SpeciesKenyan sand boa
Kenyan sand boa
Eryx colubrinus
It spends most of the day buried. A deep, diggable substrate matters more than any visible decor.
- Group
- Snake
- Level
- Beginner
- Origin
- Northeast and East Africa
Where the species comes from
- World region
- Northeast and East Africa
- Countries
- Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania
- Habitat
- Sandy semi-deserts, dry savannah and loose soils suitable for burrowing
The app does not yet hold an origin entry for this species. The distribution given here comes from the specialist literature.
The natural habitat is the yardstick for how you furnish an enclosure. Knowing where an animal comes from is knowing why it needs heat zones, hides and a particular humidity.
Husbandry at a glance
The same details appear in the animal’s profile inside the app.
- Enclosure
- Ground-oriented and escape-proof. Usable floor area matters more than height.
- Temperature
- Basking spot 32–35 °C, cool side 22–25 °C.
- Humidity
- Around 30–50 %.
- Lighting
- A day–night cycle; UVB is advisable.
- Substrate
- A deep, diggable soil and sand mix, not loose sand alone.
- Furnishings
- Low hides, cork and securely placed stones.
- Water
- A small water bowl.
- Feeding
- Thawed rodents.
- Behaviour
- Usually buried; crepuscular to nocturnal.
- Handling
- Uncover gently; never pull by the tail.
- Cohabitation
- Keep singly.
- Health
- Weight, skin, breathing and digestion.
- Seasonal cycle
- Six to eight weeks of a cooler dry season at 18–22 °C. East Africa has no winter, but a pronounced dry season with less activity. Cooling below that is not appropriate for this species.
- Safety
- Secure heavy decor against undermining.
Legal position in Switzerland
No permit foreseen
No permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
No certificate of competence foreseen
No proof of competence required. It is only demanded for the animals named in Art. 89 of the Ordinance
Species protection applies
CITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Minimum enclosure dimensions
Annex 2, table 5 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance does not prescribe centimetres but multiples of body length. For this species, item 43a (Small and medium pythons and boas): floor area 1 × 0.5 body lengths, height 0.75 body lengths. The floor area applies to at most two animals; each further animal requires an additional 0.5 × 0.2 body lengths.
For this group, body length means the total length, from snout to tail tip. The largest animal in the enclosure is what counts. The enclosure may not be smaller even if fewer animals live in it than the table names.
| Total length | At least |
|---|---|
| 40 cm | 40 × 20 × 30 cm |
| 55 cm | 55 × 28 × 42 cm |
| 70 cm | 70 × 35 × 53 cm |
| 90 cm | 90 × 45 × 68 cm |
Animals may temporarily be kept in smaller enclosures: for quarantine, for the treatment of illness and injury, for acclimatisation, for breeding and rearing, and for winter or cold dormancy or aestivation (preliminary remark D on reptiles).
This is the legal lower limit, not a recommendation. An enclosure that meets exactly these dimensions is permitted, but not good for that reason. The details under “Husbandry at a glance” describe how the enclosure should be furnished, not how small it may be.
What the enclosure must provide
Provide species-appropriate heat and light zones, UV-B where needed, suitable substrate, retreats, climbing or digging options, water and natural rest periods.
Paperwork
Keep the purchase contract and proof of origin. Use the scientific name to check CITES and import status reliably.
These details are a guide, not legal advice. Binding information comes from the cantonal veterinary office; the text of the ordinance is what counts. More on the legal position
