Looking Into Kenyans

[Chase13]

I'm starting to crave for something new and I would love to get a sand boa. I got even more excited when I decided to make this my display tank and make a desert theme thing. My question is, what are the dangers of using sand. I really want to use sand due to how well the snake looks in it and so that I do my desert thingy. Is compaction a real danger when using sand and does it matter sand I use (obviously nothing toxic or something but you know what I mean). Please give me your thoughts and share anything else you would like about these beautiful snakes.

[Nippy]

Sand presents a major problem if you feed in the tank. I never fed mine in the tank, but didn't like the fact that sand bits always got stuck in his nostrils and sometimes underneath a scale or two. Sand boas actually don't live on sand in the wild. It was really cool to smooth the sand over before I went to bed and then get up in the morning and see all his tracks, but it's also cool to see all the burrows he makes in the aspen that I use now.

Kenyans are the most docile snake I have yet to come across. Kyo has never hissed, never coiled, never bitten and lets you pet him on the head and everything. He's such a sweetheart! He's expressive, too. He will actually make it a point to look at you and loves to burrow into my hair and sniff everything.

[Chase13]

Sand presents a major problem if you feed in the tank. I never fed mine in the tank, but didn't like the fact that sand bits always got stuck in his nostrils and sometimes underneath a scale or two. Sand boas actually don't live on sand in the wild. It was really cool to smooth the sand over before I went to bed and then get up in the morning and see all his tracks, but it's also cool to see all the burrows he makes in the aspen that I use now.

Kenyans are the most docile snake I have yet to come across. Kyo has never hissed, never coiled, never bitten and lets you pet him on the head and everything. He's such a sweetheart! He's expressive, too. He will actually make it a point to look at you and loves to burrow into my hair and sniff everything.

So are you saying sand is fine as long as I don't feed in it? That wont be a problem as I never feed inside the tank my snakes live in.

[Nippy]

From what I've read, the main risk is impaction so as long as you are not feeding it in there like you said, you shouldn't have a problem. I couldn't find any other big reasons why you shouldn't keep them on sand, but that doesn't mean other more experienced keepers might have reasons not to.
I would like to see pics of your end project.

My showcase snake is a GTP and I went all out and got natural wood and real plants. It looks fabulous as far as my snake tanks go anyway.

Are you going to use any cacti or succulent plants?

[Vomitore]

I always consider this. A healthy reptile wins over how their envioment looks. I don't recommend sand because well, impaction and they live more in dirt then sand.

[ivylea77]

I know someone who uses crushed walnut shells. It looks relatively like sand, although I do not know the health risks. Something to look into, maybe.

[Vomitore]

I know someone who uses crushed walnut shells. It looks relatively like sand, although I do not know the health risks. Something to look into, maybe.

From what I know crushed walnuts are one of the worst things to use.

[ivylea77]

Well then there's your answer!

[twh]

i know of a long time kenyan breeder named chuck at savings grace reptiles,i'm sure he would share his exprerience with raising kenyans,i know he uses aspen.BTW he has some cutting edge morphs and is good to deal with.have fun!

[Shelby]

Kenyan sand boas do not actually live in sand in the wild.. they actually don't burrow that well in it, (it tends to pack down too much) and they do need humidity.. which sand doesn't really help with at all.

I keep mine all on aspen, but in the past I've used bed-a-beast which is nice looking stuff.

Since they can't digest sand, there is possibility of compaction as well. I've heard of the sharp edges scratching their eye caps as well.

Overall not the best choice for the animal.