Thank you! This is making sand boas much more realistic for me. I’m planning to use VE racks when I eventually start breeding them. Which rack type and tub sizes do you use? When I do get a sand boa I’ll likely use heat tape and a shoebox.
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I use the VE-6 racks with all three of their tub sizes it accommodates. The smallest for babies. Middle size for growing females and males (and can often be a permanent home for grown males). And then the large size tubs for adult females. Unless you get a very large female, this rack should be able to house your sand boas throughout all their different stages.
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I’d definitely recommend making sure the lid is very secure. My sand boa often stretches her head up to inspect the top of her enclosure. She’d test the screen lid with her nose when I had her in a tank with a screen top, and she frequently inspects the ventilation slots on her current enclosure.
I currently keep her in a 36"x18"x12" PVC enclosure, but initially I had her in a 20gal long (30"x12"x12") glass tank with a screen top. She’s a large adult female and is quite active, so I wanted to give her some extra space, but most sand boas would probably be fine in a 20 long. But whatever you use, make sure it’s secure. My tank had a sliding lid that latched in place, but if your tank lid doesn’t latch, I’d definitely use some clips or something to secure it. I have no doubt that my girl would escape if given half a chance, haha. Of course, every snake is different, but I think it’s always safer to plan on any snake being a potential escape artist.
For heating, I use a heat mat underneath and a ceramic heat emitter overhead. I also use a UVB bulb to ensure she has a good day/night cycle, though UVB isn’t considered strictly necessary for them (I just figure it can’t hurt).
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For now I’m planning to use a sterilite tub. I think I might try to figure out a way to try to get the lid near-airtight on the box (I would obviously add ventilation on the sides and/or top) like by using weather stripping, weights, or clips. I think I need to add something since minimal pressure in the right spot on the lid could bend it enough where I think a small snake could escape. I might also just take a tub of the same size and cut the bottom out and figure out the best way to secure the lid where I can’t get a wire of some size through with minimal pressure. I might just be overthinking it but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I’m planning to use heat tape for now but if the temperature doesn’t reach high enough or it doesn’t offer a good gradient I would consider CHE.
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I just use a few binder clips on the tub I use for my blood python (I also noticed that the lid could be bowed out a bit to provide a potential escape route). I use two along each side, which seems to make it quite secure. It does make opening and closing the tub a little more time-consuming…but not as time-consuming as finding an escaped snake!
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For some reason this just occurred to me, and it makes perfect sense lol 
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Binder clips have thousands of uses, I use them for everything.
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Know I have one more use for them. More snakes here we come lol 
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I’m getting a sand boa!! I’m super excited about it. The snake is a male anery stripe het albino from Stewart Reptiles. It’s my first snake and I’m hoping to get an albino het anery female late this year or next year to breed them in 2-3 years. I’m picking the snake up from a FedEx hub on Wednesday, I already have the tub, heat tape, and t-stat and the only thing I need to get is aspen bedding and maybe a couple decorations.
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Congratulations, that’s so exciting! I can’t wait to see pictures of your new boy! 
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Yay! I can’t wait to see him!
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The snake is 7 months old. Should I put him in a 16 qt tub (17" x 12" x 7") or 6 qt tub (14" x 8" x 5")? I was planning on just waiting until the snake got here to tell but I don’t know if anyone has any advice. I think for quarentine a 6 qt tub might work better but I’m not sure.
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Based on what I assume the size would be of a male of that age, I would go with the 6qt tub for quarantine and then you can reevaluate after that. It’ll be easier to keep an eye on him in there too.
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If I’m being honest, you might be good staying at the 6 quart for a little bit pass quarantine as you want him to be as comfortable as possible so he continues to eat for you.
And you already know that quarantine should be a minimum of three months but in actuality 4 to 5 is best.
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This one is relatively new and I don’t think I’ve posted a photo of her before. Her name is Phantomas, and she is a young adult Ghost Stripe from Scott Miller
Here is an updated photo of Xira, our Extreme Reduced-Pattern Rough-Scaled Sand Boa. She is a 2021, but she is growing fast and the color is really starting to come in, especially near the tail. The orange contrasts nicely with her steel-gray head.
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Those are both beautiful boas!
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My goodness! I must get me an Extreme reduce pattern rough scale! She is gorgeous @westridge.
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Sorry I’m a little late to the party on addressing this, somehow I missed your posts about your feeding troubles. The advice already offered is good, but have you tried braining the f/t pinkies? Either poke a hole or two in the skull with a pin and squeeze out a little fluid, or use a sharp blade (razor blade, scalpel, sharp crafting knife, etc.) to cut a slit into the pinkie’s skull. That’s ultimately how I got my adult sand boa to take f/t after she’d been fed live for nearly a decade before she came to me.
I’m glad she finally ate a live pinkie for you!
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I’ll definitely try that this next feeding day. I appreciate that
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I’d start with the pin holes, just because it’s easier and less gruesome/messy, but if that doesn’t work, you can try splitting the skull.
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