How difficult is it to keep Indian Sand Boa?

Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.

What is the ideal temperature for Indian Sand Boa?

The ideal temperature for Indian Sand Boa is 27〜32℃. Recommended humidity is 50〜65%. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.

What is the lifespan of Indian Sand Boa?

The average lifespan of Indian Sand Boa is 15-20 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Indian Sand Boa get?

Indian Sand Boa typically reaches 60-90cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Indian Sand Boa?

Indian Sand Boa feeds on: Thawed frozen mice and rats. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Indian Sand Boa?

The price of Indian Sand Boa varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Indian Sand Boa

Beginner

Eryx johnii

A burrowing sand boa of the semi-desert from Iran through Pakistan into India. Its wedge-shaped head and blunt, truncated tail make both ends look alike, which is why it has long been called the two-headed snake.

Difficulty

Beginner

Temperature

27〜32℃

Lifespan

15-20 years

Size

60-90cm

Humidity

50〜65%

Diet

Thawed frozen mice and rats

About

Eryx johnii is a boid of the family Boidae ranging from Iran through Pakistan into western, southern and north-western India. Adults rarely exceed 61 cm in total length, though large individuals reach 91 cm. It is adapted to burrowing: the head is wedge-shaped, the nostrils narrow and the eyes very small. The body is cylindrical with small polished dorsal scales, and the thick, rounded tail looks truncated, making the two ends hard to tell apart. Colour varies from reddish brown to dull yellow-tan. It prefers loose, crumbly sandy soil and lives underground. Its diet is mainly rodents, killed by constriction. It is ovoviviparous, giving birth to up to 14 young from late summer into the monsoon. It is a very calm species, and captive care centres on a substrate it can burrow into plus belly heat.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Lifespan of the Indian Sand Boa

The Indian Sand Boa lives 15-20 years.

Size of the Indian Sand Boa

The Indian Sand Boa grows to 60-90cm.

Temperature & humidity for the Indian Sand Boa

The ideal temperature for the Indian Sand Boa is 27〜32℃. Ideal humidity is 50〜65%.

Basic Info

Origin

Eastern Iran, Pakistan, western, southern and north-western India and Nepal, in dry semi-desert scrub and rocky foothills up to 200 m

Lifespan

15-20 years

Care Specifications

PeacefulSolitaryBreeding: Moderate

Sources: Reptiles Magazine: Care, Breeding And Caudal Luring Of The Rough-Scaled Sand Boa (covers Eryx colubrinus, E. conicus and E. johnii) / Wikipedia (English) / Reptile Database

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Eryx johnii (Russell, 1801)

Synonyms: Boa johnii Russell, 1801, Boa anguiformis Schneider, 1801, Eryx maculatus Hallowell, 1848

Authority databases: GBIF · Reptile Database

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

CITES Appendix IIIUCN NT · Near Threatened

The family Boidae (Boidae spp.) has been listed on Appendix II since 4 February 1977 (Species+). As an Appendix II species, no registration certificate for internationally rare wild fauna and flora is required. In India, it is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and keeping it for pet purposes is prohibited. This species is not included in the designated animals listed in the Schedule of the Order for Enforcement of the Law Concerning the Protection and Management of Animals.

Sources: CITES Appendices (Boidae spp., Appendix II, effective 4 February 1977) / IUCN Red List

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.