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I have just gotten a juvenile Kenyan Sand Boa. I've kept other snakes, but this is my first sand boa. How often should I feed it? The breeder I bought it from said he fed it two pinkies once every two weeks, but only because he had so many other snakes to feed. I'v researched it and found answers ranging from once every 7 to 10 days (for a juvenile)to every 3 to 5 days. What do you all do? I fed it one pinkie an noticed that two days later it had its head barely above the sand level, which is how I understand sand boas hunt. Does this mean it was time to feed it again? Thanks for any help.
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0.0.1 Speckled Kingsnake
0.1.0 Ball Python
0.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa

When I was raising KSB to be breeders, I fed 1 pinkie twice a week. I found that I got good growth this way but did not feel like I was pushing too hard. Babies that I was holding until they sold were fed 1 pinkie every 7 - 10 days. If I were to do it all over again (I stopped breeding a couple of years ago) I would probably go with 1 pinkie every 7 days regardless of whether the animal was intended for sale or for breeding. As you stated, however, you will probably find as many feeding strategies as there are keepers/breeders of KSB. None of them are necessarily right or wrong, they just work for the keeper and the snake in question. If you want fast growth than I would be comfortable with twice per week feedings. If growth rate is not that important to you than once a week is more than adequate. Hope this is helpful. Enjoy your KSB.

Rob

I agree with Rob. There probably won't be a solid "best method" for generations, if anyone ever puts the time into researching the issue. Due to my schedule and availability of mice, I typically offer food once a week to every snake(regardless of age or size,) and after prey has been eaten, I will place another mouse in. After I no longer have time to feed more, I leave them all over night, in the morning I put all the snakes and uneaten mice back into their respective cages. All my snakes are in good health, some growing faster than others, as some will eat more at each sitting. *shrugs shoulder* Hope it helps.

That's a really interesting idea. It's a really creative way to ensure satiation. Too bad I can't do it with live mice. Besides, I have always used feeder boxes for KSB and they aren't quite as difficult to escape from. Still, it's a really good idea. Sometimes, when I put her back in, she disappears all fat and happy, but sometimes she keeps cruising the cage like she could take another, but I don't want to be carting her around in such a delicate full-bellied situation. I'll have to work something similar out with live mice. Thanks for the creative tip.

Thanks for the feedback, it helps.
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0.0.1 Speckled Kingsnake
0.1.0 Ball Python
0.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa

Hello, and congrats on your new pet. I have been breeding KSB for about 6 years.... I agree for the most part on what was said. I find 1 pinky a week a good meal for a baby Kenyan. I offer the food in the evening (in a seperate tupperware), and if not gone within about 10 minutes I leave for one hour, if not gone I leave overnight. In only a couple months you can start making the transition to bigger pinks/small fuzzies and so on.

Good luck!!
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C.E.Smith
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