Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi i am looking to get a blood python of some sort,,,but i am starting to realize that there are many different types,,,and some that look like blood pythons that are called borneo short tailed pythons..what one is more docile? which one tends to be smaller?

Hi There!
The Blood Pythons (P.C Brongersmai) and the Borneo Short-Tailed Python (P.C.Breitenstienii) (also commonly called the Borneo Blood Python) and the Black Short-Tailed Python (P.C.Curtus) (also commonly called the Black blood Python) are all related but originate in different locales,the Blood Python is referred to as the mainland form,they're larger and vary in shades of red to oxblood and burgundy as adults with grey heads.
They can reach lengths of 6-8 feet in length and weigh thirty to forty pounds because they are heavy bodied,stout snakes and their temperaments wil vary,wild caught adults are generally aggressive while captive bred and born babies or farm-raised imported hatchlings tend to be slightly nippy as babies and taming down with regular handling.
Borneo Short-Tailed Pythons are smaller in length and weight and generally have mellower temperaments,they have no reddish coloration as adults and are shades of brown with tan or sometimes yellow heads with attractive markings.
The Sumatran Short-Tailed Python has dark brown and black markings,a good temperament and is the smallest of the three.
All three are excellent captive pythons,the babies are somewhat subject to handling stress and can be difficult feeders but if given a suitable tight hide box or cave and time to acclimate without handling will generally thrive and establish a regular eating schedule,success with Blood and Short-Tailed Pythons depends on the proper temperature and climate in the cage as well as access to hiding areas.
I set up all my Bloods and Short-Tailed Pythons with a hiding cave,plastic plant tray filled with most white Sphganum moss,a deep water bowl and a moisture retaining substrate or newspaper.
You will want your temperatures to be in the high eighties with a warm basking area of 90 to 92 degrees and your humidity should be in the tropical range of 70 to 80 percent.
Well,I hope this helps,sorry to write you a novel,I've kept and bred all three blood and Short-Tailed Pythons for many years,they're my absolute favorite Python species.

Stormy Hall

hey, you could basically get any type of blood that you want to start off with except if i were you i wouldnt get a malaysian because of their temper but black bloods, red bloods, and borneo are simaler in attitude except they might be slightly nippier or nicer and the size might be a little smaller or a little larger like the black bloods are a little calmer and are a little smaller and reds are a little nippier if you purchase a CB baby blood of any kind it will most likely be nippy but if you handle them everyday for a couple weeks they will get to be really calm and a joy to have but you must be willing to handle them often or they will end up being aggressive as adults and thats when the bites will start to hurt lol!! i have bloods and im telling you, as soon as you get them calmed down youll love them and never get bored with them!!! they have a great personality. i think you should consider getting one. but only if you are willing to put your time and effort into them because they do need attention. good luck when you get one and trust me, you will not regret it! i hope you enjoy. they are my all time favorite snake. thanks