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ChriZR2 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-08-2002, 05:01 AM

Ok,
I've had my Dum since Friday....I know, I know, he's still going to be stessed, but is it normal for him to try and "jump" out of my hands? I figured he would hold on with part of his body but no, he just tries to get away. And seems really hyper. Doesn't like to be touched, takes off across his tank, snatching his tail away. So, I'm hoping this is just from shipping, and am hoping he'll calm down some, but I don't know. Let me know,
Chris.
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Squirgle · #2 (**permalink**) 04-08-2002, 06:20 AM

Hyper? weird...my Dumeril is the most laid back snake I've seen...no matter what I do, he just sits there. I swear I've gotten dirty looks, but nothing more. The only time it even moves fast is if I accidentally tap its 'snout' with a f/t. then he will jerk away like "OH MY GOD! IT TOUCHED ME!!!" its so funny.
Good luck getting it to calm down, from what I've heard, a hyper Dumeril is very abnormal.
I'm sure it'll be fine though [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Squirgle
oh and I'm guessing its young? that might add to the 'shyness'
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ChriZR2 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-08-2002, 06:25 AM

Well,
I'm just hoping it's weird now cause it's new, and just got shipped from NC. So, if a few weeks go by, and nothing's changed, I"ve got the first hyper Dum!!! Guiness here I come! Thanks.
Chris. I'll post some pics soon. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_evil.gif[/img]
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cb76 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-08-2002, 06:30 AM

sounds like its stressed! dont handle the snake. you know not to mess with a new snake for at least 2 weeks (or more) to let it settle in [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

i have had some that i havent held for more than a yr to still act the same way! you have to realize that all boas are not the same, alot do not like to be handled.

currently i have 2 dums that are like that. i would say wait a while (i know its hard [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] ) but it has to be done.

dums are solitery animals and easily stressed. some are totally awesome, some do not like it at all. i hope yours feeds. when stressed they tend to go off of feed.

if the snake is acting like that, expect a bite sooner or later! dums hit hard and fast!!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] nothing to be afraid of if its only a baby, but its very impressive and a bit scary.

yes that happens. good luck with the new snake, and give it a chance to settle in.
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Dr.Oviparous · #5 (**permalink**) 04-08-2002, 09:57 AM

yeah, I agree al the way, wait to handle em'. I don't have any dums, I looked into getting one a while back, almost all the info I could find mentioned an adjustment period of 2-3 weeks during which your new snake shouldn't be handled. I would just let em chill in his new home, let em adjust for a couple weeks. just my .02 -Juggalo
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cb76 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 05:56 AM

it may be more than the "standard" 2-3 weeks adjustment period.
i have noticed that dum's on average are awesome animals with hardy appetites! they are totally awesome and enjoy to be handled.

but there is the other half/ or few that are really sensitive to anything that changes or handles them. these require more time that usual to adapt to its new surroundings. i have noticed that when they are finicky, they are FINICKY!!! they go off of feed, they remain nervous and aggressive- some come around, some dont.

just be very careful when aqurining and acclimating. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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Squirgle · #7 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 06:01 AM

So if they are stressed they may go off feed...if I have a Dumeril that isn't eating, should I try giving it an 'aclimation time' right now? I purchased it back in December, but I started handling it about 4 days after I got it, and feeding has kinda been a struggle...should I just not touch the thing or try feeding for like two weeks to see how he does, or would not holding him for that long be detrimental to his temperment? (refer to my earlier post) as I said earlier nothing really seems to phase him, so he is really calm appearing, so would not holding him for that long be detrimental?
thanks!
Squirgle
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ChriZR2 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 06:43 AM

Well,
today I got mine to eat. He didn't really hesitate, so Im guessing he's not too stressed. I held him last night, and he seemed fine. Didn't squirm too much, let me pet his chin, etc.. So, I'm going to let this mouse digest good, let him sit a while, and try holding him again. Thanks for the advice though.
Chris.

