Starter Kenyan Sand Boa questions

[Drgnfly2265]

Ok, I have been reading around on a lot of different sites about the care for KSB. And some sites have different care options ideas than other sites. And plus at least I can ask my questions here and get help :D I have never owned a snake before.

Substrate: I don't want to use sand. I won't use it for my tortoise or bearded dragons. I don't want to risk the health problems that could happen. What do you all like to use?

Heating: One thing I like about the KSB is that you don't need a heat lamp. What kind of heating pad do you use? Or is it a strip? Is it safe against the bottom of the tank? How do you control the heat if it's too hot? I think this is one area that I have the most questions with :hmm:

Food/feeding: This one is a little different that what I'm used to as well. I would prefer to feed frozen/thawed. How often do you feed? What size is better with what age? How often do you buy the food? Can I buy them and put them in the freezer till I need to use them? How long can I handle the snake after it ate?

Attitudes: The second reason why I really love this snake is because I hear really great things about their temperament. But I was wondering, when you try to get them out of their tank and you reach around their substrate to "feel" for them, have you ever got bit? Can they think your fingers are food? And have you ever got bit before?

Well I think that's all of the questions that I can come up with for now :cool:

[bigsnakegirl785]

I don't know much about Kenyan sand boas, but to control the heat, you could attach a thermostat to a heat pad if that's what you plan on using. I've heard that Fluker's is the best brand of heating pad, but others may work as well. And with frozen/thawed food you can store the food in the freezer for several weeks, even longer if you vacuum pack it.

[CK SandBoas]

I use aspen bedding for all my kenyans. It holds their burrows really well, and it is easy to spot clean when needed.
As for heating, I use uth's attached to thermostats, to control the heat. Thermostat is a must when using any heat source.
Feeding, I feed babies every 5-7 days, yearlings and adults every 7-10 days. My new babies will be started off on xtra small pinkies, my yearlings are currently on large fuzzies to small hoppers, and my adults are on weaned and jumbo mice.
Since I have a large number of animals, I bulk order my frozen feeders in 3 month increments.
I don't handle my animals for at least 48 hours after they've eaten.

I'll try and answer your other questions a little later, as I have to get back to work=)

[Kettennatter]

Mos questions have been answered by previous posters. I may add that crushed walnut shells worked out nicely as substrate for my KSB.

[Drgnfly2265]

Thank you for the help so far everyone! I was looking at the color options for the ksb and I really really like the anery (sp?) color. The one with the white body and black spots if I'm getting the color name wrong, lol.

Do you order your feeders from someone online or do you get them from a store like Petco? I think I'll use aspen for the substrate. It sounds like it'll work. And I'll check around to see where I can get a UTH and thermostat. For the UTH do you prefer the heating pad or the one that looks like a "strip". I think I seen the Flukers one at a reptile show. Does it stick to the bottom of the tank?

I'm not sure if I'll use a plastic tub or a tank... I've read that a 10 gallon works fine for adults and somewhere else I read that 15-20 gallons is what your supposed to use. What do you think?

[CK SandBoas]

I order mine online, since i have a lot of mouths to feed, and it's more economical for me to do so. As for tanks or tubs, it's all a matter of preference, but if you do go with a tank setup, make sure if it has a screen top, to cover 2/3's of it with either lexan or plexiglass, to keep the heat and humidity in.

A younger animal, a yearling or younger, will work in a ten gallon, but an adult female will definitely need a larger tank. i have my adult female Paradox Albino in a 29 gallon, and she does well in that setup.

It's a bit of a challenge to make tank setups work, but it can be done :)

[Drgnfly2265]

How much humidity should they have? I was reading that they shouldn't have a lot.

Do you have a pic of that set up? That would be great to see.

[Charis]

I've used several different brands of UTHs. They are all pretty similar, don't have a real favorite. I do like the ones with adhesive on them, like the Zoo Med ones, for example, the best. On the bottom is fine, if they are controlled with either a thermostat or a rheostat.

[Drgnfly2265]

The UTH with the adhesive on them, I can stick it directly to the bottom of a plastic tub and it will be safe? It wont melt the tub?

[Charis]

I think there are only like two that are actually rated for plastic, both are available from Big Apple Herp. Forget what the one is called but the other is the Dragon's Lair. I have two of those because they were bought with the intention to be used with tubs. They are an absolute pain to keep attached to the cage though, the tape will stick to everything but what it is supposed to. However, as long as they were controlled, the other brands should work fine on a tub too. Uncontrolled, the highest the Lair ones get to is 126 and the uncontrolled Zoo Med ones will go to around that high too, so I'm really not sure there is that much difference between them. They both have the potential to melt your tub or crack glass if you aren't careful with them.

