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So... I bought a young Dumerils from a trusted pet store in my area about 2 months ago. I absolutely love the snake!

I have a few questions though that I’m hoping can be answered. The first is I'm a little confused about what sex mine is. I read that males have spurs and females don't. Do they have spurs from birth or do they get them as they get older. The lady at the pet store kept calling it a she but when we went to pick "her" up I had them check and they said it was probably a male. Right now "he" doesn't have spurs. He's about 29in. (also I'm unsure about age)

Also, my snake and I have conflicting comfort zones. My room stays in the 60's at night and the low 70's in the day. I don't feel my lamp is keeping it warm enough during the day. Every time I pick him up he is cold to the touch and prefers to stay in the colder end. I know Dums like it colder than most but what would be considered to cold for day temps?

He hasn’t eaten since I brought him home. I knew he had been a hard to feed when I picked him but I'm getting worried. The store said not to worry until 3 months. I offer him f/t small mice at night. Should I try rat pups instead? The store said he had been afraid of live prey and they fed him f/t mice. Maybe the cooler temps have affected him?

And one more question, He shed about 2 weeks after I got him and there are still a couple small spots of unshed skin. He drinks and soaks on his own regularly. Is there anything I can do to help him shed those last little spots??

Other than all this he seems happy and fairly active. I took some pics of him since it was a very nice day out. Sorry for such a long post!

no spurs its a girl they are born with them

as for temps if he has a hot and cold side, she will regulate her own temps dont try to do it for her, if she is always in the cool end as loong as she has an area that is 75-80 degrees dont worry about she wants to be cool

as for the feeding issues read and follow the care sheet at www.dumerils.com that will help you out alot

as for the skin let him soak one day the run him through your hands, put your finger around him and apply a little pressure not enough to hurt but enough that he has to work to get through and hell peel it off trying to get through your fingers
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What are the max/min temps that your snake experiences? (Get a digital thermometer that records those temps if you don't already have one. They're fairly cheap at Home Depot.) I'd like to add, in addition to the information provided in the previous post, that your snake will eat if she's warm enough and feels secure (i.e. don't handle too much).

If you don't keep her on aspen deep enough to burrow into, have a hide at both the warm and cool ends, so she has a choice of where to go while remaining hidden.

The minumum temp at night is probably mid to high 60's In the day there is a basking spot that hits MAX 90 degrees if I keep my room locked up. If I don't it ranges in the high 80s.

Reading everyones earlier posts is making me think my cage might be to big for her now and she dose not feel secure. Its 5ft long 1 ft wide and 19in tall. And She's about 29in. I'm still not sure how old she is. I doubt she's been a very good eater in the past. I have plenty of bedding for her to burrow, 2 hide boxes (one at each end) and a big soaking tub which she soaks in regularly and for a good lenghth of time, and I mist the cage every few days.

To go with thecaiman's post about soaking and running your fingers over the unshed skin: I have tried that. The skin seems to be very stubborn. Maybe a visit to the vet should be in order about the skin?

Thanks for all your help!

Yeah the cage sounds too big for her...my adult females are content in 4 x 2 cages!

Don't use a light, use a heat pad! IMO lights do not allow snakes to properly thermoregulate!

Go to: http://www.myboids.4t.com/whats_new.html and scroll down for more dum info!
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Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
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IMHO, your low temps are too cold... mid-60s can blunt the feeding response. Like Amy said, you might be better to go with a heat pad instead of a lamp. Your cage does seem large as I, too, keep an adult Dum in a 4x2 enclosure. Otherwise, it sounds like you're doing most things right.

One more thought about feeding... are you handling your animal much? I imagine you think it's fine and doesn't mind handling but snakes can stress about handling without showing many outward signs. If you've only had it a couple of months, leave it alone for a while (at least a couple of weeks without handling) and let it settle in. That might make it feel more secure and willing to eat. Just a suggestion.