But how do I prep for her? I have a ball python now. My better half has had an albino burmese for a long time, when he was in high school. (she died before I met him, after a pretty long life, from what I understand.)
I love my BP to bits, but the dum I held at the last KC show was amazing! So silky, light, and stunningly beautiful!!
I have done a lot of reading since then, and I understand that reliable info is hard to find, because the dums have not been captive pets for very long. I have learned that they can get around 8 ft. long, and the humidity requirements are not as strict, as their natural habitat is pretty varied as far as humidity goes.
My questions:
do they require/seem to enjoy climbing obstacles?
will newspaper work for suitable substrate?
how big should her enclosure be to start, and will a large (for when she gets to full size) be good for her as a baby, or should I keep her in small, and change her tank as she grows? (BP's can feel really insecure in an enclosure that is too big when they are young, which is what prompted this question.)
are mice ok? We are (trying to) breed mice for my BP, and rats just GROSS me out, so if I can keep her on mice and feed a few each feeding, and she would be healthy with this menu, I would like to stick with that. What do you suggest? What about hamsters, or gerbils for both of my snakes? (I hear they multiply faster.... I'm bored with the mice, they aren't getting anywhere yet...)
Do all boas have the beautiful eyes that the Dum has? I mean, the coloring specifically. I see the Dum's eyes have the scale coloring carried into the eyes, and have looked at a handful of pics today of other boas - I'm just curious about this. Still in the learning stages, so please forgive me.
I don't plan on getting my dum until after Jan. 1, so I have time to prep for her, but I want to start really digging into the info, not just by reading the fact sheets, but by hearing from actual owners.
Please post pics with your replies!! Tell me the pros and cons, all of it! I need to know. We have 3 children in the house (all girls, age 9, 8, and 8 - twins) and 2 cats. I will be getting a large dog, also, later next year. (we live a little ways out, and I need to feel somewhat safe! A snake does little to calm my fears at night - can't really throw her at an intruder and expect the same result a Rottie may produce!! LOL)
thanks so much for your advice, opinions, and input. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Muggle
Material Witness
