My roommate bought a baby durmil about a month and a half ago from a expo and it hasn't aten yet. It is in a 20 gallon glass cage with cypress mulch and a hiding spot. He is using a heat pad on a section of the cage that is 95 degrees. The snake is very active and appears to be fine. We have tried to feed him by putting a mouse in his cage and by putting him a dark box with the mouse; no success. He has made many attempts to call the breeder(a private breeder) but the guy does not call back (surprising). Does anyone have any advice for us. thanks
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Baby durmil is not eatting! help!
drykilllogic83
Oct 27, 2004 04:51 PM
Replies (2)
bahreptiles
Oct 27, 2004 05:13 PM
Is this a live or prekilled mouse? Try a prekilled in the box with the snake overnite. Might work.
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PBM
Oct 27, 2004 07:52 PM
Okay, this has to be the most common dumerils question asked. Anyway, drop the 20 gallon for the time being. Go buy a 98 cent rubbermaid, sterilite, Iris, whatever brand plastic shoe box. Fold newspaper to fit the bottom for substrate, put in small water bowl, add a piece of paper folded up so the dumerils can easily "hide" if he choses. Since you probably don't have a baby rack system, you'll need a very small piece of heat tape or similar product hooked up to atleast a rheostat, preferably a thermostat. LEAVE THE ANIMAL ALONE, let it settle into this smaller more secure environment, then try to feed him. Generally speaking baby dumerils do not do well in larger cages. Once he is feeding regularly, then I would start considering moving up in cage sizes. Also, 95 degrees...too warm, try 88 as a hot spot. As I told someone in the past, a 20 gallon doesn't offer much floor space for a gradient and the cool end is probably ideal high temps. if the other end is being kept at 95 degrees. Also, go check out Jason's site at Dumerils.com he has a lot of good info there, and anyone new to dumerils should definitely take the time to read it thoroughly. Your not going to find much literature specifically for dumerils boas. Best of luck!
Paul
