Kenyan Sand Boa Enclosure Size Question

[mira_kaylee]

I was told that a Kenyan Sand Boa needed a 20L tank but that "bigger was better". Would a 50gallon tank be too big do you think?

 

[Itort]

I would suggest a 30l (36x18x12) or 40l (36x18x16) instead as they both have a larger footprint than a 50. The 50 is higher and narrower then either of these and a sand boa will not use the height as they are a burrowing snake.

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

I would say that is tremendously large for one KSB. Sandboamorphs.com suggest a 10-gal for males and 15-20 gal for females. Remember these are small snakes that spend most of their time under the substrate. Somewhat like ball pythons, they prefer tight, snug quarters to wide open spaces.

Whether its 50 gals or 15 gals, it will appear to be an empty tank because your snake will spend most of its time underneath whatever substrate you use.

 

[poison]

I would say that is tremendously large for one KSB. Sandboamorphs.com suggest a 10-gal for males and 15-20 gal for females. Remember these are small snakes that spend most of their time under the substrate. Somewhat like ball pythons, they prefer tight, snug quarters to wide open spaces.

Whether its 50 gals or 15 gals, it will appear to be an empty tank because your snake will spend most of its time underneath whatever substrate you use.

What if you clutter it up? Lots of hides ,leaf liter and bark?

 

[chairman]

I house my sand boa in a 10 gallon turned on its side. I had him in a 3'x2' but it appeared to stress him a bit. He seems to be doing much better in the smaller enclosure. In both cages, I never saw much more of him than the tip of his nose poking out of the substrate.

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

I would say that is tremendously large for one KSB. Sandboamorphs.com suggest a 10-gal for males and 15-20 gal for females. Remember these are small snakes that spend most of their time under the substrate. Somewhat like ball pythons, they prefer tight, snug quarters to wide open spaces.

Whether its 50 gals or 15 gals, it will appear to be an empty tank because your snake will spend most of its time underneath whatever substrate you use.

What if you clutter it up? Lots of hides ,leaf liter and bark?

Then you will have a very large tank filled with lots of hides, leaf litter and bark. People will always wonder what the heck is in there, because they will never see the snake. I can almost guarantee, it will pick one favorite area of this huge enclosure, and burrow all the way down to the glass.

As long as it sheds and eats fine, then more power to you...but don't expect a KSB to be a great display snake.

 

[DeanS]

I wouldn't go any larger than 20g. They don't move around much! Good luck!

 

[mira_kaylee]

Just to clarify, I do not own a Kenyan Sand Boa right now, I do however plan on getting one in a year or so and want to know everything that I can about them. I plan on getting a female. That would make a 10 gallon too small, wouldn't it? Also, I don't want a display snake. I want a snake that likes to be occasionally handled (as I like to play with my pets for awhile every other day or so) and beyond that wherever it goes is fine with me. I do not regularly show my animals to anyone and I keep my pets as a personal happiness type thing and not as a bragging-rights and showing-off type thing. As long as I know that it's healthy I don't care if it is always buried lol.

 

[jstec]

Mine lives in a ten gallon and spends 80% of the time under the bedding only coming out on nights that he is fed on a 50 gallon would work but be unneeded for one btw I'd make sure to always feed outside of their enclosure to avoid impaction

 

[DeanS]

I only say it's to big in terms of cost...but if you have no problem banking a 50g...then go for it! I would highly recommend multiple hides though.

 

[lisa127]

If it were me, I would go with the 20 long as was suggested. Snakes only need so much space. And some even like smaller spaces. IME it's turtles, tortoises, and lizards that really need and want lots of space.