Just got my First Boa: A female Dumeril's

So as the title says I just picked up my first Boa, she is a birthday present for my girlfriend. I got a female dumeril's that is 4 months old according to the reptile shop I got her from (Pet Bazaar in Orlando, Fl) She weighs 120 grams and is somewhere around 18 inches long. She is super chill and doesn't seem interested in using the hides I provided for her. I'll get some pictures up at some point.

I do have a question. They guys at the reptile shop had her on cypress mulch. I have never used the stuff but would be willing to if need be. I don't have any humidity problems as my cages stay around 60% without misting. Do they like to burrow in the mulch? I currently have her on paper towels for quarantine purposes but am willing to use something else. I am currently using a UTH regulated to 87 degrees by my herpstat, humidity as I said is 60% and the air temperature is 76. If I switch over to mulch I will use a RHP to heat her enclosure (a AP T8 or T12 do they need more than 1 foot of cage height?)

Congrats on the new pick up. :gj:

I tried cypress mulch and found it to be too dirty and dusty. Then tried Carefresh and found it to suck the humidity out of the cage and caused her to have a poor shed. Now she is back on aspen and it's been the best substrate we've found for her for numerous reasons. Since Dumeril's are ambush predators they will burrow. You will also find Dumeril's urate quite often. The aspen makes it easier to spot clean over the cypress mulch as well.

As far as the cage height you should be ok for now. Perhaps in a few years you might want to consider a T-10 since they like to burrow and have a higher litter dam.

Here's a pic of our girl, Tetra.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m..._in/snakes.jpg

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Originally Posted by fortoday634

Perhaps in a few years you might want to consider a T-10 since they like to burrow and have a higher litter dam.

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Thanks for the reply. I hadn't thought about the substrate dam, I was leaning towards a new T12 anyway, but that pretty much sold me on the idea.

Belly heat should be fine too. Tetra likes a hot spot of 86 - 88F and enjoys the cool side at 74 - 78F. In my experience I have noticed they do not require high humidity as some claim. At 50 - 60% after her eyes go clear it has always resulted in a clean shed. With the Carefresh she was at 40% or perhaps lower and it was a disaster.

Ditto on the aspen for the Dumeril. Congrats on the pickup and good luck with her.

Alight here she is. Her name is Nergal

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0481.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0482.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0484.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0485.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0490.jpg

She's pretty. I like the lighter coloration next to her patterns. If I remember correctly it resembles a Chinese symbol for old.

One more thing, I have notice our Dumeril's can be a shy eater. She dislikes F/T and prefers F/K. A sure tell sign she is hungry is she will defecate, burrow for a few days, and not move. Then I dangle the food above her head with tongs and she explodes out from the substrate. Be prepared because it flies everywhere and makes a mess (another reason I don't like cypress). Other times she will be in her hide and I have to leave it in there on a paper plate, with her cage light off, and then leave the room. 10min later it's gone.

Good luck! Get ready to have a new favorite in your collection. :D

What a beautiful boa....:gj: Congrats.

So Very Very Nice, Just love Her. My wife is looking at one of these because of friends have one that is a sweet heart.:)

Awesome pick up! I bet she will love it!

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Originally Posted by jdouglas

Awesome pick up! I bet she will love it!

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Yeah, I went to pick up a blood python, but this little girl decided that she was going home with me. Anna comes home from her class at 5:30 so I'll find out then :cool:

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Originally Posted by MSG-KB

So Very Very Nice, Just love Her. My wife is looking at one of these because of friends have one that is a sweet heart.:)

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My little girl seems to be a puppy, she is a little jumpy but that is to be expected the first day in a new home.

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Originally Posted by fortoday634

She's pretty. I like the lighter coloration next to her patterns. If I remember correctly it resembles a Chinese symbol for old.

One more thing, I have notice our Dumeril's can be a shy eater. She dislikes F/T and prefers F/K. A sure tell sign she is hungry is she will defecate, burrow for a few days, and not move. Then I dangle the food above her head with tongs and she explodes out from the substrate. Be prepared because it flies everywhere and makes a mess (another reason I don't like cypress). Other times she will be in her hide and I have to leave it in there on a paper plate, with her cage light off, and then leave the room. 10min later it's gone.

Good luck! Get ready to have a new favorite in your collection. :D

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thanks, I'll keep that in mind. She ate for me before I left the shop... so far so good

She is gorgeous. I love dumerils patterns and colors!

I don't have a dumerils but I have a nic and a red tail and they both have Cyprus mulch. And I must once a day or every other day but I have never had it get dusty on me tho. Mabey if u never most but my redtail likes to burrow so keep that in mind. A foot is fine for height.


1.0 normal bp- Blitz
1.0 Nicaraguan boa- Gavin
0.1 Red Tail Boa- Tara

Aww! She is so pretty. I love the patterns on Dumerils. Your girlfriend is gonna be happy I'm sure :)

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Originally Posted by DellaF

Aww! She is so pretty. I love the patterns on Dumerils. Your girlfriend is gonna be happy I'm sure :)

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thanks, She was!

