I have used several techniques to get reluctant baby Sand Boas to feed:
- I try live and dead pinkies.
- I try feeding the babies in snake bags or very small dark containers. Frequently, isolating them in a deli cup with a...
- Scenting pink mice is also effective. This can be done by rubbing a pinkie on a lizard. It works best if the pinkie is...
How often should I Feed my Baby sand boa?
Baby Sand Boas should be fed once a week. Pinky mice and small mice are ideal meals for baby Sand Boas. The size of food needed will depend on the species of boa. It is best to feed your boa frozen/thawed rodents. For Sand Boas, you must make sure the thawed rodent is not damp as sand will stick on it and the boa will eat the sand.
What do sand boas eat in the wild?
If they live in the forest, sand boas feed basically on lizards, rodents, and tiny birds crossing through their habitat. However, many of them are fed with rats. Sand boas seem to be happier if you feed them with rats. When feeding your pet, don’t forget to kill the prey for your pet.
What can I Feed my boa constrictor?
It is best to feed your boa frozen/thawed rodents. For Sand Boas, you must make sure the thawed rodent is not damp as sand will stick on it and the boa will eat the sand. Most Sand Boa keepers feed their boas in a small paper bag or in a plastic dish and then return it to their enclosure.
Can You Buy Baby sand boa snakes?
The captive-bred baby snakes are widely available. Adult Rough-Scaled sand boas are calm like the Kenyan sand boas. However, the babies and wild-caught snakes could be nippy. Also called the Indian sand boa, these are the biggest sand boas.
How often should you feed a baby Sand Boa?
about once a weekBaby snakes don't even start to think about food until they are two to four weeks old. Once they do, they generally need to eat about once a week. More frequent feedings will encourage them to grow faster, if that is what you wish. As your snake gets older, he/she will not need to be fed quite as often.
How do I get my baby Sand Boa to eat?
Sometimes offering dead rodents with forceps will be acceptable. To encourage the snake, either wave the rodent gently in front of the sand boa or alternatively, gently press the food item up against the lower part of the mouth opening for a second. Sand Boas usually prefer to eat at dusk or after dark.
What can I feed my Sand Boa?
Captive sand boas usually eat a diet of exclusively mice. However, in the wild, sand boas will eat virtually anything they can catch. Sand boas will eat rodents, birds and lizards. They kill prey by constriction or by dragging it under the surface of the sand.
How long can a baby Sand Boa go without eating?
How Long Can Snakes Go Without Eating?Pet snake typesRegular feedingHow long can they go without eating?Garter SnakeEvery other day juveniles Once a week adults2 to 3 monthsSmooth Green SnakeOnce or twice per weekA few weeksCape House SnakeOnce a weekA few weeksKenyan Sand BoaOnce a weekUp to a year9 more rows
How do you force feed a sand boa?
0:223:41How to Force Feed a Snake - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKind of wean them over to assist feeding where you might open their mouth place the food item inMoreKind of wean them over to assist feeding where you might open their mouth place the food item in their mouth let them swallow it on their own and we're gonna do it on a regular schedule.
Do sand boas need water?
Kenyan Sand Boa Water A sturdy ceramic bowl, like the Petrageous dish, is a good choice as a water dish for a Kenyan sand boa. A light plastic water dish will be easily pushed over, possibly fouling the environment. The only time the cage should have high humidity is during the Kenyan sand boa's shed cycle.
Do sand boas like to be held?
Do Kenyan Sand Boas Like To Be Held? Sand Boas are known to tolerate handling and rarely bite their handler. However, if you approach their burrow directly some Boas have a strong feeding response and will strike. It is important to give a snake time to adjust to their enclosure before handling.
Do sand boa eat worms?
As it grows and your feeder size grows there is always risk of the feeder biting or scratching your snake. To the poster saying her husband thinks they can eat worms, no! They can't and won't. If you want a snake to feed worms yo you'll have to find a Dekays.
Do sand boas need a heat lamp?
