Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am planning on purchasing a blood at daytona but have a few questions. I have read extensively but I would rather here from fellow keepers. I have a bunch of balls and boas, but I have read that bloods are notoriously more aggresive. Is this true and can they be tamed? Do they devour their food or are they picky like balls? Can they be kept in my vision rack where I have my balls until it needs a larger enclosure? I plan on purchasing an 08 baby. Dp females get larger than males like balls and boas? Any other info would be appreciated. Thanks

Also I am interested in Sumatrans because I hear they are a bit more managable. What is the difference between the sumatrans and the borneos? Thanks in advance

I went thru the same thing---
I posted a similar post before I got my blood and got great responses!
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1468266,1468266

Unfortunatly--- I had spent nearly the entire 'budget' on other animals before I got down to buying the blood I wanted... I got the cheapest on I could find, from a company I know nothing about-- My blood died after a very short time in my care. I am confident in my husbandry and I don't believe that anything i did resulted in his death. I also don't know that it was the companies fault either... just majorly depressing...
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1498317,1498317

I'm going to go back to the other company I looked at-- and spend the extra cash for bloods i really like... (this co. was much more helpful than the one I bought from... should have spent the $ in the first place!)

While I did have him-- he seemed to have a good disposition-- don't know about the feeding response--- refused food once, found him dead on the 2nd feeding day... ugh.

Look around before you buy-- get a cutie and post pics!!

Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

I GOT A BLOOD FOR MY FIRST SNAKE AND HE IS GREAT! I'VE HAD HIM ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW AND FOUND THAT HE'S A LOT LIKE A BALL, BUT BIGGER AND WAY LAZIER... HE IS ACTUALLY VERY VERY DOCILE (CONSIDERING HE WAS A JERK THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS I HAD HIM) EVEN COMPARED TO ALL MY BOAS. OF COURSE TEMPERMENT HAS TO DO MORE ON THE SNAKE, BUT THEY TEND TO CALM QUITE NICELY. JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET HIM FROM A DECENT PERSON/COMPANY (SAME AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER SNAKE). AS FAR AS EATING HABITS MINE TEND TO BE KIND OF PICKY AT TIMES BUT NOW I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

Since you are going to Daytona, take advantage of the information gained from the Blood Panel discussion.

You can use the cb-70 style vision rack unit for a young short-tail (including bloods) until they outgrow the enclosure. I always recommend for the first year or so to have a tighter enclosure to allow sufficient security for the snake to feel comfortable and to help reduce stress. This translates to a less aggressive animal (ie less stressed) and to a healthier animal. Much like balls and boas, you can handle them periodically though you may find they like to urinate,etc when held. Eventually you should expect to purchase a well made snake enclosure with at least 2x4ft footprint to accomodate an adult. Keep the cage clean, keep the water clean, watch out for mold, use clean and easy to manage substrate like newspaper, kraft paper, etc. If you acquire a snake that appears nippy, where gloves until you and the snake are comfortable with each other. Don't over feed. Your snake should look like a snake and not a bratwurst sausage.

One last item to mention....stay in touch! This forum and others like it are great sources of information or at least for confirmation. Sometimes you see something and sharing that observation can help others as well as yourself to initiate discussion to help you understand what happened or is happening.

Good Luck!
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www.richcrowleyreptiles.com
Support your local herp society
www.chicagoherp.org

Thanks for the info. Do you plan on going to Daytona? Your name has come up a few times when speaking of reputable blood breeders. Do you plan on any 08 female surinam red bloods? I figure the more time you spend working with a snake( blood or not), with patience and respect, they will not mind be handled or at least be managable. Thanks

I wont have any brongersmai this year. I am a devoted borneo (breitensteini) guy this year.

I am trying to find a way to lie, cheat and steal my way this year but no firm commitments to Daytona.
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www.richcrowleyreptiles.com
Support your local herp society
www.chicagoherp.org

Thanks for the advice, Rich! I've been hanging out on the forum for months trying to soak up information in preparation for getting my first blood this summer. I learned the value of forums when I got my BRB and started visiting that extremely-active forum!

>>One last item to mention....stay in touch! This forum and others like it are great sources of information or at least for confirmation. Sometimes you see something and sharing that observation can help others as well as yourself to initiate discussion to help you understand what happened or is happening.
>>
>>Good Luck!
>>-----
>>================================
>>www.richcrowleyreptiles.com
>>Support your local herp society
>>www.chicagoherp.org
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Renee

2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
1.0 BRB (Loki)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

Blood are in my opinion very tame animals as adults if they are handled with patience. When I got my first blood this was before I got into balls. I used leather garden gloves to hold him till he has learned to trust me. Treat it with respect don't force handle him. They are shy animals not aggressive. They only strike as a defensive mechanism not to attack you. You just need patience and time for the blood to trust you then you are set with an awesome relationship for life. Bloods like to play with their food so patience will get him to eat (wiggle the food in front of him for a few mins. I have gone up to 10 mins for him to finally take his prey. Hope this helps

Rich

hey dude! Bloods are definately the right way to go. i've had my BST pair for 6 months now and they're as docile as newborm kittens, never hiss or strike. i've found that they grow at a very fast rate but they have problems shedding just like royals. they're awsome snakes and beautiful to boot.

>>I am planning on purchasing a blood at daytona but have a few questions. I have read extensively but I would rather here from fellow keepers. I have a bunch of balls and boas, but I have read that bloods are notoriously more aggresive. Is this true and can they be tamed? Do they devour their food or are they picky like balls? Can they be kept in my vision rack where I have my balls until it needs a larger enclosure? I plan on purchasing an 08 baby. Dp females get larger than males like balls and boas? Any other info would be appreciated. Thanks

I am a very beginner keeper of the short tails. A few things I have learned. They are very picky about their water. I have seen much better overall behavior and eating since I started changing water twice a day. They like a compact area. In talking with keepers who have tried and failed, I learned they offered far more space than I have, and they failed. They hit their food HARD. Even with my problem feeder, I have to hold the edge of her cage when she hits because she has rocked the neodesha off the rack. Unlike balls, they are very sensitive to heat and humidity. They like it JUST RIGHT. They are a very different snake to handle. Very strong willed. I guess the best way to say is they like to do what they like to do. Respect that. The biggest thing to realize is they are very vocal. They talk to you ALOT. You need to listen.

I have had a variety of snakes over the years with my rescue. Balls, boas, burms, corns, kingsnakes, bulls. These are overall my favorite.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

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