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I've had a dumerils for only 11 days and it wont eat. I got 2 other snakes with her that day and they ate like pigs the very next day. I have tried a number of times to feed her, but she keeps refusing the food. I have tons of snakes and have never had this problem before. I am wondering if she is just still stressed from the show I got her from or what. Anyways if anybody has had problems like this with their Dumerils I'd really appriciate it if you could give me some tips to get her to eat. Beings I have never had this problem it is starting to piss me off so I'll be greatful for any help givin.

Thanks Jeremy McManmon

Jeremy, first look at your cage. Are you offering a bedding that holds humidity? I like aspen, and the humidity should be around 60%. Offer hide boxes on the hot and cool side. The cool side should be no less than 75 degrees, unless you are cooling the snake. Your hot side should be between 88, and 92. Don't panic that your snake has not eaten. Give it some time to settle. Don't bother it at all for another week. Just look in the cage daily to spray, and clean the water. In about a week give the snake a hopper sized mouse. Don't worry, it will not be too big. Dumerils are ambush predators, and do not usually go for pinky's. Good luck, and I hope this helps. Howard.

I need to get a humidity gauge but all the temps are right. The snake is about 18 inches not totally sure of the age though. I think it is about 8 months of so. Thanks for the help guys I'll get a humidity gauge and will also try with rat pinks or fuzzies.

Thanks again, Jeremy

Why do you think they need such high humidity? Dumeril's boas live in a place called the Spiny Desert in W. Madagascar. The climate there is similar to the climate in some dry parts of S. California. Along the eastern edge of their territory they live in hardwood leaf forest but the humidity is still quite low. Temperatures range from 48 f. in winter to about 96 f. in the summer and in my experience Dumeril's are easily capable of handling extreme temperatures without stress.

Jeremy, What prey items are you offering? My baby Dumerils will not accept mice under any circumstances. They are die-hard rat eaters. You didn't mention the age of your Dumeril, but I'm guessing that it is a neonate. Offer it a rat pink and you'll probably be alright.

I doubt humidity is your problem. Dumeril's live in some fairly dry climate in Madagascar while their close relatives the Madagascar ground boas live in the more humid eastern Madagascar and on a couple of smaller islands of the east coast of Madagascar. Dumeril's have even been found in semi-desert areas. One of the mistakes that many people make is keeping Dumeril's in humid conditions.
As you may know Dumeril's will shed their first skin only minutes after being born. I have had Dumeril's born right into my hands, pop from the birth sacks and then shed for the first time while still in my hands...a great experience. You did not say how old your Dumeril's is? Sometimes they will refuse to eat until after they shed for the second time...which can take a few more months after birth. I have had Dumeril's wait several months before taking a meal and they did fine. Give it some time and see if it sheds soon...and then offer fat fuzzy mice (eyes still closed.)
Before parting with my adult pair I kept and bred Dumeril's for 10 years.

Thanks for the lnfo, I was thinking she just needs time.

Thanks again,Jeremy

When I got my dumerils about 1 1/2 years ago she refused to eat for the first two months. Weekly I offered an appropriately sized f/t rat with no results. I eventually started to worry and tried a live small rat. She hit that rat with a vengeance. After a couple of feedings with live (watching very carefully of course) she easily switched over to f/t. In your situation it's still abit early to worry about this but just figured I'd let you know of my experience which may help you someday kickstart your dum into starting feeding. Good luck, Scott.
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