Sand Boas require all day temperatures of 80° to 85° Fahrenheit. A hot spot of 90° to 95° F should be provided at one end. The best way to heat your Sand Boa's enclosure is with a combination of Intellitemp Heat Mat and Big Apple Black Heat Infrared Ceramic Heat Emitter.
How do you know if a snake is hungry?
Signs that your snake is hungry, include:Prowling Behavior. Your snake will move along the front of the enclosure more often. ... Air Tasting. ... Moving Between Hides. ... Soaking and Resting Less. ... Focussing on You. ... Feeding and Hunting Schedule.
How fast do sand boas grow?
Once they reach adulthood, at about 15 months to 2 years of age depending on feeding schedules, they frequently eat very little, especially in the summer breeding season. The females will generally reach about 24-36 inches, with 28 being typical, and will weigh in the neighborhood of 400-900 + grams.
Do sand boas need a hide?
Sand boas are an arid desert species, so they require low to moderate humidity. Access to the moist hide mentioned in decor to help them aid in shedding will keep the humidity level at an appropriate level if they are having issues with stuck shed, but is not usually necessary.
When should I feed my Kenyan sand boa?
Feed your sand boa 1 mouse every 7-14 days. Your male snake will typically only want to eat every 10-14 days. You can set up a schedule based on your snake's preferences. Snakes typically won't eat while they are shedding, so don't feed them during this time. Many Kenyan sand boas don't eat during the winter months.
Do sand boas need light?
Sand Boas, like all snakes, do not require a light or UV bulb. If you choose to add a bulb for more light in your cage, make sure you maintain proper heat levels. Do not allow temperatures over 95° F as this could be detrimental to your snake's health.
How often can I handle my sand boa?
Common Pet Snakes And How Often They Can Be HandledType of SnakeHow Often They Can Be HandledMilk SnakeEvery other or every dayKenyan Sand BoaEvery day (except after eating)Eastern and Western Hognose SnakeEvery other or every dayRubber BoaDaily (except after eating)16 more rows
Do Kenyan sand boas like to be held?
Do Kenyan Sand Boas Like To Be Held? Sand Boas are known to tolerate handling and rarely bite their handler. However, if you approach their burrow directly some Boas have a strong feeding response and will strike. It is important to give a snake time to adjust to their enclosure before handling.
Kenyan Sand Boa Background Information
This semi-fossorial boa’s body is built for life underground: it has a blunt head to help it burrow into the sand and beady eyes situated on the top of its head to help it look for prey while buried.
Where to Buy a Kenyan Sand Boa
Kenyan Sand Boas purchased from reputable breeders are often healthier than ones that have endured the stress of living in a pet store, being handled by multiple potential buyers, and being exposed to dozens or even hundreds of other, potentially sick reptiles.
Kenyan Sand Boa Diet & Feeding
The size of the mouse and how often you will feed your Kenyan Sand Boa depends mostly on its age (more on this later).
Kenyan Sand Boa Habitat & Tank Setup
When setting up your Kenyan Sand Boa’s habitat, it’s important to keep in mind its primary habitat and natural behaviors: Sandy deserts and savannas, Semi-fossorial (burrower), and Nocturnal!
Kenyan Sand Boa Potential Health Issues
Most Kenyan Sand Boa diseases are a result of poor husbandry and poor enclosure sanitation.
Kenyan Sand Boa Handling & Bonding
Never place your Kenyan Sand Boa on your shoulders or a high surface. They will always attempt to travel downwards and will likely fall in the process, potentially injuring themselves.
BOA CONSTRICTOR COLOR PATTERN
Boa constrictors wear some of the unique markings and stripes among all reptiles. Their bodies can be tan, green, yellow, or red and display beautiful cryptic patterns of jagged lines, diamonds, ovals, and circles. Their body color and design of the Boas depend upon the habitat they are living in.
How to Feed a Baby Boa Constrictor?
