Need Help

kenyaboa · 09-02-05, 08:28 AM

i have a kenya sand boa
whom has strange behaviors and i am unsure if his habitat is accurate

We have him in an 18x18x18 tank
with eco earth he can burrow into
we are keeping it moist and humid so far
using a red ultra violte light 100watt
and a heating pad

he only unburrows at night and then its to do this strange little dance against the glass in one corner of his tank. then right back under ground he goes

i'm wondering if we are doing something wrong
how do we tell it is a boy? he has sprus?
and what is the east african/kenya sand boas estimated temperment with being handled?

Dani33 · 09-02-05, 09:25 AM

He needs it dry. Try using aspen.

sungazer · 09-02-05, 09:58 AM

what about sand??

original rtb · 09-02-05, 10:23 AM

get rid of the eco earth.. het some aspen.. doesnt need all that humidity. and 100watt butlb sounds like alot for a 18 inch tank.. whats the temps

kenyaboa · 09-03-05, 11:26 AM

its a fairly large tank actually
and i've read tons of websites.. but nothing is really constant.. was hoping someone whom actually owned one could give me some pointers..
some sites suggest a sand/dirt mix wetten so the burrows he creates will stay..
the light should be fine its red and heats the tank very well

i was more curious of humidty and enviorment..
a few sites have suggested a humidty box..

marz · 09-04-05, 05:04 PM

hi kenya...fist ,hes a sand boa, he needs sand. calci sand is the best ,its 100 percent digestable [no impaction] . no need to worry about humid conditions, just make sure his temp is rite. sand at least three inchs deep. the deeper the better. with that set up he will NEVER have mites. and always a bowl of water handy...

foman · 09-04-05, 07:05 PM

Don't use sand, use aspen shavings it works great for sandboas and it's super cheap, Check your temps and make sure you have a cool side in the low-mid 80's and warm side in the mid 90's. measure the temps under the substrate.

marz · 09-04-05, 07:42 PM

hi foman...why not sand, its a kenyan sand boa. they live in sand. we have had our sand boas for ten years plus and thats all they have ever had ,including breeding. the good sand can cost a little more sure, but getting rid of a mite infestation can be...pricless...lol...if you want your sand boas to be the best they can be spring for the few extra bucks and keep them in the bedding their named after...

Dani33 · 09-04-05, 08:45 PM

They actually aren't found in sand - lol. They are usually found in animal burroughs(taken from the following site) This is the best Eryx site - http://www.kingsnake.com/sandboa/sandboa.html

Please, do some research on that "digestible" sand (calci sand). Even do a search on this site. Just because pet stores sell it and market it doesn't make it a superior substrate. It isn't actually digestable at all. Quite frankly, it's crap. I've kept sand boas and feel that sand isn't a great substrate. It also scratches the eyes etc. Use either aspen, beta chip or alpha chip. Keep it dry. Use a moist hide during shed. Keep the hot spot 90 and the cool side 80.

AZpythonDude · 09-05-05, 12:13 AM

I use a product called "Carefresh" for my KSB's. Its a recycled paper product, what's neat about it is that it holds the shape of the tunels the snake creates. I first used sand, but whenever the snake took a drink, the residual water on the snake's snout would cause sand to impact their nostrils. Altough I know many people use sand with no problems.

kenyaboa · 09-05-05, 08:13 AM

I've read several sites that say a sand and dirt mix.. wetten so the burrows he makes remain stable and he cause use them over again instead of the stuff collapsing behind and on him..

Has anyone tried this or would it be worth a try? I've read several articels suggessting the substrate must be weight enough for them to feel secue.

Also suggesstions on feeding and perhaps temeperment... are they easily handled? i've had him out twice, he seemed kinda edgy "assuming he is a he"

Dani33 · 09-05-05, 08:23 AM

They are the easiest to handle of snakes. I'm sure that some are a little flighty, but I found them to be very easily handled.

I wouldn't use the sand/soil mix. I would use aspen, beta chip, alpha chip or even carefresh as AZpython Dude uses. That's a good substrate as well. I've used that as well.

marz · 09-06-05, 07:01 AM

hi danni...i checked out that site you mentioned, been there, exellent site, one of the best ive been on. that being said, even they admit to knowing several people who have kept their boas in sand for several years with no ill effects. sand boas are built for burrowing, shovel shaped head, tiny eyes and nostrils, under shot mouth, of course they will use other animal holes, as will any other snake will. a sand boa that gets his nose plugged and eyes scratched by a bit of sand isint going to have a very nice life crawling threw all the different kinds of stratas in the wild lol. anyways ,sand is just one choice. people are going to use what they have the most luck with and thats all you can do...to foman best of luck with your boa...

kenyaboa · 09-06-05, 10:09 AM

lol
Okay this is the issue i've had constantly.. Everyone has their own opinions.. my question was what has.. people whom have had.. had the best luck in.. as far as substrate. Please take no offense to those giving advice it is appericated, as it seems i'm owning a snake not many people know much about.

I understand alot of this is going to be trail an erorr, but i dont want my snake dieing as a result of my ignorance upon his kind.

So those whom own one.. please any advice or knowledge you can pass out about ANYTHING about him is greatly needed

Thanks

Dani33 · 09-06-05, 10:13 AM

Read the website provided. I have SUCCESSFULLY kept this species.