Scaly friends count too.

Kenyan Sand Boa

Eryx colubrinus

Also called East African sand boa, Egyptian sand boa, Kenya sand boa, Ostafrikanische Sandboa

SpeciesShort profile

From North-east and East Africa: Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, northern Tanzania, Chad and Niger. The pet-trade 'Kenyan' form comes from the dry areas of Kenya and north-east Tanzania.1 2

At a glance the quick version

Length30 to 91 cm1 3

Lifespanup to 30 years3

Sizesmall

Small and easy to care for

Docile, very rarely bites

Fascinating sand-swimming behaviour

1 3

Looks how to spot one

Small, smooth scales; stocky burrower with a short tail

A compact, thick little boa built for life under the sand, with small eyes set high on the head. It is yellow or orange with irregular dark brown patches and a pale cream or white belly.1

Coloursyellow or orange with dark brown blotchesalbinoanerythristicsnowstripevarious line-bred morphs1

Personality what they are like

Placid and easygoing. Kenyan sand boas very seldom bite and settle well with short, regular handling. They are mostly active at night but may surface at odd times during the day.1 3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A burrower that spends most of its time under the surface waiting for prey to pass. Needs a deep, loose substrate to dig through rather than tall climbing space, although wild ones occasionally climb.1 3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Handle weekly but no more than daily, starting with about 5-minute sessions. Provide a humid hide with moistened substrate on the cool side.3

Home where they are happiest

Minimum enclosure about 60 x 30 x 30 cm (24 x 12 x 12 in); more room is better. Basking surface 34-35 °C, cool zone 26-28 °C, heat off at night. Mostly dry enclosure with one humid hide. Substrate at least 8-10 cm deep, deeper is welcome.3

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Whole prey about as wide as the snake's widest point: mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, quail or chicks. Juveniles eat every 1-2 weeks, adults every 2-4 weeks. Wild sand boas also take lizards and birds.3 1

Company who they like around

Solitary; house one per enclosure.3

The story where it all began

Linnaeus described the species in 1758, and the Kenyan form was named as subspecies loveridgei by Stull in 1932. Its small size, gentle nature and simple care have made it a fixture of the pet trade, with a growing list of captive-bred morphs.2 1

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It spends roughly 80% of its time underground.1
2
It hunts by ambush, lying hidden under the sand until prey comes within reach.1
3
Females give birth to live young, usually around 10-20 babies.1
4
Despite being a burrower, it has occasionally been seen climbing trees.1

Recognised by the official bits

The Reptile Database: Accepted species Eryx colubrinus (Linnaeus, 1758); subspecies colubrinus and loveridgei, though some authors do not split it.2
IUCN Red List (as reported by Wikipedia): Least Concern.1

The care rhythm a typical week and year

A typical home-care rhythm for a Kenyan Sand Boa. A starting point, not a vet's advice.

Fresh waterevery day
Temperature checkCheck the warm and cool endsevery day
Humidity checkevery 2 days
Spot cleanevery 2 days
FeedingHow often depends on species, age and sizevaries
Shed checkNote each shed in the diary; a complete shed is a good signvaries
Weigh inevery month
Full cleanevery month
Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year

Owner questions the things everyone asks

How often should I feed my Kenyan Sand Boa?

Juveniles eat every 1-2 weeks, while adults eat every 2-4 weeks. Always offer whole prey about as wide as the snake's widest point, and check with your vet for exact amounts.3 1 Pet Wiki plan

What does a Kenyan Sand Boa eat, and what should it never eat?

They eat whole prey like mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, quail or chicks. Never feed live prey that could injure them, and avoid any processed or human foods.3 1

How much space does a Kenyan Sand Boa need?

A minimum enclosure of about 60 x 30 x 30 cm (24 x 12 x 12 in) is recommended, with more room being better. They need deep, loose substrate at least 8-10 cm deep for burrowing.3

What temperature, light or water does a Kenyan Sand Boa need?

Provide a basking surface at 34-35 °C and a cool zone at 26-28 °C, with heat off at night. Keep the enclosure mostly dry with one humid hide, and always offer fresh water.3 Pet Wiki plan

How often should I clean a Kenyan Sand Boa's home?

Spot clean every 2 days and do a full clean monthly. Check temperature and humidity daily to keep conditions stable. Pet Wiki plan

Can a Kenyan Sand Boa live with others?

No, they are solitary and should be housed one per enclosure to avoid stress or conflict.3

How long does a Kenyan Sand Boa live?

They can live up to 30 years with proper care, so be ready for a long-term commitment.3

Can I handle a Kenyan Sand Boa?

Yes, they are placid and easygoing, and settle well with short, regular handling. Start with about 5-minute sessions weekly, and never handle more than once daily.1 3

Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Pet Wiki's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.

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Where this comes from

Every fact on this page has a numbered source. Spotted an error? support@petwiki.app.

Eryx colubrinus - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for names, range, size, colours, morphs, temperament, diet, behaviour, conservation, fun facts
Eryx colubrinus - The Reptile Database reptile-database.reptarium.czused for accepted name, distribution, subspecies, history
Kenyan Sand Boa Care Sheet - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for enclosure, temperatures, humidity, substrate, diet, handling, lifespan, length

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.