Russian Sand Boa, Black Sand Boa, Dwarf Sand Boa, Central Asian Sand Boa, Mountain Sand Boa.

Eryx miliaris (E. nogairum)
COMMON NAMES
Russian Sand Boa, Black Sand Boa, Dwarf Sand Boa, Central Asian Sand Boa, Mountain Sand Boa.
DISTRIBUTION
Eryx miliaris miliaris are distributed mainly in the deserts of Central Asia. Their range is from the Southern part of Russia along the northern shores of the Caspian Sea, East through the Central Asian deserts of Kazakstan and Turkmenistan, South into Iran and east towards the deserts of Western China and Mongolia. The full extent of its range is somewhat difficult to ascertain as it occurs in countries that are rarely travelled by western scientists . Eryx miliaris miliaris is easily confused with the Tarter sand boa (E. tartaricus) over a lot of its range.


SIZE
Generally Adult females do not normally exceed two feet in length and the males rarely larger than eighteen inches.
Sex by Probe depth Male 6-9 Female 2-3
HUSBANDRY
The care of E.miliaris miliaris is quite straightforward and is similar to other Sand Boas. I prefer to use Cage bird sand as a substrate to a depth of 2" (50mm) as they do seem to enjoy digging around in the sand. A piece of flat rock or cork bark to help with the shed is advised. A hid box was totally ignored when sand was used. Others have used various substrates with equal success including aspen, wood chips, corn cob. Newspaper has also been used successfully but here a hide box was found to be used by the sand boa's. When using sand as a substrate I feed outside of the vivarium in a separate container to minimise compaction. Because of their small size a modest vivarium is all that is needed. A temperature of up to 90°F (32°C) and a night temperature of 75°F(24°C) creating a temperature gradient. Feeding is not a problem as they will take anything up to adult mice when adult. The young are small and may look unable to take pinkie mice but they can manage them. E. Feeding is not a problem as they will take anything up to adult mice when adult. The young are small and may look unable to take pinkie mice but they can manage them. The name nogaiorum refers to the Nogai Steppe of Russia. They are known from the sandy steppes along the NW side of the Caspian Sea.
E. miliaris in captivity is extremely docile and easy feeders which makes them ideal pets. Just one cautionary note, they strike sideways and are not particularly accurate so use long feeding tongues.


BRUMATION
E. miliaris requires a winter rest of three months November - January I cool them down to 50°F (10°C) Being Asiatic they will probably go down even lower.
The males seem to be reluctant feeders for a couple of months after brumation while looking for a mate. But usually start eating voraciously again after the breeding season (Early Spring).


BREEDING
E. miliaris miliaris has only been bred in small numbers due to the scarcity of animals. The breeding habits etc. seem to be the same as for other Eryx species.
When kept in sand the courtship and copulation tends to take place beneath the sand. The tails are elevated above the sand during actual intromission.
Gestation period is not known for certain but probably ranges from four to six months.
A basking sight is recommended for gravid females, and gravid females will seek out temperatures in excess of 95°F.
Number of young is not certain as records are scarce.
Sexual maturity seems to be reached in three to four years in females and about three years in males.
Most females breed biennially (McLain 1982).


Ref. Richard A.Ross & Gerald Marzec The Reproductive Husbandry of Pythons and Boas.
Chris Harrison Internet the Sand Boa page

Care Sheet Supplied By : John.Gamesby