View Full Version : Many questions about dumerils boa
Hello everyone! so this is my first time on any forum so bare with me.
I will be getting my first Dumerils Boa in a couple of weeks here. I did own a Ball Python before which I must say was absolutely wonderful. So some questions I have:
First off I would like to build my own cage and I was going to do so with six pieces of glass, some 2x4 and some hinges. Does anyone have any suggestions or input on if That would be good material to use or if I should take another route.
Secondly, I would like to feed my snake live out of my own preference. The only things I was worried about was hearing about rats attacking the snakes once they've reached a bigger size. Are there precautions to take in this case? any input would be great.
I was considering making the tank 5' long 2' wide and 1.5' tall. I believe that should be a reasonable size but I was wondering the best way to heat that. Once again any input would be great and thanks for your time!
metalcopper
09-07-14, 11:04 AM
Glass does not hold heat well, I would suggest building the cage out of wood, and using a framed glass door or sliding glass for the front. The size sounds good, I wouldn't go any smaller than 5 feet. I'm not a fan of feeding live food, unless it's necessary. Frozen is a lot less trouble, and you only have to go to the pet store once in a while to stock up on frozens, rather than every week to buy live.
Thank you for the response. I've seen videos of people putting air holes into the cage. Is that something that is a necessity then? Is that ventilation needed or is that a preference. And then when it comes to heating would a lamp and a heating pad do well or should I go another route
metalcopper
09-07-14, 04:00 PM
You want some air to be able to get in, but the more holes you have, the harder it is to keep humidity.
I suggest using a radiant heat panel, or install a light bulb fixture and use a ceramic heat emitter, either one needs to be controlled by a thermostat. For a larger cage like the one you want to build, the radiant heat panel will work better I think. Then use a florescent light strip for lighting.
Once again thank you for the input!
Once again thank you for the input! You've been much help
Dumerils are awesome to keep.
Go with a wooden cage. Mine is made of wood with sliding glass fronts. A word of warning, the glass needs to be thick, mine are 2 sheets of glass each 6mm thick joined together, to make 1 sheet of 12mm thick. Adult Dumerils will easily break any glass thinner than about 8mm. My cage is 2,5meters in length and 2meters in height, and 1meter in width. This is overkill and I reckon that 2meters x 1meter x 1 meter would be sufficient for a single Dumeril. I keep my pair together permanently, hence the bigger cage.
As for food, rather go the Frozen / Thawed method, for the reasons as previously mentioned.
Great thank you. And would it be fine to put a juvenile into the full size cage right off the bat? I've heard too big of a cage can stress a snake out but I'm not sure how true that is and how big is too big.
SnoopySnake
09-08-14, 10:18 AM
Great thank you. And would it be fine to put a juvenile into the full size cage right off the bat? I've heard too big of a cage can stress a snake out but I'm not sure how true that is and how big is too big.
As long as you have a nice substrate that your snake can burrow into, and fill the enclosure with plenty of hides, fake plants, branches, etc. then the snake should be fine in a larger enclosure. The large enclosure itself isn't a problem, not having enough cover is though.
So change of plans while I was searching today I fell in love with this baby rainbow boa. I have a jungle mix substrate which is good for humidity but I have a screen top cage. Should I place something over top of it to keep in heat and humidity? I have a 60 watt bulb and a 30-40 gal heat pad on bottom. It's currently 80.3 degrees inside and humidity is at 80%. The temp I listed is on the warm side. Any suggestions or input is appreciated.
Also should I leave him be for 24 hours before I handle him again?
SnoopySnake
09-08-14, 07:32 PM
Cover the top of the screen lid with foil or a piece of acrylic or something along those lines. It's very important that you put the heat mat on a thermostat, a good cheap one: Amazon.com : Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410225996&sr=8-1&keywords=hydrofarm+thermostat)
Amazon.com : Hydrofarm Digital Temperature Controller for Heat Mat : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Digital-Temperature-Controller-Heat/dp/B0047KKOMI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410225996&sr=8-2&keywords=hydrofarm+thermostat)
A cheap infrared thermometer: Amazon.com: NubeeŽ Temperature Gun Non-contact Infrared Thermometer w/ Laser Sight: Kitchen & Dining (http://www.amazon.com/Nubee%C2%AE-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410226420&sr=8-1&keywords=infrared+thermometer)
You'll want to get an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature that your heat mat is reaching, as I'm guessing 80 was your air temp? I would say ditch the heat lamp as they really dry out the air, and rainbow boas do fine at ambient room temperatures. Rainbow boas only need a basking spot at about 84 degrees, they like it much cooler than a lot of snakes. Temperatures above 90 can be fatal for a rainbow boa, which is another reason why its really important to get that thermostat. Also, what are you using to measure humidity? If its one of the little stick on dial hygrometers, I'd strongly suggest you switch to a digital thermometer/hygrometer as the analog ones tend to be inaccurate, and get stuck.
