Mean Dumeril's

[xtreme02r6]

I bought a dumeril's boa for my wife about a week ago... was very sweet and loved to be out... we tryed to feed her yesturday and she was not interested at all so i put her back, sence then she has been stricking out of control at us when inside her cage!!! when i do manage to get her out she is fine but in the cage all she wants to do it bit us and wont eat... any ideas what her issue is...

she is about 2', guy we got her from said she was about a year old and fed her every 2 weeks pre killed small rats and has never had a problem... i dont knwo what to do...

I have had large snakes in the past and NEVER had a issue with them, why im asking around bc this is our first dumeril's...

[Tim Mead]

Stress is what it sounds like,She should have a dark hide preferrably snug fitting and be left to her own for a few days..When you see her head hanging out the hide you might try feeding her..Never met a bitey dumeril so shes likely just uptight and in need of a change of atmosphere..

[xtreme02r6]

Stress is what it sounds like,She should have a dark hide preferrably snug fitting and be left to her own for a few days..When you see her head hanging out the hide you might try feeding her..Never met a bitey dumeril so shes likely just uptight and in need of a change of atmosphere..

she has a nice place to hide... im going to do that, just leave her be, i hope she chills out... may have to get rid of her if she stays like this i may have to rehome her, wife dosent want a snake that bits nor do i...

[AkHerps]

You've only had the snake for about a week, some snakes need to be tamed a little bit and get used to their new environment, along with handeling, etc..With research, you would have learned that any snake has the potential to bite, Dumerils, ball pythons, etc..

[xtreme02r6]

You've only had the snake for about a week, some snakes need to be tamed a little bit and get used to their new environment, along with handeling, etc..With research, you would have learned that any snake has the potential to bite, Dumerils, ball pythons, etc..

I have done my research and have owned other big snakes and raised them from babys with no problems... we brought her home didnt mess with her till the next day, and was fine all week, only after i offerd up food she got pissy...

just find it kind of odd that she would want to "adjust" only after i offer her food... may be wrong but ive never had issues in the past with my red tails, burms ex...

[AkHerps]

Well every snake is different, I say give her some more time and try holding with thick leather gloves, just in case, maybe she was still in feeding mode and is still hungry.

[xtreme02r6]

Well every snake is different, I say give her some more time and try holding with thick leather gloves, just in case, maybe she was still in feeding mode and is still hungry.

thats the thing she never ate, she ran from it and has been pissed off sence... i did not herass her with it just took it away and put her back and she started trying to bit us... i offerd her food again and still does not want it...

[Vypyrz]

The next time you feed, if she doesn't come out and strike, try leaving it in the enclosure. Turn out the lights and leave the room or cover the enclosure. Check on her in about 1-2 hours. Also, what kind of substrate are you using? Dumerils like to burrow, especially when young. Even though you have hides for her, make sure you have something like Aspen or Cypress in their for her to move around. They may be shy eaters at first but after a few weeks when they really get settled in, you will notice that even though they are usually docile, feeding time is another story...

[j_h_smith]

I have found that female Dumerils can be a little cage aggressive. You may not break the snake of being aggressive. Buy a hook, pull the snake from the cage using the hook. After that, the snake should be fine. I bred a 7 foot female that would destroy anything that came near her cage.

When breeding, I would usually put the male in with the females/ well, this little girl would rip up the male. I had to pull teeth from the boys everytime they went into her cage.

Finally got her to breed. I had to put her in the boy's cage.
She NEVER wanted anyone near her while in her cage.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[CoolioTiffany]

Dumeril's are generally an overall docile snake, but can get moody when they are bothered.

Like the other posts, definitely stressed. You've only had her a week so let her settle in and don't bother her for another 5 or so days. Try feeding her in another week.

Most of the time Dumeril's will get shy and refuse food once they are in a new home. My first Dumeril's was very picky, only accepted live. Took me about 5 months to switch her over to F/T.

I'm sure she will be just fine once she's settled in. As someone posted before, make sure you have substrate she can burrow in, they love to burrow.