How to Breed Sand Boas
Sand boas are healthy breeders, especially when they are mature and of breeding size. The trick to breeding sand boas is simulating the conditions in which they would breed in the wild. These conditions can include variations in temperature, activity levels, feeding habits and season. There are several species of the sand boas, many originating from different parts of the world and climates, but you can follow the same basic steps to breed your particular species of sand boa.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 adult male sand boa
- 1 adult female sand boa
- Small box
- Paper towels
- Sphagnum moss
Instructions
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Select one adult male and one adult female boa to isolate in a separate enclosure. Female sand boas are much heavier but have shorter tails than males. You also can look for prominent spurs on the underside of the males.
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Determine whether the sand boas have reached adulthood and are ready for breeding. Sand boas are ready to breed when they reach two-thirds to three-quarters of their adult size. For females, reaching this goal is more important in terms of weight than in length. An adult female sand boa should be approximately 18 to 20 inches in length and about 200 grams (0.44 pounds) in weight, while adult males are around 15 inches and 70 grams (0.15 pounds). Sand boas will reach proper breeding size in three to four years.
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3
Simulate the environmental factors needed to induce breeding. Some species of sand boa, such as E. tataricus, require a "cooling off" period for several weeks or months prior to breeding. This period is called "brumation," which is a sort of hibernation or period of inactivity during colder temperatures. Other species like E. colubrinus and E. conicus will breed without a brumation period.
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Put your snakes together to entice them to mate. You can put your boas together for a few days a week during the course of a month to get them to court and breed. You should notice that the male will become more active and stop feeding.
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Determine whether the female sand boa is "gravid," meaning pregnant. Gravid females will tend to lay on or near the heat source in the enclosure. She will eat only small food items and sometimes even regurgitate food that is too large. The gravid female sand boa's end half of her body will become enlarged.
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Prepare for the birth. Sand boas are live bearers, and their gestation period is about four months. Shortly before the end of the four months, add a container lined with sphagnum moss to the enclosure and remove any fine, loose substrate (like sand) from the habitat.
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Take special care of the newborn sand boas. Place the newborns in a small box with moist paper towels, which will help to wipe off the birth membrane. Reline the box with dry paper towels and add a shallow water bowl and "hide box." After the newborns shed in seven to 10 days, give them food.
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Tips & Warnings
Learn the specific species and geographic origins of your sand boa to determine whether you need to simulate a brumation period in order for your snakes to breed.
Don't try to breed sand boas that are less than two years of age. Breeding sand boas--particularly the females--too young will shorten their life expectancy and stunt their adult size.
Because the gravid female sand boa will lay on the heat source in the enclosure, make sure it isn't too hot. The hot spot should be between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
