Snakes
Dumeril's boa care guide
Acrantophis dumerili
A heavy, slow, docile Madagascan ground boa (5–7 ft).
Terrestrial — floor space first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Dumeril's boa enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult dumeril's boa should live in at least 72" L × 24" W × 24" H; we build toward 96" L × 36" W × 24" H (8 × 3 × 2 ft, roughly 24 sq ft of floor and about a 359-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 36" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 30" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 48" L × 24" W × 18" H recommended · min 48" L × 18" W × 18" H
- Adult
- 96" L × 36" W × 24" H recommended · min 72" L × 24" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
- Basking / warm surface
- 88–92°F surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 84–88°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 75–80°F
- Night
- No lower than 72°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 50–70%. Moisture-holding substrate and a large water bowl.
Substrate and depth
Cypress mulch or soil mix. Depth: 3–4 in.
Diet and feeding
Frozen-thawed rodents every 10–14 days for adults; prone to obesity, so feed conservatively.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Clutter — cork, leaf litter, plants — for cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
Dumeril's boa FAQ
How big should an adult Dumeril's boa enclosure be?
At least 72" L × 24" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 96" L × 36" W × 24" H — about 8 × 3 × 2 ft, or a 359-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Dumeril's boa need?
Basking or warm surface 88–92°F surface, warm side 84–88°F, cool side 75–80°F, night No lower than 72°F. Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
Does a Dumeril's boa need UVB?
Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does a Dumeril's boa need?
50–70%. Moisture-holding substrate and a large water bowl.
What substrate is best for a Dumeril's boa?
Cypress mulch or soil mix, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does a Dumeril's boa enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 36" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 30" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own dumeril's boa record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.