by insaniac » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:08 am
Hi Boidae,
Bloods are not a great beginner python...( not saying that you don't have experience )
I certainly feel that the Blood pythons are a hearty, predictable, easy to handle snake, but you have to maintain perspective
The Blood pythons are generally shy and defensive at first but calm dow nicely when handled frequently.
They can be easily stressed, and often react to that stress by not eating, having bad sheds, and just generally not thriving. This is why they are not really a beginner snake, but rather for an intermediate keeper that has a couple of solid "snake years" under his/her belt.
You have to be able to read and react with this animal. Bloods are not corns, or Burms, where a strong personality, feeding response, and heartiness will help bail you out of ignorant mistakes. With a Burmese python, you can fudge the temperatures a bit, you can go without a hide spot, and offering rats OR mice will often get you a strong instinctive feeding strike. You can have less than ideal conditions with your Burm, and the animal will tolerate it for quite some time before really making you pay the price. You cannot make these same simple mistakes with Bloods.
Whenever their surroundings change for the worse they wil start stressing...
If your temperatures are not within an ideal range, or if you fail to offer such a basic need as a proper hidespot, your Blood can turn a negative corner very quickly. An experienced keeper should be able to "read" their animal and interpret what is being offered, and correct the situation quickly. An experienced keeper knows how important cage temperatures and hot spots can be, and they have detailed knowledge of the temperature layout of each given cage. An experienced keeper knows how to quickly and properly acclimate a newly received python, a period that is very important when working with a brand new baby Blood python.
The most common stress that I hear about from new Blood python owners is that very acclimation period... (this period is stressful for both the snake, and the new owner).
When receiving a new animal, it is best to have a cage setup and ready, with the proper temps, hidespots and water bowl all prepared. You cannot expect your new Blood python to simply "settle in" when you haven't even balanced out your heat pad, overhead light, and substrate, or you haven't bothered to pick up a new water bowl and hidespot yet. Do your homework and be prepared, your new Blood python is going to have no patience for your mistakes.But it will be one of your best additions to your collection if your willing to put in the time...
Enjoy !
P.S. If that is a picture of you in your avatar, your other half ( ? ) and your snakes must be very happy !
I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have each other...