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I'm wondering what the personality of sand boas are like? I'm looking at getting a baby in a couple of weeks and want to make sure its a good handling species.

Waldo,
I have 1.2.? Kenyans (one of my females is gravid). Much depends upon the particular animal, My male is mellow, just doesn't particularly like to be held, but will cruise all over you. One of my females has been a love since she was a little baby--alert, likes to be held-will gently take food items from my fingers.

My other female, however, is a she-devil from outerspace! She's never having a good day, and I swear she lies in wait, just biding her time until she can erupt from the aspen and nail me.(lol) Twice she has latched onto my hand to the point of refusing to let go--water and alcohol had no effect. That little shovel-shaped mouth is like a tiny vise grip. Perhaps she was a snapping turtle in a former life? However, she and my male create beautiful mild mannered offspring who keep their orange over time. So, I put up with a kenyan behaving badly.

If you get a baby that appeals to you and handle it consistently, chances are you will have a mellow, acclimated animal. I've had mine for amost six years, and wouldn't trade them for the world. I love to watch them create their tunnels.

Best of luck with your new sand boa!

rgds,
althea

>>I'm wondering what the personality of sand boas are like?

The personality of sandboas vary within and between the species.

As Althea has documented, Kenyans are highly variable. Some are kitten tame while others are never to be trusted. Generally (but not always) you can predict their adult behavior from the behavior as a young snake. Calm babies generally make calm adults. Some snappy babies make calm adults while other snakes are snappy from the cradle to the grave, in spite of handling. I often wonder why Kenyans are so popular considering this.

West African or Saharan Sandboas (Eryx muelleri) are rumored to be very docile. The few (maybe 20?) I have handled have been very docile although I have never tried to keep them. All reports are that they are easy to keep. They are also brightly colored like Kenyans.

Indian Sandboas (Eryx johnii) are very tame, although not quite as colorful. They are also easier to feed consistently than Kenyans. The only caveat about johnii is that they have a very strong feeding response. As long as they are sure you aren't offering food, they are completely trustworthy. If you reach in a try to dig up a hungry johnii without some warning, it might try and eat you first! Of course, most snakes do this to some degree. Eryx johnii are probably the easiest sandboa to keep of the 6 species I have had.

I kept and bred the Desert Sandboa (Eryx miliaris) for a number of years. The only time I ever had one of those try and bite was if they thought I was offering food. They are also very hardy and easy to keep, if you can find a captive born and feeding baby.

Rough-scaleds (Eryx conicus) are probably the least trustworthy as babies and subadults but generally become very calm as adults.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas