What kind of Python did I just pickup? (DUW)

We adopted a Dumeril's from our local Petco, someone dropped her off, ours is also a year old and tiny! Petco had her for 8 months and couldn't get her to eat, so they force fed her mice three times, so now she is horrified of mice. I got into a fight with the lady because I said we would try rats and she jumped down my throat saying I would kill the snake because rats are too big, I was like..umm..not baby rats, and she almost didn't let me leave with the snake!! The first rap pup we put in there she gobbled right up, even ate f/t the first try! And has had about 4 great meals! They grow suppppeerrr fast to catch up when eating a normal amount. She gets a small rat every 1-1 1/2 weeks and has shed like 4 times in the past couple months.

This Dumerils is also incredibly nice! And they are soooo pretty!!

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Originally Posted by AkHerps

We adopted a Dumeril's from our local Petco, someone dropped her off, ours is also a year old and tiny! Petco had her for 8 months and couldn't get her to eat, so they force fed her mice three times, so now she is horrified of mice. I got into a fight with the lady because I said we would try rats and she jumped down my throat saying I would kill the snake because rats are too big, I was like..umm..not baby rats, and she almost didn't let me leave with the snake!! The first rap pup we put in there she gobbled right up, even ate f/t the first try! And has had about 4 great meals! They grow suppppeerrr fast to catch up when eating a normal amount. She gets a small rat every 1-1 1/2 weeks and has shed like 4 times in the past couple months.

This Dumerils is also incredibly nice! And they are soooo pretty!!

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I'm going to try with an adult mouse and if she refuses I'll try a smaller rat. Any tips for the husbandry? I have two hides setup, of which she seems to have no interest in. She's content apparently chilling in the corner. The kid who had her before me just didn't take care of her. No hides, no temp control, and dirt from outside that probably had bugs. I did a good cleaning of the tank and put in new aspen substrate. Anything else I should know?

That snake is beautiful =)
Nice pickup indeed.

That's weird, ours chills in the corner too! I set up the housing in an extra 20 long we had.

I set it up with aspen, hot hide, cool hide, a random tunnel hide in the middle, water dish, and a humid hide. She chills usually in the cool side in the corner. But does go in the hot hide after eating a lot of the time.

I use a red bulb to keep the ambient temps up, but this is Alaska so its starting to get colllddd.

She keeps having bed sheds since they were horrible at the store, so I tinfoiled the top of her tank, and always keep the paper towels in the humid hide moist so hopefully the next time she sheds it will go well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AkHerps

That's weird, ours chills in the corner too! I set up the housing in an extra 20 long we had.

I set it up with aspen, hot hide, cool hide, a random tunnel hide in the middle, water dish, and a humid hide. She chills usually in the cool side in the corner. But does go in the hot hide after eating a lot of the time.

I use a red bulb to keep the ambient temps up, but this is Alaska so its starting to get colllddd.

She keeps having bed sheds since they were horrible at the store, so I tinfoiled the top of her tank, and always keep the paper towels in the humid hide moist so hopefully the next time she sheds it will go well.

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That's about my setup. 20 long with 2 hides, water dish in the middle, and a random rock she likes. I'm getting my table lamp dimmer tomorrow to control the temp on the hot side. It's unplugged right now but the temp is only at 78 degrees in my house, not too worried.

I would assume that just like BPs they need the heat to digest so that makes since that she would go in the hot hide. I'm figure she'll do what she wants when she wants. LOL

Yeah it doesn't seem they need the high temps as much, ours can digest just fine sitting over in the cold side without moving into the heat.

Hi,

Nice looking dumerils. :)

I've been tempted by them a few times myself.

Now, before I start beating my head on the desk, what quarantine measures have you taken and did you read the info about IBD then change your trousers? :P


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Nice looking dumerils. :)

I've been tempted by them a few times myself.

Now, before I start beating my head on the desk, what quarantine measures have you taken and did you read the info about IBD then change your trousers? :P


dr del

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I don't know what IBD is, but she is quarantined from Eva. The first thing I did when I got the setup home was completely clean out the tank with a 5% bleach solution and let dry. Then put all new aspen shavings in, then the 2 hides, and the water bowl. Along with the heat pad I bought connected to the thermostat. Then put that tank in my bed room away from the living room where Eva is. The snake was put in the tank and has been there since last night.

I know they aren't supposed to be close to each other for 6 months or so. Anything else I should know?

Moved to right section

Hi,

Good start to the quarantine. Just remember to always do any maintenance/ feeding etc of quarantined animals after you are finished with the other animals in the collection. ( I know you only have one at the moment :cool: )

IBD is Inclusion Body Disease.

It's a problem as not a lot is yet known for certain about how it is transmitted, how long it can lie dormant in boas etc. And nobody knows for certain how common or rare it really is in collections.

The last two are the problems really as the boa could be completely without symptoms for years and then, when you think everything is fine and relax, your ball python dies after a very short illness. :(

The only relaible test for IBD is performed at the necropsy as well so you cannot be certain if a particular animal is infected through testing.

The very idea of IBD scares the bejeebus out of me to be honest. I have heard a lot of boa breeders actually keep a BP in their quarantine room as a test - if it lives longer than 6 weeks the boa probably doesn't have IBD. :weirdface


dr del