Dumeril’s boa

[Blucifer]

Hey everyone! First time posting to any sort of forum but do have some concerns to make sure my dumerils is happy! I picked up a young female (16-18”) from an expo and upon reading more about what picky eaters they can be I think I’m more stressed/worried than she is! Not new to snake ownership and want to get back into the hobby! I have handled her once for a brief 4 minutes to readjust her setup up quickly, very calm and relaxed but understand they stress out. When I placed her back in her enclosure, she wondered around slowly for a bit, then went and got a good long drink. I’m taking that positivity as if she was upset I’d have thought she would have went right back to hiding. Very laid back and spends 95% of her time buried under substrate, head on the rock looking out thru the glass. Also think that’s not a bad thing as imagine fully hidden and out of view would be a stressed reaction.
Temps/humidity/hides/deep substrate are on par with everything else I’ve read. I’m going to feed her this weekend, at night to hopefully kick in her ambush instincts and leave her be. Would people suggest pinky rats over say hopper mice? I’ll sleep better at night once she’s had a first feed but at what point should the real worry kick in?
Likely over concerned but better safe than sorry :)
Thanks :)

[Crypticpickles]

Take in mind I'm a newbie to boas, I've read that it's better to do rat because either way they are going to need rats and some snakes have a hard time switching from mice to rats. Rats are also more nutritious for bigger snakes. I actually didn't find this out until after buying mice and switching him to rats for his next feed. I wouldn't worry until there's a need too. Lots of different ways to encourage snakes to eat.

[Wama]

Hi, sounds like she's made herself at home. Did the previous owner state what she was being fed ? If not I would go with the rats.......PS Don't stress or little girl might pick up on it.

[Blucifer]

I’ll admit and made 2 novice expo mistakes. 1 didn’t ask when she was last fed or with what. 2 didn’t get a business card of the vendor to be able to ask said questions if I thought of anything. :/. excitement got the better of me...
I’ve ran into the issue now of only being able to sort live hopper mice a 2hr round trip away but went yesterday and picked some up to try feeding her Sunday night. I’ll have to ask if they do rat pups too 👍
Had corn snakes growing up and sourcing live here back then wasn’t an issue and were eating machines. I even had few friends ask on FB if there’s anyone around that privately breeds mice/rats as feeder.
She looks a healthy size so to avoid unnecessary stress of trying to feed would it be recommended just to hold off until her first shed with me?

[Wama]

Sometimes it's awkward to swap over from mice to rats. But as long as she is feeding that's main thing. All the best with her.

[toddnbecka]

Dumeril's have slow metabolisms in general. Feed her weekly until she grow out a bit, then cut back to 10-14 days between meals when she starts getting thicker faster than she is getting longer. They'll happily eat any time food is offered regardless of being close to shedding IME, but a strong feeding response doesn't mean they actually need to eat, lol.

[Blucifer]

Thanks for people input so far!
She’s currently housed in a 24’x18” exo-terra enclosure with 3 of the walls covered. Despite wanting to house an animal in a tub/tote would it be suggested for the first 6 odd months till she’s on a regular feeding routine I switch her to a tote? End of the day it’s not about what I want but what she needs to be happy and healthy and feel secure :)

[toddnbecka]

Plastic totes are easier to maintain humidity. I use cypress mulch for bedding for any of my snakes that require higher humidity, regardless of the enclosure. My adult female Dumeril's is housed in a 4' long, 2 deep,'x15" tall pvc enclosure. Unlike most other boas, Dumeril's really aren't inclined to climb even if they have the option, so a taller enclosure isn't beneficial.

[Blucifer]

It’s the tank I had so it’s the tank I was working with...Just ordered heat pad/thermostat tonight, will pick up a tote tomorrow so once temps are sorted and steady will move her over. Thanks for your input :)

[toddnbecka]

I use aquariums for some of my snakes, but pvc enclosures or plastic totes hold humidity better than tanks or exoterra terrariums. If I'm using a regular screen top on an aquarium and want to maintain humodity I cover most of the top with styrofoam poster board cut to fit the inside of the screen top.
Sterilite Stacker tubs are the best I've found for housing snakes. The lid design prevents the snake from getting between the edge of tghe tub and the lid, while the locking handles on the ends hold the lid quite securely enough that I've never had any escapes from them. The largest are big enough to house mid-size adult rat snakes like my Japanese and prasina, but an adult Dumeril's will need more space. You'll have plenty of time to sort that out though, IME boas
typically grow about 2-3cm/month.

[Blucifer]

Update on little Colina :)
I kept her in the tank as it what she was used to and covered the back and sides of it to make her feel more secure (Altho she spends an awful lot of time burrowed user the aspen anyhow) I lessened the depth of aspen and added reptibark/cocohusk on top to help keep humidity steadier. Had read an article suggesting owners keep this breeds humidity a little high as it’s often found on the desert/arid side of Madagascar that sees very little rainfall annually. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
Still hasn’t shed yet but has eaten 4 times steadily once a week always an hour or two after lights out. It took her 48hrs to take interest in the first hopper (yes taboo leaving live rodent in tank but she burrows all the way under, was also surprised the hopped stayed alive that long) Last night (the 4th feed) very food driven as I held the mouse by the tail (habit that will be broken once she gets bigger!). Really happy with that from what I understand can be a shy feeding snake.
I did notice what looked to be a few scales missing from the underside closer to the back of the skull when she was halfway done stuffing her gullet. Quick search has lead me to believe is normal as it allows younger boas skin to stretch and will fill in later. Thoughts on that too please :)
I’d watch a video of someone suggesting rub chicken poop/shavings (even just a feather) on the rodent to help strengthen the feeding response in dumerils youngsters as quails are a natural food supply. Needless to say some is now in my freezer and massaged a few mice in the past weeks😁. Not sure if it helped or just needed time to settle in better but don’t think that’s needed anymore. With her response last night she should adjust to frozen quite well next week.
Thanks for everyone’s input :)

[EL Ziggy]

I'm glad she's doing well with you. I don't keep Dums but if they're anything like my BI and BO they'll pretty much eat anything. My boas eat mostly rats but they get a lot of chicken and occasionally a few mice. I'm pretty sure they'd take quail and rabbits too. I'll try those soon. I'm not sure how much you pay for your live feeders but I've found it less expensive and easier to feed f/t.

[Blucifer]

Will be cheaper and easier once I switch her to frozen, had to drive an hour each way for live! I was picking up 4 each time and keep them alive. Glad my cars cheap on fuel :). Live cost near $2, do have a box of frozen (not sure what I paid for them) but she wasn’t interested in FT when I did try. Now she’s eating steadily I’ll be switching over as it is a lot easier!

[1202]

I'll take and submerge f/t rats in hot not scalding but hot water for around 15 to 20 minutes. Dry them off and then offer them to Little Miss. Works every time.