To feed baby boa, start with a thawed or fresh pinkie mouse and give this prey to your Boas once a week. Always use a pair of tongs while offering feed to them. Ensure the prey is the appropriate size for your pet to prevent choking or regurgitating, and never handle or play with a snake who has recently eaten food.
Baby Boas Feeding Schedule
Set a feeding schedule where you feed your baby boas once every five to seven days. Avoid overfeeding as it is harmful to boas overall health and can cause vomiting.
Precaution
Do not handle the baby boas after feeding. In general, boas need about 45-48 hours to digest food properly, and handling it before 48 hours is harmful to the snakes.
Feeding an Adult Boa Constrictor
The process of feeding boa constrictor does not vary at any age, whether the animal is a baby, young, or an adult. You still have to make sure you provide them with the right size and quality food.
In the wild
A boa constrictor will eat multiple small animals such as lizards, bats, rats, birds, and squirrels in the wild or forests. Again, the size and type depend entirely upon the length of your boas.
Should You use Live Prey While Feeding Boa Constrictors?
A common question for snake owners is whether they should feed on dead/frozen prey or live prey.
How To Feed A Baby Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictors are an excellent choice for snake owners because of their docile nature, but you might feel overwhelmed if you are a newbie and have a baby boa to take care of.
Feeding An Adult Boa Constrictor
The process of feeding a boa constrictor is no different at any age, whether the animal is a baby or an adult.
Should I Use Live Prey?
A common question for snake owners is if they should be feeding the animal live prey or dead prey.
Conclusion
Properly feeding your baby boa will help build a foundation for a healthy adult.
Enclosure
The best enclosure for a younger Kenyan Boa Snake would be a 10-gallon tank. As an adult snake, you will need to upgrade the tank to at least a 20-gallon tank, though bigger is better. This article on the ideal enclosures for snakes will help you find the right one.
Substrate
Kenyan sand boas love to burrow. They naturally burrow into the sand in the wild. You want to provide them the same opportunity in captivity, by filling the bottom of their enclosure with a substrate.
Hiding Spots
Although the Kenyan sand Boa will burrow and hide beneath the ground, you should also get them snake a hide. Two is even better, so that they can have one on the warmer side and one on the cooler side of the enclosure. There are loads of different hides available. Any of them will do just fine.
Water Dish
Most snakes get their moisture from their food. So if you notice them not drinking much, there is no need to worry. That does not mean that they don’t need water.
Pure Water
We do not recommend using tap water without a water conditioner. Tap water contains chlorine which is not good for the snake’s health. We do not recommend using distilled water, because it does not contain any minerals.
Humidity
Humidity is the percentage of moisture in the air. It is measured in percentages, from 0 – 100%. Getting the right humidity for this snake is relatively simple.
Temperature
These snakes come from a very warm part of Africa, so they like hot weather. This means you will need to keep their enclosure nice and warm. You should maintain a temperature of around 80° Fahrenheit one one side of the cage and create a hot spot on the other side that is 90° to 95° Fahrenheit.
Species Summary
The Kenyan Sand Boa ( Eryx colubrinus loverdgei) is an easy-going snake that helms from East Africa and parts of the Middle East. They live in hot desert climates and like to spend most of their time burrowing in the substrate.
Kenyan Sand Boa Lifespan
The average Kenyan Sand Boa lifespan is around 20 years with the right care. However, some owners have reported these snakes living past 30 years of age!
Appearance & Colors
Kenyan Sand Boas are girthy snakes. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see girth measurements remain constant throughout the length of the body. Except for the tip of the tail and head, these snakes are very uniform.
Average Size
The average size of a healthy female Kenyan Sand Boa can reach 2 to 3 feet long, although most females will stay just above 2 feet.
Kenyan Sand Boa Care
Kenyan Sand Boa care is pretty straightforward. They’re low maintenance compared to many other reptiles.
Tank Size
Let’s start with their cage. One of the biggest reasons that Kenyan Sand Boas are so popular is that they don’t need a massive enclosure.
Temperature & Lighting
Kenyan Sand Boas, like all snakes, are cold-blooded. That means that warmth is very important.