Pics of the set-up would be helpful so we don't have to make guesses :)
Here's a picture of the zilla dual therm/hygro probe
Here's the two lights. 50 watt red night light and 60 watt lye day light. Both on timers for 12/12 currently cool side is 76 and warm side is 80 humidity is currently 84 I have a damp towel on one half of the screen
So how does the thermostat work? Without it the heating pad is at it's highest? And where would you put the probe on it?
The thermostat plugs in to the outlet, and the heat source us plugged in to the thermostat. If your using a heat mat or tape, place it under the enclosure with the probe between the mat and the enclosure. You'll need to experiment with the temp to find a sweet spot, as the temp on the probe and the temp inside the enclosure will be different. Once the desired internal temp is achieved, set your thermostat to whatever temp the probe is reading. This all needs to be done before the animal is in it's enclosure. A temp gun will really make life easier doing this, and it's very useful in keeping snakes overall. I would suggest picking one up. Any Lowe's or home depot will have them for around $20.
Thanks much for the help! Time to get this girl comfy
And then the heat gun that would basically be for measuring the ground temperature correct?
SnoopySnake
09-09-14, 09:48 AM
IW17 explained it perfectly. Yeah, the temp gun measures ground temperatures. I also just wanted to add that it'd be a good idea to add a bunch of branches for your snake to climb on and some fake plants to help them feel more secure, I notice my rainbow boas climb a lot at night, and they climb through the plants as well. :)
Right on thanks again and is there a way to sterilize drift wood from outside or is it better to buy them
And when you say ditch the heat lamps should I just have no heat source all together other than the heating pad? that way it will have a warm and a cooler side still. and should I still use a regular light for day/night cycles or is that unnecessary as well.
SnoopySnake
09-09-14, 01:16 PM
I don't think you really need to sterilize the branches you find outside, just make sure there's no rotting or anything, and that they're not completely covered with bugs. I haven't sterilized any of mine and so far so good.
Yes, just use the heat mat hooked to a thermostat. The ambient air temp should be fine for the entire cage, and the warm spot only really needs to be the heat mat. My rainbows only ever use the warm hides when they're digesting.
Using a light for day/night cycles isn't really necessary, but if you want to, I'd go with a fluorescent fixture. They don't heat the air much and look really nice.
marvelfreak
09-09-14, 01:25 PM
Right on thanks again and is there a way to sterilize drift wood from outside or is it better to buy them
You can bake it like around 180 degrees for a haft hour. If you do this soak it first in water this will help stem out any pest. Or you can bleach it, rinse then give it a couple days to air dry.
And when you say ditch the heat lamps should I just have no heat source all together other than the heating pad? that way it will have a warm and a cooler side still. and should I still use a regular light for day/night cycles or is that unnecessary as well.
Ditch the heat lamps all together. All you need is a heat pad with a thermostat. Also remember temp over 85 degrees can be deadly to Rainbow Boas. Do you have windows in the room the snakes in? If so you don't need any lights. If not then the room light works just fine.
I appreciate the input you guys have helped out a lot!
So I've noticed she decided to borrow down into the 1.5 inch thick substrate(too much?) I've taken the light off awhile ago but it still dried up the top layer of the substrate and underneath is quite humid. so I misted the tank and now heading to get a thermostat and some good moss for her new hide.
SnoopySnake
09-09-14, 02:12 PM
So I've noticed she decided to borrow down into the 1.5 inch thick substrate(too much?) I've taken the light off awhile ago but it still dried up the top layer of the substrate and underneath is quite humid. so I misted the tank and now heading to get a thermostat and some good moss for her new hide.
Sounds good :) Yeah, they like to burrow. Would love to see pics of your snake! :)
Here's a decent picture of her!
So a little update. I came home (before I left I unplugged the heat mat) and with no heat source the terrarium is perfect and a little bit of moss made the humidity perfect so far.
What is a good hygrometer to use? I feel like the one I have is inaccurate reading 96% but it doesn't seem that high in there
SnoopySnake
09-10-14, 09:56 AM
Looking at your pic, I notice your probes are really close to the ground, This could be why your humidity is measuring so high, I would try moving them up some.
Looking at your pic, I notice your probes are really close to the ground, This could be why your humidity is measuring so high, I would try moving them up some.
great thank you I will definitely try that and also does it matter if I have a couple chords going in there like that? it's not going to bother the snake at all.
SnoopySnake
09-10-14, 11:04 AM
They don't seem to mind, mine just climb through them sometimes.
Snakesitter
09-10-14, 01:51 PM
Wait...what? That's a rainbow, not a Dumeril's! Somewhere, I seem to have missed something....
Haha yes at one point I mentioned a change of plans and decided to get her!
One last thing here. How often should I change the substrate? I use jungle mix and I make about an inch and a half thick. Along with the zoomed terrarium moss is that something that's needs to be changed regularly
Snakesitter
09-12-14, 02:00 PM
Spot check daily, and replace it all every quarter or if it fails the "smell test" for urine. (Same with moss.)
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