Description
- Common Name: Egyptian Sand Snake
- Scientific Name: Psammophis sibilans
- Locality/Morph: Wild type
- Sex: Mixed
- Age: Mixed
- Source: Wild Caught
- Native Range: Sub-Saharan Africa, extending into North Africa and parts of the Middle East
- Natural Habitat: Grasslands, savannahs, semi-desert, and scrubland, often near open sandy or rocky terrain
- Diet: Lizards, small snakes, amphibians, and occasionally rodents
- Basking Temperature: 30–35°C hotspot
- Ambient Temperature: 25–30°C (night drop to ~20–22°C)
- Average Adult Size: 100–180 cm
The Egyptian or African Sand Snake (Psammophis sibilans) is one of the most widespread and recognisable species within the genus Psammophis. Slender, fast-moving, and primarily diurnal, these snakes are built for speed and active foraging. Their colouration is highly variable, typically featuring brown, olive, or sandy colours with subtle striping or speckling, providing excellent camouflage in open habitats.
In the wild, P. sibilans are opportunistic hunters that actively pursue prey. Their diet mainly consists of small reptiles such as lizards and snakes, though they will also take frogs and small mammals when available. They are mildly venomous, possessing rear fangs and venom effective against their prey but generally considered harmless to humans.
In captivity, these snakes require a spacious enclosure with ample floor area to accommodate their active lifestyle. A sandy or sandy-soil substrate, with scattered rocks, logs, and hides, creates an appropriate environment. They thrive with a basking hotspot of 30–35°C, while the rest of the enclosure should remain in the mid-20s°C, dropping cooler at night. Strong lighting, including UVB, is highly beneficial to reflect their natural diurnal habits.
While striking in appearance and fascinating to observe, Psammophis sibilans are not typically beginner snakes. They are fast, nervous, and often reluctant feeders in captivity—sometimes requiring reptile prey items to initiate feeding. With experienced care, they can live 10–15 years, offering a rewarding challenge for advanced keepers who can meet their specialised needs.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
