Dumeril's Boa Care Sheet.
Dumeril Boas are a native of Madagascar, an large island
off the east coast of Africa. There are three species of boas native
to the island and Acrantophis Dumerilli or Dumeril's Boa is one. The
others are A. Madagascariensis or the Madagascar Ground Boa and Sanzinia
Madagascariensis or the Madagascar Tree boa. |
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Dumeril's mostly inhabit the arid desert part of Madagascar called the Spiny
Desert which is on the western side of the island. The region looks much like
the deserts of Mexico and
south west USA and is very arid, although some of the Dumeril's range does extend
into more temperate woodlands.
Night time summer temperatures often drop into the high 60's or low 70's with day time temps staying in the mid to high 90's. During the winter months of December and January average daytime temps are in the lower 70's with nighttime temps in the 50's.
Being a ground dweller they like to hide during the day and will often take refuge in burrows and hollow logs etc and they are a shy snake. The animals that are currently sold in the US all originate from a small population that was imported into the country but quickly halted by the Madagascan government.
Interesting Facts:
- The name for Dumeril’s boa in Malagash, the native language of Madagascar,
is “do,” pronounced like “dough!”
- Dumeril’s boas have been kept by some local peoples to help control
rodents. In other areas they are greatly feared and killed whenever possible,
even though they are not dangerous to humans!
Length and Weight:
Dumeril’s boas reach an average length of 4-5 feet (1.21-1.5 m) and usually weigh less than 20 pounds (9 kg).
The maximum recorded length is 7 feet (2.1 m). Females are larger than males.
Enclosure:
As Dumeril's spend a lot of time in hiding in the wild they should be given plenty of hiding places within their cage. Hides, hollow logs and places to hide are important to avoid stress. Aquariums are not good cages for these animals as they are a shy snake. A wooden cage with a glass or perplex front is the recommended enclosure.
Young Dumerils should be kept in containers that are small enough to allow the snake to feel secure and also should have a hiding place. A good container is one similar to the container for small snake in the "How to build reptile enclosures booklet". Dumeril's will suffer stress if placed in an oversized cage or an aquarium.
Substrate:
Newspaper and commercial substrates can be used. Avoid substrates tat expand if the animal is fed in the same cage as they can be ingested and cause blockages.
Aspen shavings is a recommended substrate for Dumeril's as it allows them to burrow.
Diet:
Dumeril's will happily exist on rodents. Dumeril's should be fed as per their defecation schedule, ie when they defecate their last meal they can take another feed. Over feeding should be avoided, so if the snake has to wait some time before the next meal, that is not a problem.
Dumeril's being an ambush snake have a slow metabolism. Over feeding does not make a snake healthier but, like people, the opposite.
Feeding should be about once per week for the first 18-24 months and the size of the feed should increase in size as the snake grows, starting off with small pinkie mice. The food should not be wider than the widest part of the snake.
Water should be available in both the warmer and cooler parts of the snake's cage.
Temperature:
During the daytime temperatures should be maintained with a basking area of up to 30°C (87°F), dropping down to a cooler end of 25°C (78°F). At night the temperature should be dropped to between 23 - 25°C (75 - 78°F).
Heat/Light:
Heating can be provided from heat lamps (ceramic or globe) and heat mats can be used. The cage should have a thermal gradient (a range of temperatures from one end to the other) to allow the animal to regulate it's body temperature. Heat mats should only cover 1/2 to 2/3's of the cage if used.
Dumeril's are a very docile animal whose future is endangered due to the destruction of their environment.
Like all keepers, it is important to arm yourself with knowledge to look
after your valuable pet and maintain the optimal environment for their continued
well being.
Mark Chapple is the Author of "How to build enclosures
for reptiles"
Find out how to build these cages as well as arboreal cages. Full color pictures,
detailed diagrams and easy to follow, step-by-step instructions.
http://www.reptile-cage-plans.com