My Dumerils has started biting me!

KWenger · 07-21-13, 06:41 PM

I've had my male Dumerils over a month now and he has been a wonderful pet.....until two days ago. I've been handling him every day or every couple of days and he has been calm and gentle. Then, two days ago, for no apparent reason, when I reached in his cage to pick him up he struck at me and clamped his jaws around my finger. I was shocked to say the least as no snake has ever bitten me before. I gently pried his jaws off my finger and put him back in his cage. The bite didn't hurt much but certainly produced a lot of blood. I didn't disturb him again until this evening when I again took him out of his cage and put him around my neck and sat down to read a book. After about 20 minutes I decided to put him away and when I lifted him from around my neck he bit my thumb really hard. I didn't want to injure him and carefully and gently pried his jaws open. He immediately struck at my other hand and bit my finger while at the same time constricting really firmly around my wrist and hand. I put him, still wrapped around my hand, in his cage thinking he would release. He didn't. It took me several minutes to get him off my hand during which time he bit me repeatedly on both hands. I have six different bite marks now and blood literally dripping off both my hands. Nothing has changed as far as husbandry is concerned. He eats great. Does anyone have any ideas? I cannot keep him if this behavior is going to continue. I've gone from loving him to being afraid of him and I certainly cannot allow anyone else in my family to handle him now.

smy_749 · 07-21-13, 06:49 PM

I can honestly say I pictured the whole scenario in my head and found it rather entertaining lol As for why, had you handled anything prior to picking him up these past few days that could initiate a feeding response? Is he possibly going into shed? Did you feed any other animals or move furry friends into the same room as him? Any signs of health issues that could be bothering him when you touch that area, a burn maybe?

KWenger · 07-21-13, 07:00 PM

I do have other snakes in cages in the same room as the Dumerils but none of them have been fed for a couple of days so there cannot be any prey odors. We have a cat and a golden retriever but neither have ever even gone in the "snake room." When he bit me the first time I thought maybe my hands smelled like dog or cat so I carefully washed my hands tonight before I took him out of the cage. He shed 3 weeks ago and shows no sign of going into shed now. No way he could have a burn, and I can detect no other health issues. I am completely at a loss.

rocknhorse76 · 07-21-13, 07:01 PM

My big male has been pretty pissy lately too. He hasn't struck at all, but he huffs and puffs and hasn't really wanted to be handled much. I just don't let him have his way lol. You may want to get some lightweight leather gloves for handling him, and let him bite all he wants. He'll eventually realize that it doesn't do any good and stop biting.

KWenger · 07-21-13, 07:28 PM

I did just notice one other change of behavior. It has been about an hour since the most recent biting episode and he is now curled up inside his water bowl. I've NEVER seen him do that before. As a matter of fact, I've never seen him get near his water bowl before. Does this mean anything? Also, I have him in a cage with a "hot" end thermostatically controlled at 86 degrees. There is also a hide on that end. The ambient temp stays around 81-83 and drops down to 77-80 at night. I live in NC and the humidity is high here this time of year. The humidity level in his cage stays 50% - 60%.

smy_749 · 07-21-13, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KWenger

I did just notice one other change of behavior. It has been about an hour since the most recent biting episode and he is now curled up inside his water bowl. I've NEVER seen him do that before. As a matter of fact, I've never seen him get near his water bowl before. Does this mean anything? Also, I have him in a cage with a "hot" end thermostatically controlled at 86 degrees. There is also a hide on that end. The ambient temp stays around 81-83 and drops down to 77-80 at night. I live in NC and the humidity is high here this time of year. The humidity level in his cage stays 50% - 60%.

Sounds like you have a stressed animal. Check your temps with a temp gun, maybe get a new humidity gauge, just to triple check all parameters. Also give him a good inspection for mites, impaction, burns etc.

