Hello all...and a dumeril feeding problem

[Squirgle]

Well hello all, this is my first post thus far so....Hi! lol anywho, I recently (december 16th) purchased a Dumeril Boa (about 16-18" currently) and since then I've only gotten it to eat twice. Once about 2 weeks after I purchased him, and about a week and a half ago. The first time he ate it was a f/t fuzzie and seemed to have no problem. I fed him in a separate tupperware with holes, a little substrate (reptibark), and dryer warmed towels covering it in a darkened room. After about 45 mins. I went and checked, lo and behold he ate. Then I tried to continue feeding him every week for several weeks, using the same method (minus warm towels) no luck. I finally gave up around a week and a half ago and dropped a live fuzzie hamster into his cage. After 'stalking' it for about half an hour he ate it as well. I'd REALLY prefer to feed frozen to him, so I tried feeding him in his own cage the last time, (so he wouldn't get stressed from the move to the feed container if that was the cause) and used pliers to move the fuzzie around and kinda tease the snake. After he buried himself in the substrate all I got was a few real short, quick, jerks towards the fuzzie but no strikes at all after an hour. So...any help you guys could give me would be great...
Cage specs...
-36"X24"X18" Vision cage
-(Most difficult thing I think) Temp usually around mid 80's at the highest, high 70's at night
-150 watt red bulb (always on), 75 watt basking light (day only), heat pad
-large water dish for soaking, plenty of Flukers moss, regular cage mistings (still doesn't seem very humid though, actually feels pretty dry)
-Substrate? Not sure if its Sani-chips hardwood chips, or Aspen bedding. Its one or the other, can't quite tell...its from LLLREPTILE.COM (cage and supplies)
-Cage mates? Yes, one Brazilian Rainbow boa about 17-20". But they get along great. One small squabble about a month ago but thats it. The Rainbow eats like a beast by the way [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] every feeding with no problems at all.
So I think thats all the information I can think of to give you, if you need something else, tell me. Thanks ahead of time for any help...
Squirgle
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[Princenez]

Keep your snakes separate. Dum are known to be ophiophagous, so you are just asking to get your dum to feed on your brb...especially as it keeps getting more and more hungry. Also snakes are not social animal and it could be that the stress of the cage mate could be the reason your snake is not eating.

jay
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[Squirgle]

Yeah I was going to seperate them as soon as I got a seccond cage...which I have now, but I don't know if its any good, I'm getting mixed reviews on it...its that white finished wood? starts with an 'M'...not sure what it is, but if it doesn't work I'll just get another vision....
Squirgle
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[Princenez]

If it comes down to it get a rubbermaid and convert it to a cage...as long as you can heat it almost anything is preferable to housing them together.

jay
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[Squirgle]

I believe the name of the wood/cage is melamine
but yeah, I'll either be using my new "melamine" cage or buying another vision.
I have to get a third cage for whenever I buy a GTP anywho...
Squirgle
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	Green Tree Python Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)

[cb76]

melamine is good for snakes! some of my new cages are of melamine.

a brb and a dum should be ni where near each other
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[Chez_Cat]

If you don't have one, try a humid box for your Dumerils. Mine were just as picky at the start, and had almost a 3 week adjustment period when enclosures were changed. But a little rubbermaid box filled with moistened moss always did the trick. They would pop their head out at feeding time and BOOM...no more mouse.

And seperate your BRB from the Dumerils. I had a similar incident, and though your Dum is bigger, it may not survive what that wirey lil knot of muscle can do to it.
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