide a burrowing substrate ¹.
• Rocks. These add enrichment ¹.

Temperature & lighting

Heat from below with an under-tank heater, heat cable or heat tape on a thermostat, so the burrowed snake can warm up ¹. UVB isn't required for whole-prey eaters, but Chicago Exotics recommends a low-output UVB bulb for health and natural behavior ¹.

Humidity

Keep humidity under 50%. Sand boas do poorly in damp conditions ¹. Ventilation and a water bowl on the cool side are usually enough ¹.

Substrate

Sand boas need to burrow. Use 2 to 4 inches of aspen, stirred daily and changed weekly ¹. Despite the name, pure sand carries risks of impaction and abrasion. For a naturalistic setup, a 60–70% topsoil to 30–40% play sand mix is acceptable if monitored ¹. Never use pine or cedar ¹.

Diet & supplementation

• Prey. Frozen-thawed mice, fed after dusk ¹.
• Size. Sand boas prefer smaller meals than their size suggests. Nestling mice are a favorite ¹.
• Babies. Pinkies or pinky parts ¹.
• Adults. Small or hopper mice ¹.
• How often. Hatchlings every 5 to 7 days, adults small meals every 7 to 10 days ¹.

Despite their slow movement, they are enthusiastic feeders, so offer food with tongs ¹.

Handling & temperament

Sand boas are docile and rarely bite ¹. Lift them gently out of the substrate. Wash your hands afterwards: reptiles and feeder rodents can carry Salmonella ⁵.

Health

Common issues

• Respiratory infections, often linked to cold or dirty enclosures, and in sand boas to damp conditions ¹⁴.
• Impaction or abrasions from unsuitable sand ¹.

When to see a vet

Call your vet for stuck shed or eye caps that won't come off, noisy breathing, weight loss, lumps or a month without food. Open-mouth breathing or an unresponsive snake is an emergency ⁶.

Breeding overview

Kenyan sand boas give birth to live young ². Sexing by probing should be done by an experienced keeper or vet ¹.

Genetics & morphs

Selective breeding has produced many colors and patterns in sand boas ¹.

Legal & ethics

The Kenyan sand boa (listed by CITES as Gongylophis colubrinus) is on CITES Appendix II ³. Choose captive-bred.

Sources

1. Sand Boa Care · Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
2. Eryx colubrinus · The Reptile Database
3. CITES listing: Eryx colubrinus (Gongylophis colubrinus) · Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and CITES Secretariat)
4. Respiratory Infections in Snakes · Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center
5. Salmonella, Feeder Rodents, and Pet Reptiles and Amphibians · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
6. When Should My Reptile See a Veterinarian? · Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center

Last reviewed 2026-10-24 by Novel Fauna. This guide is general husbandry information, not veterinary advice. When an animal is sick, see a veterinarian experienced with exotic animals.

Revision history

1. 2026-10-24 Library: 50 cited care guides, /library/[slug] route, coming-soon cards, SLUGS.txt synced to species.guide_slug 228ce54

Evidence grades: Novel Fauna editorial: source classification, not yet expert-reviewed, 2026-10-25. What the grades mean.

Report an issue