Dumerils Boa Rescue

After not owning a snake in 25 years, I was going to set up a terrarium and buy a common boa, and while researching what's changed in the hobby over the last 25 years, I found someone wanting to re-home a Dumerils Boa that had stopped eating.

I decided to take the plunge, I got the animal and his entire set-up for free. All he had was the snake and a 75 gallon aquarium with a lid held down by bricks.

I went out and got a large under tank heater, a thermostat, and day and night lights set up with a timer. I added two hides, two thermometers, a hydrometer, and a log to help with shedding.

The snake is a two year old female about 48 inches long, I have no idea what she weighs, buy she looks a little skinny. Her skin looks good, her breathing sounds good.

I got her all set up and after a week of no handling, I offered a medium live rat. She went after it aggressively, and struck and constricted it within 10 seconds of dropping it in. She ate the rat, then started cruising the tank like she was looking for another one. I plan in feeding her a medium rat every seven days untill she looks a little thicker, then cutting her back to every 14 days.

Right now I'm just very happy that her temps and humidity are spot on, and she seems happy, and is eating. She is a very sweet snake, and I really hope she can thrive with proper care.

https://i.imgur.com/V3r5W2e.png

Hey, lucky you AND lucky snake! Seems like a match meant to be? I've never kept a Dumeril's but always thought they're so beautiful. You're off to a
good start- :gj:

The snake probably stopped eating because of the lack of heat...sounds like you got to her "in time"...I sure hope so. I do hope you'll get her on pre-killed
(frozen-thawed or freshly killed) rats though, for her safety and for humane considerations (rats are intelligent, whether or not you like them). I'll bet she
takes dead prey easily, now that she's got heat & decent care.

Dumerils are on my short list, so happy she in a better place with you!

Be sure and post complete pics of your set up so we can advise you on best practices and tools. So much has changed and/or advanced in the last 25 years!

And if you haven't done so already, you can join the Dumerils FB groups for loads of advice specific to this beautiful species.

Her markings are outstanding, good luck and let's hope her recovery carries on

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Nice looking dum! I wouldn't worry too much about putting weight on her, she's supposed to be square and she doesn't really look underweight in the pictures.

Putting weight on a boa is easy. Putting them on a diet is not.

She’s a nice looking girl and I would echo what others have said already.

As. Dumeril owner myself I can attest to how great they are and stunning in person.

I would agree get her on FT and don’t over feed. My dum male would eat daily if I let him

slow and steady

That is awesome you rescued her! From looking at the pictures she looks good. Dumerils have such nice patterns and sweet temperaments. WELCOME to the world of owning a boa my friend...Congrats!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hilabeans

So much has changed and/or advanced in the last 25 years!

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For sure! I had some boas back around 1991 and I'm sure I'd be appalled at my old setup if I saw it today :)

Everything has changed in the last 25 years.i really like the uth controlled by a thermostat, and the day/night lights on a timer.

I'll post pics of my setup when I get off work. And I really will consider and appreciate any advice you can give me. My goal is to have a happy healthy snake.

By the way, her name is Penny

Penny! Love it. :D

Here's some pics of the enclosure.

On the left side I have a 24 watt uth with a temp probe in the substrate set to 85 degrees.

On the right side, I have day and night lights on a 12 hour timer. Day temp is 80 degrees, night temp is 75 degrees.

RH is 50 percent.

https://i.imgur.com/l0TZDmy.jpg

She has been pretty active the last two nights, I think she is hungry. I want to try a fresh kill rat tomorrow, one week since she last ate.


We f that's successful, I'll try frozen thawed rats next.

She seems pretty happy, mostly she stays in her hides, but the last two nights, she was definitely more active

Oh man, she is beautiful. I need to find my boy a girlfriend and seeing these threads revive my hunt for one :)

Thanks for taking good care of this sweet baby. Regardless of their intelligence level, I believe she will recognize the better husbandry, and feel much better in your care.

She ate a fresh kill today. She struck the medium rat after about three seconds of dancing it in front of her.

She constricted the prey for a few minutes, then she ate it no problem. She cruised her tank looking for another one, then she got in her water bowl for a while.

She's back in her warm hide now. Next week I'll try to give her a frozen thawed rat

She seems to have a great feed response. I'm really happy the proper temp and humidity control along with a good day and night cycle seem to be working

Just an update. Penny is doing amazingly well. She just ate a f/t rat. She hit from burrowed inside her hot hide. It was a great strike, wood chips flew everywhere, and she quickly ate the prey.


It's hard to believe that a month ago she wouldn't eat, and looked very unhappy. Now she's looking great. Now I'm only worried about over feeding her

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fastfish

Just an update. Penny is doing amazingly well. She just ate a f/t rat. She hit from burrowed inside her hot hide. It was a great strike, wood chips flew everywhere, and she quickly ate the prey.


It's hard to believe that a month ago she wouldn't eat, and looked very unhappy. Now she's looking great. Now I'm only worried about over feeding her

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I wish more people would wait until they're settled under their hides before offering at the entrance.

It works amazingly well with Royals especially when the food is WARM :)


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Just an update, Penny is doing well. She hasn't skipped a meal, and h r sheds are perfect now


I got more info on her background, she was abandoned by her previous owner, his roommates didn't know what to do with h r, so they put her up for adoption on social media.

My son in law, who does reptile rescues got her and her entire setup for free.

He knew I had large snake experience, my last snake was a burm, and he knew I was looking for a Boa, so he brought her over to my house.

She was in a 75 gallon tank with no heat sources, hadn't eaten for months, and had a stuck she'd.


Now she's eating regularly and giving perfect sheds. She lost her flinch when I pick her up, and seems to like to explore a bit now. She seems very happy

https://i.imgur.com/mX301r6.png

Looking really good

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Job very well done she sounds like she’s doing great and looks awesome !

She looks great, thank you and your SIL for the rescue. Love the Dums!

Awesome story. She's beautiful and I'm glad she's thriving in your care.

Just a little update.

She's still doing great, and here's a video of her eating her Superbowl snack.

https://youtu.be/wv0Y4DWm1nI

What a beautiful & healthy-looking boa! :gj: I so love happy endings!

what's her temperament like

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Originally Posted by samsonact

what's her temperament like

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She's very docile. Never a hiss or a strike. When you handle her, she's almost lazy. Sort of like a cross between a Ball Python and a BCI.