Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an anery sand boa. I bought her about two weeks ago, she has eaten once for me. She is in shed and has refused food as I expected. I use the crushed walnut shells for substrate. I was wondering, do sand boas need something in the enclosure to help them shed? I am expecting her to shed any day as the milky color has now disappeared. Just wondered how she would start the process of shedding with no rough objects in the tank with her besides her water dish. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

I use the crushed walnut shell as substrate for my Kenyans too. Even though most of my Kenyans usually shed below the substrate, I think that you would want something rough in the enclosure with them, as you said, to get them started. I usually use a small piece of flat cork bark and/or a rough rock. Aside from potentially helping them start to shed, such decorations can act as thermal refuges. Let's say that even the cold end of your tank is too hot for your snake one day. Well, without something on the surface to act as cover, it might not come out onto the surface to escape the heat.