She is gorgeous Aaron!!! What beautiful blushing and pink hues! I bet your girlfriend's eyes just popped - I know mine would've! Big congrats with her! :bow::bow::bow:

And I'll x3 on the aspen bedding - they do like to burrow! ;)

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

She is gorgeous Aaron!!! What beautiful blushing and pink hues! I bet your girlfriend's eyes just popped - I know mine would've! Big congrats with her! :bow::bow::bow:

And I'll x3 on the aspen bedding - they do like to burrow! ;)

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Yeah, I definatly earned my keep with her for a while with this one :rolleye2:

Thanks all!

I keep my Dum on aspen as well because it is easier to spot clean the frequent urinations. Mine is about 4 years old, and I haven't really noticed him doing much burrowing, but he does use his hides, especially when in shed. He does like to hide behind his hides and prop his head up on his water bowl when I am in the room. If I stand still for a few minutes, he will start moving around his cage, but once I move, he will freeze and prop his head up to watch me again. Maybe it's just a silly game we play. He does seem to be the most sociable of my snakes. I rarely have to use a hook on him. Most of the time I just open the cage and hold up my hand and he will come right out to me. He was a shy eater for about the first 2 months, and then all of a sudden his true feeding response came out. Don't get lulled into a false sense of security if she starts off as a shy eater. One day, she might suprise you.

Congratulations on a nice looking little female...

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX using Tapatalk.

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

Don't get lulled into a false sense of security

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Definatly, respect of what these animals are capable of is critical. Thanks for the info.

Ok, I do have one more question (at least for now :rolleye2: )

I have read that they need a night drop, and other places that they do not. Can anyone clear this up for me?

Thanks

Pet Bazaar... How I miss thee... I'm pretty sure it's the only thing about Orlando I actually miss... :tears:

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Originally Posted by AVDude

Pet Bazaar... How I miss thee... I'm pretty sure it's the only thing about Orlando I actually miss... :tears:

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Yeah, its a pretty cool little shop. I'm just in Orlando for college right now, and I think that it's an ok place, but I defiantly prefer the Tampa Bay area.

I believe that's only for breeding purposes.

The only change in her enclosure at night is when the florescent light goes off (she's in a AP T-10). It might drop down to 73F on the cool side but she seams to enjoy it.

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Originally Posted by fortoday634

I believe that's only for breeding purposes.

The only change in her enclosure at night is when the florescent light goes off (she's in a AP T-10). It might drop down to 73F on the cool side but she seams to enjoy it.

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ok, thanks, my apartment does drop a few degrees at night so the ambient air temperature might drop a degree or so, but my herpstat should keep the hotspot right at 87 all night. Sound good?

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Yeah, its a pretty cool little shop. I'm just in Orlando for college right now, and I think that it's an ok place, but I defiantly prefer the Tampa Bay area.

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Moved there for school myself, Full Sail.

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Originally Posted by AVDude

Moved there for school myself, Full Sail.

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Yeah, I'm at UCF for electrical engineering. the worst thing about Orlando is all the dang toll roads everywhere

You should be fine at 87F. Some will utilize a hot spot up to 90F so just keep that in mind.

IMO this is the best Dumeril's Boa care sheet out there.
http://www.moonlightboas.com/care-in...care-sheet.php

Ok, thanks I might bump up my herpstat to 90 during the day and let it cool off to 87 at night, I just need to learn how to read her like I can with my other snakes.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Ok, I do have one more question (at least for now :rolleye2: )

I have read that they need a night drop, and other places that they do not. Can anyone clear this up for me?

Thanks

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I don't use a night drop. I just maintain about a 10-12 degree temp gradient and let him hang out where he pleases.

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX using Tapatalk.

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

I don't use a night drop. I just maintain about a 10-12 degree temp gradient and let him hang out where he pleases.

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX using Tapatalk.

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That's what I do with my other snakes, I just wanted to make sure that it was the right thing to do with my new boa.

Wow! She's gorgeous! Congrats on her! Ithink the bases have been covered on Dum substrate and such. :P I love my Dumeril. She's a total sweetheart and my favorite thing about my boas, besides there personalities, colors, and everything else, is their feeding response. My Dum baby likes to eat at night only...but has never once refused a meal. Even while in shed! I love not having leftovers. Lol.

Again, congrats! I'm sure your gf will adore her. (Too bad it's not a boy...Xena's gonna need a boyfriend in a couple years...;) ) :gj:

I saw the pics. She's beautiful. You got yourself a keeper there.:banana:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Alight here she is. Her name is Nergal

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0481.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0482.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/.../pIMG_0484.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0485.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_0490.jpg

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Wow, that is a nice looking snake! I have seen Dumerils before, and they intrigue me.... Congrats!

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Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

Wow! She's gorgeous! Congrats on her! Ithink the bases have been covered on Dum substrate and such. :P I love my Dumeril. She's a total sweetheart and my favorite thing about my boas, besides there personalities, colors, and everything else, is their feeding response. My Dum baby likes to eat at night only...but has never once refused a meal. Even while in shed! I love not having leftovers. Lol.

Again, congrats! I'm sure your gf will adore her. (Too bad it's not a boy...Xena's gonna need a boyfriend in a couple years...;) ) :gj:

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Yeah, too bad that could have worked out reall nicely.