Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I haven't owned any snakes for about a year, and the craving got to me. Last week I was out looking again after calling around, most likely for another Brazillian or a rtb, and i saw the most amazing little Dumerils. I had never paid much attention in the past to these, but I had never seen one this pretty. So I bought him, W/O doing much reaserch, but I couldn't pass him up. So what I am asking is for some general Dumerils info/advice. I am experienced with boas/pythons, from an african rock python, BRB's, an Amazon tree boa, a red tail BCC, ect... over the last 15 years that i've sold or given up for various reasons. He is about 14", & I have him in a 20 gallon for now, heated only with lamps, with a large water dish on the hot side and hide spots on both sides, hot side about 88-90 during the day, 79-81 at night. Using aspen as substrate. I've read through some of the posts here saying they like slightly cooler temps, but he mostly stays to the warm side of the tank, especially at night he perches on a rock I have under the heat lamp. Any info insight is appreciated. Also curious as to the origin. I read they are from Madagascar? Not South America?
Thanks for the Info...
(sorry for the long post)

Dave

yes, they are from madagascar(suddenly wondering if there were any dumeril's in the movie). anyway, dums prefer cooler temps usually but there are some that like warmer temps. it isnt a good idea to let the temps get below 78F but i wouldnt try to push them above 86F either. these little beauties seem to thrive on cooler temps. heck, ive got my dum's tank sitting on top of my redtail's tank, NEXT to the light. indirect heat heat works just fine.

water on the hot side? try putting it on the cool side. nobody wants to drink hot water.

i am curious. based on your admitted history, why did you get this creature if law of probability says youre just going to give up on it fairly soon?
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas (normals)
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons (normals)
1.0 Black Blood Python (normal)
1.0 Dumeril's Boa (normal)
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Surinam Redtail Boa (normal)

www.dumerils.com has some great information.

Keep us updated!
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4.8 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*

Well, I've never exactly given up on any animal, save for 1. The African Rock my roommate & I bought when we were 18in our 1st apartment. After two years it was a bit much. Young and stupid. But it at least it went to someone who wanted to breed him, as compared to in the woods or everglades, as appears to have become a common practice around here. Everything else has been situational. Jobs I've had and companies I've worked for have had me moving and traveling, sometimes only home for 5-6 days out of 2 months. It can be hard to get someone to care for a feed multiple snakes, to inspect them for health. alot of times it just wasn't fair to the animals, rather see them in a good place than neglected. Also had an incident with an unruly landlord, but that is another story. But hopefully I am in a situation where I won't be traveling near as much.
In other news I brought home a fuzzy for his first meal since I've had him, and he is now obviously in shed, his eyes completly clouded. so much for that idea. And I've read what's been said about keeping the cage cooler, but he stays on the warm side, so I'm a little hesitant to change right now. Maybe after a couple more weeks I'll experiment alittle. Also I was wondering about feeding, have read a few places that night works better? And being more of an ambush hunter, is it better to place them in a seperate container, or in thier cagewhere they can hide? Any advice or experience is appriciated. Thanks much,
Dave

well since you already have the snake lets hope your able to keep him. like i said earlier, some snakes are diff than the norm. if it prefers the warmth then let him enjoy it. no sense in changing it just because some other peoples' prefers cooler. ive always fed my dum in the same container. only prob i have is that mine will only eat live so i have to feed multiple weanlings or smalls. he prefers mediums but he got a bad wrap on one a couple months ago. he wasnt injured because i always stand there waiting with the hemostats to take the rat out.but ever since then i dont like to put larger rats in. he wont eat f/t or p/k. he will sometimes eat a stunned but if they are too stunned he wont touch them and if they are kicking a lil bit he wont touch them either. im happy to have finally gotten him switched from mice, though.
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas (normals)
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons (normals)
1.0 Black Blood Python (normal)
1.0 Dumeril's Boa (normal)
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Surinam Redtail Boa (normal)

Good choice on the Dumerils! I read everyones replies, and just had a couple thoughts. What are you using to gauge your temperatures, and where is the reading being taken at....top of cage, outside of glass, etc. What makes me wonder about the temps is you saying he's there all the time. If that is so, your reading could be off(since that is on the high end for Dumerils) and you might actually be too cool overall. They should regulate temps. by moving about. So, a snake that is ALWAYS on the heat is more than likely being kept too cool. Where as a snake that is ALWAYS on the cool end is probably being kept too hot. As for feeding, I'd keep him in the same container and see how that goes. It's hard to offer alot of "tips" since there's no real issue yet. Glad you found a nice Dumerils, let us know how things go after the shed....Take care

Paul