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Squirgle · #9 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 06:48 AM

Did you feed him LIVE? shame shame! *note* only assumed cause it looked like the mouse poo'd in the food dish, kinda gave it away.
you should know better. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
Squirgle
lol incase you Don't know better. Don't feed live, seriously. Frozen thawed is much better. Freezing kills any bacteria that might be in or on the mouse, the mouse could 'chew' on the snake, which would lead to infection or death, the snake could be more prone to striking, etc
please feed f/t

P.S. and if you Did feed frozen thawed and I'm just going nuts over a few black marks in the picture, Sorry! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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cb76 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 07:08 AM

hey, if its feeding in a dish- i would say you have the un-shy ones that love to chill!
i have a few like that, that would eat on my hands!!! the others wont even look at it.

like i said before- dumerili are ambush hunters- therefore they sit around alot and wait. having a slower metabolism than the colombian bci (thats why alot are obese in captivity)

dums wait to eat. all the animals usually come out at night, so try it then. in the dark and leave the food on a lil' plate or a top to something. let the animal go for it, it self.

some are picky as #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& to and would need to take live for the first few times. use pinks or fuzzies (no teeth)

also try using a black mouse when feeding. there are no white albino lab rats running around madagascar. like i said- picky!

your dum hasent eaten since december??? wow!!! i really would leave it aloneand make sure all the husbandry specs are correct!

reptiles are like robots. void of emotion, so we cant tell when they are stressed. we just have to do our best. just remember- ther are no people in madagascar playing with them. that not eating is definitly a sign. alot will sit contently in your hands and will let you pet them, others will be nervous and keep running from you, if its not eating- it is definitly stressed.
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Squirgle · #11 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 07:17 AM

LOL no I didn't mean he hasn't eaten since december, thats just how long I've had him. He ate f/t a week and a half after I got him (feb 5th), the I struggled for a month, gave up and fed him a live fuzzie, and then just a week and a half ago he ate a f/t again. He refused yesterday.
I'm pretty sure I got all the feedings, there may have been two f/t feeding before the month fast...its rather frustrating.
Specs look ok to me...average day temp is around mid to low 80's, humidity gets up to 80% on days that I'm home all day, averages 60-70% on school days...he's about 17 inches long (at most) and in a 3ft wide by 2ft deep by 18inch high vision cage...Everything is good as far as I know....
and yeah I do try feeding it at night in the dark. I put him in a tupperware with holes, close it and put it in his cage, around 10-11 at night with only his red light on...he will just usually curl up and lay there....
Oh, and that fuzzie I fed him? He took that in like 15 secconds, and if I let him bury under substrate and move a fuzzie around in little bits, he gets really interested, even moving his head in little jerks, but I've done that for up to half an hour with just that....little head jerks.
Squirgle
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ChriZR2 · #12 (**permalink**) 04-09-2002, 06:33 PM

I do admit, I did feed the Dum a "live" mouse. I do say though, I smacked the #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& out of it, and was right there while he ate it, so if the mouse did decided to attack, I'd be there with sitck in hand to beat him down. But anyways, another reason I fed him a live one is because everytime I feed my BCI a f/t, I've got to stick my hand in there to "twitch" the thing, and usually end up getting nailed. So, this was just a one time thing, I'm going to get some tongs today, and try feeding the Dum f/t in a few weeks. Thanks,
Chris.
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cb76 · #13 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 07:36 PM

tongs are great!
i also have long tweezers for feeding the babies.

giving a good wack before feeding is fine! they are usually dead or severly stunned. usually they wont fight back. as long as yu reach that goal you are ok!

sometimes the nerves going all crazy and the last few beats of the heart while the snake is coiling it may make the snake attracted to eat more.

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JC86 · #14 (**permalink**) 04-18-2002, 08:25 PM

Heh when you feed prekilled or stunned just make sure their mouth is closed. When I had switched my BP to pre-killed it still constricted, and somehow got a little bit of it's body into the mouse's mouth and punctured it'self on the mouse's tooth when it squeezed. Healed up in a day, but still. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] As I look back it's kinda funny.

Scott
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