CARE SHEET
Life Expectancy - 20+ years with proper care
Native Land - Africa
Estimated Size - Males average at about 18" and females can reach lengths of over 32"
HOUSING
Like with many snakes, starting off with a smaller enclosure is often easier for the animal. Many people work with ventilated shoe box enclosures as seen in rack systems or a simple ten gallon tank. For Kenyan Sand Boas, a ten gallon will suffice for the entire life of a male specimen and a twenty gallon will be all your female needs to get by. These snakes spend most of their time on the lower level of any enclosure so think in terms of floor space rather than height when shopping for a larger enclosure.
HEATING
To achieve a proper heat gradient in the enclosure, it is easiest to use a single heating element on just one side of the tank. Personally, I recommend an undertank heating mat stuck under one side of the tank. Some people will stick the mat to the side of the tank, while others will use a small ceramic heat emitter resting on top of the screen lid. Temperature can be regulated with use of a rheostat or thermostat, but most under tank heaters will only raise the average room temperature by 10-15 degrees. This will put the "hot spot" right at an appropriate 90 degrees in most circumstances. The rest of the enclosure can vary in temperature from 75 to 80 degrees.
SUBSTRATE
The best substrate for KSB's is something they can safely burrow in without obstruction. Generally speaking, sani-chips made from aspen wood seem to serve this purpose best. It's dense enough to support an animal exploring the surface, but loose enough for your snake to glide through with ease.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Most Kenyan Sand Boas prefer live prey, but can be converted to taking frozen/thawed rodents. Some will naturally make the switch, some will require more coaxing. Best to be prepared to feed live rodents every 5-7 days. It can be tricky to find live pinkies on a weekly basis, so be sure to find a source for your needs before acquiring your new sand boa.