[Drgnfly2265]

Ok, so I'm thinking about using a plastic tub. Would the best size be a 29 gallon still? Still deciding between getting a male or female...

[mykee]

Most other answers are answered already so I'll touch on the "bitey" factor: These little bastards bite every chance they get.
I've been keeping KSB for about a year, owning about 30 or them, and been bitten hundreds of times. I've also been keeping 125+ ball pythons for close to 15 years and been bit once.
THEY BITE.
And often.
Be prepared.

[Drgnfly2265]

Most other answers are answered already so I'll touch on the "bitey" factor: These little bastards bite every chance they get.
I've been keeping KSB for about a year, owning about 30 or them, and been bitten hundreds of times. I've also been keeping 125+ ball pythons for close to 15 years and been bit once.
THEY BITE.
And often.
Be prepared.
Oh really? I've been hearing that they rarely bite... It's one of the reasons why I'm choosing a ksb. The first person that I talk to was at Repticon, she is from Sand Boa Morphs. She was telling me that even her young children handle them without getting bit. And I've heard good things from other people. Hmmm, I need more info!!! :confused::confused::confused:

[Charis]

You know, that is the first I've heard of them biting either. I know when I was looking into Rosy boas, everyone I heard from said they were very laid back and almost never bit. Then, months after I got mine, I started hearing from a small minority of Rosy keepers that they were bitey, foul tempered and some of the nastiest snakes they've ever kept. Mine are sweet and docile, the male is arguably my favorite snake. He did bite me once, a feeding bite that was completely my fault, and it did HURT! I can understand why a mean one would be a trial! The point I'm getting to, though, is that I think all of the snakes with a rep for being docile also have their foul tempered individuals and I also think some species just don't mesh well with their keepers. The few sand boas I've handled have all been very docile, though I've only handled a few, for a few minutes at a time. Since I'm thinking of getting some myself, I'd be happy to hear more about temperament from other keepers too.

[Drgnfly2265]

I have only been able to hold one once at a Pet Supermarket and it was a really nice ksb. It seemed really mellow. The lady said that their snakes are rarely held often and she liked how dociled it was acting. I hope more people respond also.....

[Jay]

Oh really? I've been hearing that they rarely bite... It's one of the reasons why I'm choosing a ksb. The first person that I talk to was at Repticon, she is from Sand Boa Morphs. She was telling me that even her young children handle them without getting bit. And I've heard good things from other people. Hmmm, I need more info!!! :confused::confused::confused:

How else was she going to make a sale?

[Drgnfly2265]

How else was she going to make a sale?
Yeah, I know, they like to tell you stuff that you want to hear. And that is why I didn't buy one from her..... yet, lol. And it's why I'm searching all over for as much info as I can get. That's why I love forums. I can hear from people who have hands on experience with them :D

[CK SandBoas]

Hey, we can only tell you about our experiences with our own animals, hopefully when you get your new little Sand Boa, and as you watch it grow and thrive under your care, you can share your own experience with others when the time comes:)

These little Boas are very rewarding to work with, in my opinion, so i really hope you get the chance to own one!

[jaleely]

I love them and they are very rewarding.
They are ambush predators though, and they can get startled if they are hiding and can jump out to bite. But, hey, if you are getting animal with teeth there is a risk of being bitten.
They don't hurt. lol
I had my small male bite me the other day for the first time...i just put him back in his cage and he started to burrow, and i accidentally touched him and startled him and he whipped around and taged me. Barely felt it though, since he's so small.

My half grown female tried to eat my knucle once...she was in "feed" mode and i reached in (should have known better since she just ate). That only hurt because she hung on *LOL*

That's it for sand boas. Carpet python bites all the time. Corn snake, bolivian boa, dumeri's boas, garters, and ball pythons never bite. Hognose snake as bitten me as a feeding response.

Most of the time, only a hungry snake can be a risk for biting. I wouldn't say sand boas bite a lot, but they can be fast.

[TinkerbellsMom]

& like jaleely said..if they bite you because their startled they are just gunna 'tag' you they aren't gunna hold on like a feeding response kind of bite. So it will be a small pinch. If you are looking for a snake that will like never bite defintely look at her suggestions. If my ball pythons shed is stuck I can literally touch on her face to help her lift it up without her biting. I have not been bite ONCE by her. Not even at feeding time.

[Drgnfly2265]

Thank you everyone for the help so far!

Quick tub size question. If I go with a male instead of a female can I put him in a smaller tub since they don't get as big? What size tub is good for a male?

[Charis]

Yes, while bigger is usually better, a male can be in a smaller tub. Something with equal floor space as a 10 or 15 gal tank is fine for a male. Or at least that is so for the other similar sized snakes I keep and don't think KSBs are that different.