Dumerils Boa Care Question

[L.West]

I am really hating using the aspen bedding. I don't know if its my OCD nature of what but it just bugs the heck out of me. I may have to switch him to the kraft paper and give him several hides along with fake greenery.

Aspen just seems so dirty to me. Very messy and I fear that he has messed and I am not seeing it. I literally stick my head in the cage every day to see if I can smell something - this is crazy. With paper everything is neat and clean - no messes get missed.

I gave it a try - I honestly did but it is really bugging me and taking away from my Dumeril experience.

I think its time to change him to the paper.

[ashteroid]

Dumeril's boas pee a lot more than other snakes. This is the reason I like to use aspen as it soaks up the pee. However, my adults do no seem to care to burrow, they prefer hides. The smaller ones use hides as well but will burrow if they feel like it.

[L.West]

When you say they pee alot. Do you mean volume or frequency. My dumeril had urine and urates this morning so i cleaned the whole cage. Well, this evening he had more urine an urates so i cleaned his cage again.

Since i had him out i thought i would hold him for a bit. All of a sudden he got really squirmy and then pooped on me. Lol

I dont have a good track record so far.

[Dutti]

Dumeril's boas pee a lot more than other snakes. This is the reason I like to use aspen as it soaks up the pee. However, my adults do no seem to care to burrow, they prefer hides. The smaller ones use hides as well but will burrow if they feel like it.

That is absolutely not true according to my experience with My Dumeril. He pee very normal, average i would say.

[L.West]

I'm beginning to get a complex with my new Dumeril. Every time I hold him - try to spend some time with him he pees/poops on me. What the heck. Is he doing this on purpose or is it coincidence??

I now have a towel on my lap just in case he does it again. Could this be a baby thing - he is still pretty small.

I can't believe I have that bad of timing LOL

All the snakes I've kept over the years - I have never had this happen and now with this new Dumeril I've been pee'd on several times.

[bcr229]

I'm beginning to get a complex with my new Dumeril. Every time I hold him - try to spend some time with him he pees/poops on me. What the heck. Is he doing this on purpose or is it coincidence??

I now have a towel on my lap just in case he does it again. Could this be a baby thing - he is still pretty small.

I can't believe I have that bad of timing LOL

All the snakes I've kept over the years - I have never had this happen and now with this new Dumeril I've been pee'd on several times.

Voiding onto a predator is a fairly common defense for a baby snake. If he's squirrely while you're doing it then I'd guess that's what's going on.

Since you're using a towel anyway try putting him on half of it and covering him with the other half to make a "hide" while on your lap. He might feel more comfortable that way while he gets used to you.

[L.West]

So it is your opinion that he is making himself go?? I really thought so. I couldn't have that bad of timing lOL.

I sure hope he outgrows this stage. Can't imagine the load once he is full grown OMG.

He doesn't seem overly stressed when I hold him. He is about a year old and I've only had him for a month though.

He eats good. I only hold him occassionally for like 10 minutes.