Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm also posting this message in the forum at dumerilsboa.com.

I've got a reasonable amount of experience with colubrids and I've had my current ball python for over 18 years but I'm new to Dumerils. In fact, I saw my first live Dumerils a couple of weeks ago and ended up buying one of them.

In my spare time, I do snake presentations for kids at libraries and I think the Dumerils will make an impressive but manageable presentation animal. I'd been toying with the idea of getting a Hogg but the Dum was so impressive that I made a quick impulse buy (not my usual way of doing things) and I'll be picking him up soon. As I've been reading more about Dums, I realize that I lucked into a snake that's really well suited to my needs.

I have some questions. I'm confused by conflicting information about the humidity levels that Dums require. Some sources say to treat Dums like B. c. constrictor but others say that the climate in their range is not that of a tropical forest. What humidity level have you found works best? Are Dums more likely to develop shedding problems than other boids? (My bp sheds in patches but without difficulty even during the dry winter months.)

What about feeding frequency? As ground-dwelling ambushers, I assume that Dums don't eat as often as Boa constrictors. I'd rather have a healthy well-proportioned animal than a big, fat snake so what do you recommend as feeding rates for Dums from 2 yrs old and onward?

I look forward to seeing different people's views.
Thanks very much. David

I keep both dumerils and BCC and they have quite different preferences. I think you'll find that your dumerils will avoid areas of the tank that are above 90 degrees, while a BCC will revel in that heat. A dumerils daytime preference is probably around 82-88 day, with an cool area around 75. Nighttime temps 72-80. Moderate amounts of humidity are tolerated, but if your from an area of the country where the humidity is above 30% regularly, I'd avoid any supplemental humidity. You can mist them down, as long as it drys up within 15 minutes. Before I had any experence with dumerils, I did as I was told and kept them at BCC humidity levels. It would make their bellies pink, even though the cage was spotless, leaving me to believe that they can suffer from humidity problems easiliy. I live in Montana and the air is rather dry, doesn't bother my dumerils a bit.. always shed 100%. I do give them a soak occasionally, just to keep them well hydrated. But the enclosures are kept dry. Also, watch the feeding. I have a friend that fed/kept his pair as you would a BCI.. they grew very fast in a year to 3 plus feet. However, they died the following season, probably of a fatty liver.
I love these boas, easy to handle and only moderately large if female. I've kept Dumerils for 6 years now and have had 3 separate clutches of babies with a nearly perfect birth rate, around 93%.
Good luck-
Matt Schubarth
Pet Nebula
2100 Stephens #116
Missoula, Montana 59801
406 541 9929

Picture below is one of my 02' holdbacks, the sun has washed out some nice pink highlights.. but she's got other assets.