He could just be going into shed and the enclosure is not humid enough. Just double check everything. Do you have pics of your setup for us to see?

rocknhorse76 · 07-21-13, 08:15 PM

Temps and humidity sound about right, but I generally keep the hot spot for my Dums at around 88-90. Humidity is generally in the 50-60% range, but I bump it into the 70's during shedding.

marvelfreak · 07-22-13, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KWenger

I did just notice one other change of behavior. It has been about an hour since the most recent biting episode and he is now curled up inside his water bowl. I've NEVER seen him do that before. As a matter of fact, I've never seen him get near his water bowl before. Does this mean anything? Also, I have him in a cage with a "hot" end thermostatically controlled at 86 degrees. There is also a hide on that end. The ambient temp stays around 81-83 and drops down to 77-80 at night. I live in NC and the humidity is high here this time of year. The humidity level in his cage stays 50% - 60%.

He could be going in to shed or hungry how often and what size food do you feed? How big is your Dumerli? Do you wash your hands before handling? Also QUIT HANDLING HIM SO MUCH. You could just be stressing him out.

KWenger · 07-22-13, 05:53 AM

He is almost 3 years old, about 4 feet long and he weighs 700 grams. He last shed 3 weeks ago and I can see no sign that he is going into shed again. I feed him once per week; one sm.-med. f/t rat. I've weighed these rats and they average 75gm - 120gm each. His feeding response is excellent and he eagerly takes food immediately when I offer it to him. I ALWAYS, without exception, wash my hands thoroughly before and after I handle any of my snakes. Maybe I am handling him too often......please advise what "too often is." I don't know. I've read comments on this and other forums from Dumerils owners who say they handle their snakes daily, or almost every day. I've been handling mine for about 30 minutes or so most days except for 48 hours after he eats. Is that too much?? Until he unexpectedly bit me the first time a few days ago he was always extremely calm and "chill" when he was out of his cage. I've even let little kids briefly hold him without concern.

marvelfreak · 07-22-13, 07:39 AM

Cut your handling down to no more than 15 minutes every other day. As they get older so snake get cranker and don't like handling as much. Also at that age and size it could easily take a larger rat. Mine the same age and size and i feed one large rat every two weeks. some times he gets two if one of my other snakes doesn't eat.

KORBIN5895 · 07-22-13, 08:46 AM

Like Chuck said you're handling way too much. I would cut it back to once a week. He straight up doesn't like you and has had enough.

He also seems really small for 3 years old.

KWenger · 07-22-13, 09:23 AM

Thanks so much for your advice. If it is true that these snakes generally get crankier as they get older and should be handled only once a week or so, then this certainly isn't the snake for me. I'm used to my BPs and Corn snake that are handled daily, or sometimes more than once a day and always remain sweet and calm. I thought Dumerils would have the same behavior characteristics as far as friendliness is concerned, but apparently I was mistaken. I've contacted the breeder I bought him from and asked if I could return him......no, I'm not asking for a refund. Or, if any of you want him you can have him for FREE. I'll only ask that you pay to have him FEDEXed to you.

Mikoh4792 · 07-22-13, 09:27 AM

I think it has more to do with the individual than the species. Long time ago I had a dumerils boa that could be handled anytime. My corn snake is very shy and at times can show that it definitely does not want to be handled.

I would take it but I am not into snakes that get as big or thick as dumerils boas.

rocknhorse76 · 07-22-13, 01:25 PM

Give him some time and definitely cut the handling down for now. I'd focus on getting him up to weight, as he is underweight for sure. At 4 feet, he should be double the weight that he is. When I first got my boy, he was about the same size as your snake, albeit about a year younger, and he was pretty cranky too. He'd try to strike at me anytime I set him down, and sometimes even when I'd walk past his cage. Turns out, he was just hungry all the time. Move him up to a med/large or even a large rat every two weeks, and you'll see him put on some weight.....I'd be willing to bet that he'll calm down a lot too. Once my boy started filling out, he became much easier to handle. He's now about 4 years old, over 6 feet long, and almost 10 lbs (no, he's not overweight, either).....he never tries to strike, just hisses and tries to sound scary now lol.

rocknhorse76 · 07-22-13, 01:30 PM

Remember, he's a boa, not a ball python (pet rock). Boas have more attitude and personality than a BP, and you definitely know it when they're not happy. They'll hiss and bite when they're pissed instead of starving themselves lol. Just makes them more fun in my book!!