Sand Boa Questions

[Kilo]

Hello all, when I get off of work today I will be going to a local privatly owned pet shop to purchase a 3-4 in Sand Boa (Orange and Black). I alreay have a tank at home with about 2 inches of calcium sand, a UV Light and a 75 watt heat bulb. On with the questions!

1) Will my snake ever gain any purple coloring or change color at all during its up bringing?

2) I read that the temperature on the warm side should be 90 and the cool side 80 like a bp (but it is ok for it to drop at night to like 72). But what are the humidity requirments... are there any? I mean it lives in sand... I can't mist it or it will clump up right?

3) The average adult length it about 3 1/2 ft. right?

Thanks,

[lillyorchid]

Congrats on getting a new comer! They are great little snakes!!!

I alreay have a tank at home with about 2 inches of calcium sand, a UV Light and a 75 watt heat bulb.

They do not need a UV light. Nor do they need cal sand. Aspen or a natural potting soil will work.

1) Will my snake ever gain any purple coloring or change color at all during its up bringing?

-No, only when in shed - he/she will dull out in color.

2) I read that the temperature on the warm side should be 90 and the cool side 80 like a bp (but it is ok for it to drop at night to like 72). But what are the humidity requirments... are there any? I mean it lives in sand... I can't mist it or it will clump up right?

http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/s...n-sand-boa.php

3) The average adult length it about 3 1/2 ft. right?

Males = 15 inches Females = 26' - 32'



I'd write more, but I'm working and a bit busy.
Any more questions please do ask!
PS... POST PICTURES!

[Vomitore]

You'll love your KSB. Mine is a sweety and she's always a joy to handle.

[Kilo]

Thank you Allison for you help and information. Question: it is still ok to keep them in sand right?

Vomitore I went up there on my lunch break to check it out and completely fell in love with it! So gentle and docile. Although there was another KSB there that tried to take my hand off!

I'm still confused on the humidity thing. It appears that it is something that I shouldn't even worry about unless he/she is having trouble shedding.

[Vomitore]

Thank you Allison for you help and information. Question: it is still ok to keep them in sand right?

Vomitore I went up there on my lunch break to check it out and completely fell in love with it! So gentle and docile. Although there was another KSB there that tried to take my hand off!

I'm still confused on the humidity thing. It appears that it is something that I shouldn't even worry about unless he/she is having trouble shedding.

Keep humidity at 50% and 70% for shedding. Yeah KSB's can either be nice as can be, or very nippy. Mine has never even tried to strike me.

[snakedude56]

even though they are called "sand boas" they don't necesarily live in just plain sand. Their environment is more so like soft dirt I believe. I suppose it would be ok to keep them in sand but I would definitely not feed in the tank due to the risk of the snake swallowing some of the sand and suffering from impaction. Aspen bedding should work fine for a sand boa. If you go with the sand mix it with some non chemically altered soil and add in a little bit of water so that the burrows he/she will make stay intact. Hope that helped a little.

[Vomitore]

even though they are called "sand boas" they don't necesarily live in just plain sand. Their environment is more so like soft dirt I believe. I suppose it would be ok to keep them in sand but I would definitely not feed in the tank due to the risk of the snake swallowing some of the sand and suffering from impaction. Aspen bedding should work fine for a sand boa. If you go with the sand mix it with some non chemically altered soil and add in a little bit of water so that the burrows he/she will make stay intact. Hope that helped a little.

I just use coconut substrate. I spot clean it even though it's sorta hard but change it every 2 weeks.

[recycling goddess]

i used aspen when i had mine

[mattah320]

i use carefree...what's also neat is that the carefree keeps the burrows the snake made

[J32A2]

Carefresh?You want it dry for KSBs, 50% humidity is a bit much.