Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I am thinking of purchasing a single blood python within the next few months (lots of studying and setting up first). I will have plenty of questions, but first and foremost:

Is the Sumatran short-tailed python the smallest of them? reaching only about 3 ½ ‘ to 5’ or so? Do they have red coloration as adults?

I am guessing that males are smaller than females?

And I need to know the floor space and height for a cage for an adult. I really want to be prepared for this little guy I'm going to get. Any measurements for and adult male would be useful. I am planning on making a Plywood cage for it.

Other aspects like humidity, heat, light, and feeding, I will read on and buy a few books. I have had several pythons before and I now breed Garter snakes, But I have to have on of these guys!

N e info would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,

Lu

-sumatran short tails aka black bloods or P.Curtus are mainly black, but can get them with ornage heads.

Males are the smaller of bloods

A 4'x2'x18" cage is suitible for adult bloods.Melamine might be better choice for a cage, or seal the plywood good with something.Larger cages are harder to get your humdity and heat where you need it, just play with it before you get your blood.Little bloods like smaller cages with tight hides and sometimes will not eat if they don't feel secure.

Read the caresheets from Pro Exotics, VPI, and NERD.Search this forum with questions as a lot of these questions have already been answered so you will have lots of info to read and learn as well.Gotto love the bloods, but having my first one was kind of hard when you don't get a healthy one and you think you are doing everything wrong, but everything is right, can be frustrating but in the end it all pays off. Good luck, Ethan

Hey, thanks for the reply. I have melamine racks and I also just made a display cage that measures 40in x 16in x 32 in high. Hopefully this will be enough. They grow pretty large in girth so I am guessing they don't climb much?? To take advantage of the extra "second floor" I will add ramps and shelves to the cage for him.

I really want one that has a nice red coloration when adult, so I will be reading much more into it.

Will a humidifier sustaine the humidity and a nice sized "sweat box"

Are you planning on using a sweater box? Just some misting and large water bowl will keep humidity good in the sweaterbox.If you want a red blood you want a sumatran red blood, not a short tail sumatran.Just watch the classifieds for the right one. Later, Ethan

Hey,

I dont plan on using a sweater box for him/her, I want to have the snake as a display. I will use a ten gallon tank until he grows out it. But I do plan on putting him in a large display cagfe made out of Melamine with a screen front. The cage itself wont be able to contain much humidity, and thats why I asked about the humid hide I mentioned earlier.

Ultimalty the snake will not be purchased or even brought into mind until everything is set up and reayd for it.

When could I expect the snake to grow out of a 20 gallon long aquarium?

Thanks,

Lu

you can see our Blood python article from Reptiles Magazine at our site, there is a lot of information in that.

we keep our adults very successfully in the Vision cages, 4 fts and 4.5 fts.

Bloods are a great choice, very cool snake : )
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

n/p