Your Advice on getting a Dumerils

[Cam5]

I have been going back and forth as to whether or not the Dumerils would be a good pet (everything I have read makes them sound even better pet snakes than corns and Ball Pythons).

I would love some first hand input.
Are they as docile as they are claimed to be? (as babies and adults?)
Are they good eaters (or are they notorious food strikers like BPs?)
About how big are yours? (apparently there are some that are a few feet smaller than the others on average)
What do you think is their biggest pro and biggest con?

I found this site http://www.acrantophis.com/#Temperament that has only great things to say about them. I trust the person and his rationale as to why they make the perfect big pet snake...but I also know there are no guarantees (as proven by our crabby little BP)...so I am just looking for real first hand information from you all:icon_pray:

[basuca]

I just porshes a male on the NARBC show this year. I had a great price, only problem was that the babies were 2 weeks and the breeder din't tried feeding them. I know risky thing to do... 2 days in his set up and he eat! He is a awesome feeder but only at night. Very friendly but doesn't move to much in his cage but when he is out ohh man! Mine as not gone thrue a shed yet but I have red they are slow growers. Overall nice snake.
He is my second favorite snake after the carpet.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3843/99579636vq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Cam5]

Thanks for the reply.

WOW!!! he is beautiful!
What size cage is he in now?

[basuca]

6qt box

[SNSnakes]

Dumerils are great boas! I have 3 and all are very calm and handleable! They are very good eaters although I had one female strike at a rat, miss and latched onto my hand (totally my fault). After that, she went on a 3 month fast, refusing everything. I think it tramatized her. But after those 3 months, she started eating again with gusto! She fell behind in growth because of the fast, so won't be breeding size for a while.

As babies, you have to be careful about overfeeding. 1 or 2 appropriate sized rodents (I would try rats immediately so they get used to them) every 7-10 days is good...but the rodents can't be too much bigger than their heads, else you risk a regurg. That's just for the first year...after that, you can use bigger rodents.

They are just as nice as BCI, but more colorful (at least against a normal BCI). Maximum size is maybe 10 feet, but they normaly don't grow much over 7-8 feet.

[SNSnakes]

I just porshes a male on the NARBC show this year. I had a great price, only problem was that the babies were 2 weeks and the breeder din't tried feeding them. I know risky thing to do... 2 days in his set up and he eat! He is a awesome feeder but only at night. Very friendly but doesn't move to much in his cage but when he is out ohh man! Mine as not gone thrue a shed yet but I have red they are slow growers. Overall nice snake.
He is my second favorite snake after the carpet.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3843/99579636vq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice coloration there Bas!!

[basuca]

thnx Scott and Cam glad I can help

[Cam5]

Dumerils are great boas! I have 3 and all are very calm and handleable! They are very good eaters although I had one female strike at a rat, miss and latched onto my hand (totally my fault). After that, she went on a 3 month fast, refusing everything. I think it tramatized her. But after those 3 months, she started eating again with gusto! She fell behind in growth because of the fast, so won't be breeding size for a while.

As babies, you have to be careful about overfeeding. 1 or 2 appropriate sized rodents (I would try rats immediately so they get used to them) every 7-10 days is good...but the rodents can't be too much bigger than their heads, else you risk a regurg. That's just for the first year...after that, you can use bigger rodents.

They are just as nice as BCI, but more colorful (at least against a normal BCI). Maximum size is maybe 10 feet, but they normaly don't grow much over 7-8 feet.

Thanks!!!
So do you breed them?

[SNSnakes]

Thanks!!!
So do you breed them?

No, not yet...I'm going to give them another year. Like I stated, the one female is playing "catch-up" right now...the other female is borderline big enough, but I like my breeders to be good size, The male is good to go, but he'll just have to wait another year...lol. He's about 5 to 5.5 feet right now.

[SnakeBabe]

I have two. Both are tame but very active when I handle them.
Both eat F/T but my big one is picky. For her I have to leave it in the cage at night just before lights out, come morning it’s gone.
Both like to soak.
Never had an aggressive action from them.... Yet.

Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[Cam5]

Thanks Maria...

So how exactly do you handle an 8 foot snake that is always on the move?

[Kiote9]

When I had larger boas--colombian, though--they larger they got the less they moved. It was easier to handle them than the younger ones.

[Cam5]

Hmmmm...
So how long before they outgrow their "puppy' stage?

How fast do they grow?

[Kiote9]

Hmmmm...
So how long before they outgrow their "puppy' stage?

How fast do they grow?

I don't think boas EVER outgrow their puppy stage! I introduce them to people as the dogs of the snake world. I think Bob was about 2 when he started to calm down. I have always napped with my snakes, and Bob was ok to nap with when he was about 3 feet long...around 2 years old.

Again, I keep colombians. Dumerils are smaller snakes overall. I have read that they average 4-6 feet, so I'd think the growth rate is probably similar, but adjust it to the smaller size.

I'm sure some Dumerils owners will give you better information.

[Kiote9]

Ah, too late to edit. Bob was about 4 feet at 2 years, not 3.

[SNSnakes]

Hmmmm...
So how long before they outgrow their "puppy' stage?

How fast do they grow?

Dumerils are fairly slow growers. They aren't sexualy mature until 4-5 years old (at least the females).

[anendeloflorien]

So could anyone explain the pros and cons of columbians Vs Dumerils? I'm looking into both and I can't decide lol.

[Kiote9]

I don't have a dumerils mainly because of the expense. They cost quite a bit more than a normal colombian. Someday I will have one....maybe.

The least expensive one I saw today at the show was $125 for a very young one.

They are very pretty, prolly cheaper to feed and smaller required housing.

[SnakeBabe]

Thanks Maria...
So how exactly do you handle an 8 foot snake that is always on the move?

I have Super powers…
http://storeimg.com/images.php/i1333_dunerils.jpg
he he he :biggrin:
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[basuca]

NICE snake! :D