RecoverySnakes
Kenyan sand boa care guide
Eryx colubrinus
A small burrowing boa that spends most of its life under the substrate. Depth matters far more than height.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
Kenyan sand boa enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult kenyan sand boa should live in at least 36" L × 18" W × 12" H; we build toward 48" L × 24" W × 16" H (4 × 2 × 1.3 ft, roughly 8 sq ft of floor and about a 80-gallon glass equivalent).
Females are much larger than males and use the extra floor space.
- Hatchling / baby
- 24" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 18" L × 12" W × 8" H
- Juvenile
- 30" L × 18" W × 12" H recommended · min 24" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 48" L × 24" W × 16" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 12" H
Temperature and heating
Overhead halogen or a belly heat source on a thermostat, warming one third of the floor only.
- Basking / warm surface
- 95°F warm surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 88–92°F substrate on the warm third
- Cool side (ambient)
- 75–80°F
- Night
- 72–78°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Optional low-output T5 UVB 5% (UVI 1–2). Run lights on a 12 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 30–40%. Dry substrate with a small humid hide during sheds — wet bedding causes scale rot.
Substrate and depth
Aspen or a sand/soil blend that holds a tunnel. Depth: 4–6 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Deep diggable substrate
- One or two hides on the surface
- Flat rock over the warm zone
- Small water dish
Build list
- 36x18 footprint tub or terrarium — Floor area over height — they never climb.
- Thermostatted heat source — Belly heat drives their digestion.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bulk aspen or sand/soil blend — Burrowing depth is the whole enclosure for this species.
Kenyan sand boa FAQ
How big should an adult Kenyan sand boa enclosure be?
At least 36" L × 18" W × 12" H, and we recommend building to 48" L × 24" W × 16" H — about 4 × 2 × 1.3 ft, or a 80-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Kenyan sand boa need?
Basking or warm surface 95°F warm surface, warm side 88–92°F substrate on the warm third, cool side 75–80°F, night 72–78°F. Overhead halogen or a belly heat source on a thermostat, warming one third of the floor only.
Does a Kenyan sand boa need UVB?
Optional low-output T5 UVB 5% (UVI 1–2). Photoperiod: 12 hours.
What humidity does a Kenyan sand boa need?
30–40%. Dry substrate with a small humid hide during sheds — wet bedding causes scale rot.
What substrate is best for a Kenyan sand boa?
Aspen or a sand/soil blend that holds a tunnel, at a depth of 4–6 in.
How big does a Kenyan sand boa enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 24" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 18" L × 12" W × 8" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own kenyan sand boa record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.