Dumerils or Red Tail?

[towelie4365]

So I'm looking at some day getting a larger snake. I want something with size to it, but not something that needs multiple people around whenever you have to handle them. So far I see that red tail boas could be a good choice, and I've also encountered dumerils boas. Could anyone who has had experience owning both tell me the general differences between the two? I know the red tail has potential to get much larger than the dumerils, but if I get a male I don't think I'd have to worry too much about a giant 10ft boa. I'm wondering more from a standpoint of handling them as full grown adults and their general demeanor (which I understand varies from snake to snake). I've managed to handle a 3-4ft dumerils, and maybe a 4.5ft red tail, but I don't know what they are like as full grown adults. I noticed the dumerils gripped me harder than the red tail, and I liked that, but I feel like they might outgrow that as an adult.

[Cendalla]

I have an eight year old Dum female that is as sweet as sugar and very mellow. Love her to pieces. That being said she is the only one I've had and the only one I've been around. Most BCIs I've worked with have been young so most were nippy. Individuals very but I'm sure most grow out of it with proper care and handling. I took care of a pair of BCCs that were great but way too big. You could trust the female but the male was temperamental and was over 10 feet. There are a lot of different red tails to choose from (Hog Islands seem really neat) but I wouldn't trade my Dum for anything

Was there a specific Red Tail you would looking at? -because 'red tail' is too vague.

[towelie4365]

I understand red tail is very vague, I am considering any at the point haha. I have looked into the hog island, but I think their average size might be a bit smaller than I want (then again I haven't encountered a full grown adult yet).

What is your dumerils like when you handle her? Does she like to hang out on your shoulders? Or does she prefer to be off of you?

[nick654377]

I have both and they are both awesome snakes. My red tail is a little fiesty right now where my dums i can grab hetr head and she doesnt care.

[Evenstar]

I have mostly BCIs but I do have a baby Dumerils as well. First off, a male BCI will grow up to be roughly the same size as a Dumerils. Both will max out around 6-7ft and therefore are a fairly managable size. Really, you can't go wrong with either one. Both are very intelligent and curious snakes and both should grip you firmly - both as babies and as adults. Some have different ways of gripping though, so that is sometimes a very individual thing. My male BCI is constantly wrapped around me and holds on tight. My female BCI needs more support from me and would actually allow herself to fall if I'm not careful. My Dumerils is somewhere in between.

I will say this about Dumerils - they have incredibly calm and gentle personalities. All my BCIs are great, but my Dum in particular is very docile. They can be so docile though that they are almost to the point of being shy. And sometimes baby Dums can be hard to get started feeding. My Dum didn't eat with me for the entire first month I had her. Even so, Dumerils are my first choice to recommend as a "step up" snake. However, my own first step up snake was a female BCI and I've never been sorry about that. So it truly is a matter of personal preferance and what you like.

What I would recommend is for you to go to an expo or somewhere where you can handle several BCI and Dum babies and pick out the one that really speaks to you - the one you just can leave without. That will be the best choice you can make!

[BFE Pets]

I have mostly BCIs but I do have a baby Dumerils as well. First off, a male BCI will grow up to be roughly the same size as a Dumerils. Both will max out around 6-7ft and therefore are a fairly managable size. Really, you can't go wrong with either one. Both are very intelligent and curious snakes and both should grip you firmly - both as babies and as adults. Some have different ways of gripping though, so that is sometimes a very individual thing. My male BCI is constantly wrapped around me and holds on tight. My female BCI needs more support from me and would actually allow herself to fall if I'm not careful. My Dumerils is somewhere in between.

I will say this about Dumerils - they have incredibly calm and gentle personalities. All my BCIs are great, but my Dum in particular is very docile. They can be so docile though that they are almost to the point of being shy. And sometimes baby Dums can be hard to get started feeding. My Dum didn't eat with me for the entire first month I had her. Even so, Dumerils are my first choice to recommend as a "step up" snake. However, my own first step up snake was a female BCI and I've never been sorry about that. So it truly is a matter of personal preferance and what you like.

What I would recommend is for you to go to an expo or somewhere where you can handle several BCI and Dum babies and pick out the one that really speaks to you - the one you just can leave without. That will be the best choice you can make!

I agree 100% with one exception. That is the size of an adult rtb male and a female dumerils. They both will max out around 6-7 feet which is what I think she meant. However a female dum will weigh almost twice as much as a male bci. My 7 y old dum girl weighs in at 37 pounds. I cant swear to it but I'm pretty sure adult male bci's normally only weigh in the 15-20 pound range. Double check that bci weight though because I'm fairly new to boas.

[Cendalla]

I understand red tail is very vague, I am considering any at the point haha. I have looked into the hog island, but I think their average size might be a bit smaller than I want (then again I haven't encountered a full grown adult yet).

What is your dumerils like when you handle her? Does she like to hang out on your shoulders? Or does she prefer to be off of you?

My Dum is heavy. She's about 16 and a half pounds and is a ground snake. I lift her and support her over my shoulder until I can sit down. She usually curls up around my waist and and in my lap as I watch TV. She just chills. She'll flick her tung and look around for a bit and usually rests her head on my knee or arm and watches TV with me. I think se actually does watch the changing lights on the screen. Every once in awhile she seems perky and wants to explore but she usually stay with me.

She never has an aggressive attitude even when in shed. She usually goes off food every winter for about 125 days. I know that she'll start eating soon when she sheds around that mark. As soon as she gets that last bit slid off I offer her a large rat. I always feed with tongs because they are an ambush predator. She has never missed but she hits so hard that she has occasionally left me standing there with a tail swinging from the tongs. I know they aren't as flashy as a lot of other boas but I just can't imagine life without her.

She is also the first snake I bring out for a curious person who is scared. Yes she is big and heavy bodied but she is also slow moving and doesn't mind the attention. People are always fascinated by how smooth and dry she is and almost aways feel brave enough to hold her in the end. She was a severely abused rescue that I got a couple years ago. Its amazing that she went through hell with humans and still be so mellow and comfortable with us.

I can't say all Dums are like my Leelah but she is the perfect medium snake.

Edit: I should point out that my Dum is under weight. She was 6.5 feet and 10 pounds when I got her. Its been a slow but steady job putting good weight back on her. She never loses weight during a winter fast but it slows her gain. Just be prepared for a much heavier bodied snake that a BCI.

[Evenstar]

I agree 100% with one exception. That is the size of an adult rtb male and a female dumerils. They both will max out around 6-7 feet which is what I think she meant. However a female dum will weigh almost twice as much as a male bci. My 7 y old dum girl weighs in at 37 pounds. I cant swear to it but I'm pretty sure adult male bci's normally only weigh in the 15-20 pound range. Double check that bci weight though because I'm fairly new to boas.

Arghhh!! Yes, that is what I meant. Thanks for clarifying!!

[towelie4365]

Thanks for input! I think I want both now haha.

Do any of you have any pictures of an adult male red tail or an adult dumerils? A picture with something to reference size to would be great. I'd like to know how bulky they get. Do male dumerils stay thinner than the females?

[Cendalla]

Thanks for input! I think I want both now haha.

Do any of you have any pictures of an adult male red tail or an adult dumerils? A picture with something to reference size to would be great. I'd like to know how bulky they get. Do male dumerils stay thinner than the females?

I just took them really quick so sorry about the quality.



I keep her in one of the Iris Christmas tree boxes because she never settled in the larger show enclosure. If I had to guess I don't think she liked the clear front. This is nice and opaque. I use an 11 inch heat tape and a V200 thermostat. I'm not sure why she never liked it but ever since moving her to this she has been stress free and much happier.