Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ARE they really harder than burmese,kingsnake,leopard gecko"s, pictus gecko"s? Iam thinking about getting a pair of babies. Ihave done the research.And think I am ready for them. Are they really as hard as everyone says?....

I don't have alot of experience with bloods and short-tails, I have only been keeping them for a couple of years. I can say that they are harder to keep than most boas, bearded dragons, uromastyx, ball pythons. But I know for myself I did what you said as far as the research, then I got one. I still ask questions. This is a excellnet place to find answers. I myself never felt like I was ready all the way up until I got one, then two and so on. Best of luck

Steve

My friend is giving me a pair for supplying him with feeders. That is why I am asking.

I only have one blood so far, but there hasn't been anything hard about owning her. My ball python is pickier, more temperamental and stops eating every winter. The blood is tame as a kitten, eats everything I give her and never, ever hisses or bites.

I'd trade my ball for a second blood if I could.

If the ones you are thinking about are tame, dive in! Nothin to it.

It will be an unrelated pair of babies. I have to wait until the Chicago show though. I really wanted something bigger, but I guess they will grow . I have an overabundance of rats that I need to get rid of the mice, girbils, and degus are easy.

They'll grow faster than you think. Mine was just a pup last Thanksgiving, and now she's at least tripled her weight and girth. It's like, they poop so few times a year that every bit of nutrient seems to go right into growth. Very amazing to watch, really. Good luck if you buy them.

Is the care much harder than most pythons? I guess that is what I should have asked. A friend of mine said they are really hard to raise from babes.
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1.0 albino Speckled king
0.1 speckled king
0.1 desert cali king
1.0 pastel X pinstripe ball python
65 rats
100 mice
8 degus
2 girbils
1.0 blue and gold macaw
1.1 orange wing amazons
0.1 tin african grey
1.0 sugar glider
1 beagle

As far as being difficult as babies it really depends on where you get them from. Most good reputable breeders with CBB babies will be all set up - eating good and healthy. If you go bargain binning it and get a CH animal you run the risk of getting a sickly baby that isn't eating. When they get to that point they are fairly difficult to work with. But once they are eating and thriving they tend to continue as long as their correct enviornment requirements are met.
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

Mine was a little tricky to get started feeding at first, but that was mostly a matter of finding a prey size that suited her. She was really small--only a couple months old. Once I got that figured out, she became a regular feeder without issue. What was really nice for me is, she actually prefers frozen/thawed over live. I think that's because she was started on F/T. She also has a very easy feeding response. I just lay her meal in front of her, and she starts right in. Not aggressive at all. But, that's just my snake. Each one is unique.

If you get yours from an owner who has had them for awhile, it should be easy to get them feeding once they really get adjusted to your environment (which can take several weeks). Ask for feeding records. A good herper should have those and keep track of feedings, sheds, defecation and so forth. That's a sign of someone who really cares about the animals they have. Plus, it's interesting information over time.

I raised my first two bloods from babies and never had any problems. My male was VERY tiny when I bought him and I now suspect (after seeing other babies) that he didnt have as many meals as he should have before they sold him. Coincidently, he was only the second snake, and first python, I ever owned. If I could do it over again I would have put a lot more effort into checking out good breeders. I bought him for $65 from a random place online and, after hearing horror stories, consider myself pretty lucky that he has an excellent disposition and has never had any health problems.
Kim