Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a trio of dums and I am hoping to begin breeding them this season. I have some notes that I've picked up from the archives, books, and websites. For those that are experienced with dum breeding...please correct me or add comments to help me along!

Late September early October begin to cool down snakes to about 72 deg ambient. Turn heat tape off at night, but leave a basking spot of 92-95 deg. during the day. Light may be decreased to 8-9 hours. Continue this cooling for 5-10 weeks. During this time introduce male into female's enclosure. Misting may stimulate copulation. Do not feed the snakes during cooling. ***How many times should a male be introduced into the female's enclosure to copulate?*** Temperatures should gradually warm to normal and the pairs should be separated. 30-60 days after cops. an abdominal lump may be visable. Females will eat during the 4-10 month gestation, but should eat smaller meals. Often the female will become more active an uncomfortable prior to birth, but will usually shed 20-38 days beforehand. Babies will shed shortly after birth and may be offered a meal.

How does my plan look to you guys? I've only had experience breeding ball pythons (my first clutch is incubating)...so I would love you guys to add in comments!
Thanks!
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3.12 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*

92-95 sounds rather high, espescially when dealing with dums (as dums are known for thriving on lower temps). is this a gravidity issue requiring the higher temps? also, has any of this info been verified through reputable breeders or has this just been bits and pieces of average people throwing their 2 cents in? just wondering as i could not tell if the information you supplied was you telling us how or asking us if it sounds right.
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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)

I thought it was pretty obvious I was asking for suggestions!
"I have a trio of dums and I am hoping to begin breeding them this season. I have some notes that I've picked up from the archives, books, and websites. For those that are experienced with dum breeding...please correct me or add comments to help me along!"

Thanks!
-----
---------
3.12 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*

okay i understand now. my mind mustve been elsewhere when i read the post. you might want to try the boa breeding forum. i dont know if it is a well visited area of this site but it couldnt hurt.
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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)

Yeah...I may post there and see if anyone bites I am a bit frustrated with the lack of breeding information on this species! A lot of people have told me to research common boa breeding because it is very similar...so I did! Like you mentioned there probably are some glitches...the hot spot temperature may need to be lowered (it does seem a bit high), and also I don't know how long the male should be left in the enclosure with the female! Oh well! On the plus side, I have 3 dumeril's and I am not broke yet! Now, I may be after having their enclosures built!

Thanks again!
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---------
3.12 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*

Seems about right. I would ad that the 4-10 month gestation is more like 7-10 months. I have one female that won't eat anything at all during the whole 8 months and does just fine. Also, during cooling, I don't even need the high temp hot spot mentioned and I have no problems.

Thanks! Right now they have a "hot spot" of 89 deg. and a cool side of about 80 deg. Should I continue using that "hot spot" temperature during the day for the cooling season?
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---------
3.12 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*

I guess it's OK, as long as the hot spot is a very localized area and the ambient temp in the rest of the cage is significantly cooler. I have heard of breeders keeping a hot spot like that in the cool down period. I was just saying that I've found it not necessary for me. My Dumerils do really well in surprisingly cool temps.

Bill

So, it would be alright to even keep the heat tape off during the whole cooling season rather than just at night?

Thanks!
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---------
3.12 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*

That would depend on the ambient temperature.

Bill

Assuming the ambient temp was the same listed for night time temps....72 degrees.

With my ball pythons I turn off my heat at night, but on during the day. I wasn't sure if dumerils would be stimulated by the same circumstances

Thanks!
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---------
3.12 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*

You might just want to back off the temp of the heat tape or "hot spot" like with a rheostat(dimmer) or thermostat. I do keep a daytime basking area during the cool down, just at lower temps than the 89deg or so you mentioned. It's more like 80-84.

Bill

Sounds good! Thanks again!
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---------
3.12 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball python
1.0 Plains Garter
0.1 Rosy boa
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
-----My list is too long, so I'll stop here!
*Amy*