Well, yesterday was feeding day for my Dumeril's boa. I decided to change things up a bit in hopes converting her over to f/t. First I needed to get her used to the idea of me being there. Normally I would put the mouse in the feeding box, then her, and then close everything and turn out the lights.

She's been eating good for a month, so I figured that she'd be ok if she decided to go on a hunger strike. I got two mice this time, since she was overly attentive about movement last week even after feeding (still waiting for rat pups...will start scenting the mice next week though).

I had the lights on, I put the snake in, and then I grabbed one of the mice and put it in there as well. She was interested, but wouldn't attack (used to have a kingsnake...totally different animal). I watched her for a little while, since I knew she was an ambush predator. She'd press the lower half against a wall and move her neck into a tight "s" shape, clearly ready to spring into action at any moment. A few times the mouse would come closer, but it showed no fear of her. She eventually turned to climb out of the box.

So, for whatever reason, I put the other mouse in there. The snake stopped immediately, turned and slithered to another corner. She set up her "spring trap" again and waited. Both mice kept moving around until one touched her. She jumped and so did the mouse. In the next instant there was a thud and the mouse was steadily being coiled. In about ten minutes she wolfed the little mouse down. I did take the other mouse out, and the snake seemed to pay little attention to my movements.

Today, my husband and I took her out again. She was placed in the box and then we put the other mouse in there. Clearly she was interested and slowly set up her "spring trap." However, after much poking and prodding of the mouse, he wouldn't move or worse, he'd buddy up with the snake and make her very nervous. My husband decided to cut the mouse's tail (not my idea, and I took no part in it). The mouse did move around a lot more, but stayed in one corner. I guess the smell of blood was enticing, so the boa setup up her "spring trap" once more. Well, I touched the mouse so that he would move. This time he ran toward the snake. When he did, there was a squeak and she had him.

I'm glad that she doesn't mind having one of us interfering with the mice. I'm not sure how I should go about emulating a fleeing mouse with forceps though. But we are one step closer to f/t, since she's over her shyness now.

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