Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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.

Try using a feeding tub. First buy a tub (top is optional), let the mouse stay in there for a while to let his scent get everywhere. Take the mouse out of the tub and put your dumeril in for ten minutes and put the mouse in. I put a towel at the bottom for the snake to have grip when feeding live or he or she will slither if the tub is to big.Drop the mouse in and let him eat. Next week buy a mouse put him in there for a while (if you buy a top the scent will stay in), take him out and once again put your snake in but this time he or she will get scented frozen rat pups. Use your tongs either holding the rat by the tail and lowering the pup until the rat touches the snake on the mouth (helps to wiggle a little) and then instincts take over, or hold the rat pup as if he was walking on by (tongs supporting the back of the pup like a puppet) and just happened to walk right into a dumeril on his leisurely stroll through in the feeding tub then WHACK!! Your snake will associate that feeding tub with food, so I just put my snake in for ten minutes just to let him get in feeding mode and they eat like champs. In a world where you eat or get eaten, your snake will happily eat. If your snake doesn't eat the first time, try waiting two weeks or so but don't stress him out but there is a great chance he will take it if you have the rat pup hot enough (BIG FACTOR).
Bob

A few things ...

I would keep feeding to a one time sitting. Use one prey item that is appropriately sized. Appropriately sized is about as thick or just a bit larger then the thickest section of your snake. If it as able to take two mice I would suggest a hopper or crawler rat.

If I remember correctly, you are trying to switch the snake to frozen thawed. If this is the case, I would try offering a pre-killed prey item next feeding. I thought you were going to do this for your last feeding but apparently I shouldnt assume. I am sure your husband will be alright with killing the prey item (Im not a huge fan of this tail cutting bit), simply place it in a bag and smack it on something hard, then throw it in the box with the snake.

Good luck.
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- Jason F.

What the heck! That's down right mean. Mice feel pain too ya know.

Yea it is probably about as painful as being bitten then suffocated to death or maybe just like severe blunt trauma to the head causing death. I think he did it to entice feeding not to "torture" the mouse.
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Thanks Vinnie Caruso
opinons are like a--holes... everybody has one and they all stink

This is one of those situations where it's a "predator/prey" scenario. The way in which a constrictor kills its prey isn't the fastest nor the least painful.

As for the mouse, its tail was not "cut off" or in anyway brutally mutilated. Rather a small cut was made so that the mouse would be somewhat irritated. In fact, the bleeding stopped long before the snake captured the mouse.

I raise livestock and try my best to bring about the least amount of pain when "putting down" food animals. I am not sadistic in nature, and do not wish to bring unnecessary pain or harm to any animal.

However, I chose to keep a snake as a pet, and I do realize that when they are young, snakes will require live prey. I'm not all that familiar with boa behavior, even though it may be somewhat familiar to colubrid behavior. True, I could've went faster and had her converted sooner to rats and eventually f/t. But keep in mind this is a snake that was lost for 6 days thanks to UPS, and brought home to a novice owner. Compared to other stories about young snakes and novice owners, I consider myself lucky that not only is the snake eating on a regular basis, but that she has overcome her shyness so quickly.

I appreciate any advice given and have tried my best to use such advice when it seemed appropriate. Some things I will miss or fail to do correctly. All I can do is try my best to keep the snake well fed, free from injury, and provide her with an environment that discourages disease and malnutrition. I'm terribly sorry if the mouse appeared to be needlessly injured, but I wouldn't imagine that the snake was any kinder.

Next week I will make a first attempt at feeding dead prey, but bare with me if the process seems slower than necessary.

Thank you for all of your help.

Sesha