Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I finally succombed to months of longing...and I have my very first blood!

I knew going to the reptile show in Birmingham would be trouble. I swore inside and out that I would *NOT* bring home a snake, not a single one. Until I laid eyes on the cutest Sumatran blood python neonate ever. And the little nipper just curled right up in my hand and hung out, as chill as could be for a warm snake. Love at first sight. The going price was $90. I paid $69, because I'm that cool. Much begging and wheedling with mom and boyfriend turned out not to matter, since boyfriend forgot to make me swear not to. He basically said "Well, I can't stop you, and I'll probably really like it-" "Great thanks!" and zoom - off I went to sweep up my littel baby. Not sure what possessed me to buy a neonate not even out of its first shed, but I just couldn't resist that little face. I need to have it sexed, but right now we're trying to focus on acclimation and that first shed before I subject the poor thing to any violations.

Any tips on inducing that shed and getting the first feed?

I know, already in trouble...

Ever since he struck at the spray bottle yesterday, he's been acting strangely. I really hope this isn't "star-gzaing." My boyfriend picked him up this morning, despite my telling him yesterday to leave him alone for a week. He set the baby blood back in his water bowl. Now, suddenly, he's yawned, but he hasn't closed his mouth! He's been sitting there with his mouth open for awhile, and it's scaring me. What's going on? Please don't tell me that my new baby's got IBD!!

Could you describe your setup, pictures would be even better.

If he is stitting in the water bowl with his mouth wide open my first thought was that he may be trying to cool off. What are your temps? And YES, check the temps, double check, and then start over and check them again! And then leave him the hell alone.
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"From my rotting body flowers shall grow, and i them - and that is eternity."

I immediately removed the heat from over the waterbowl, in case that was the problem. He did finally close his mouth, so I think that was the problem. I don't think the bulb that I have in the lamp is strong enough, because it's 60 watts and only makes a hot spot of 84 degrees. Unfortunately, everything is closed today, so I can't get a higher wattage bulb until tomorrow. He's got a good, tight hide, a sphagnum moss hide, a rough stone, and a water bowl big enough for a good soak, and bark substrate. I'll have to wait until tomorrow for a good humidity gauge as well. Because I'd been trying to talk myself out of buying a snake, my set-up wasn't as ideal as I wanted it.

And I know to leave him alone, thanks - my boyfriend ignored me. He knows better now.

I think I just overreacted because I'm a new blood mom, and unused to stressed babies.

Hey,
One of the biggest mistakes you can possibly make, is handling your new snake upon its first few days in its new home. The other is not knowing the species well enough. No offense intended. But this is one of those species, that stresses very easily when conditions are neither ideal, nor optimal. At any rate, monitor all of the parameters within that enclosure and make sure that all of the settings for heat, and humidity are adjusted and calibrated just right. It is not an exact science, however, with little ones (juvies), you don't want to leave room for error; 'Mistakes-Kill'!

The mouth gaping could be a result of it striking the water bottle. Hard to tell, but very possible. Either way, do not handle the new guy/girl, till it has had sometime to adjust and acclimate to its new home.

Note: Please post pictures of your set up when possible.
-Angel
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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

I just overreacted - he's fine, it was just a little overheating. And I *KNOW* not to touch him until he's settled in. I can't change the fact that my boyfriend picked him up while I was asleep, but he's been thoroughly lectured and won't do it again.

Good to hear he is doing better. Overheating can be a big problem. FYI putting heating pads under waterbowls will create overly ideal conditions for bacteria to grow. So the other side of the cage would probably be better. And depending on your amount of ventalation you probably dont need to mist especially if you live down south, definately get a humidity monitor... I got all of mine from Wal Mart and its like $15 for dual temp and humidity so its an cheap buy. Ideally if your blood is small its better to have them in a small cage that really isnt large enough for heat gradiants anyways, but as long as you make them comfortable slightly larger cages might work ok. Good luck with your new guy.

J
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

This phrase caught my eye, I realize it's probably just the wording but I want to be sure. By setting up the environment properly -- hides, humidity, heat gradient -- you do all that you should to set the stage for the first shed. The snake does the rest -- you don't make it shed, it sheds on its own. I hatched out a clutch of black bloods on May 22, and none of them has shed yet. While I'm very aware of it, since most hatchlings would have shed several times by now, but I'd read that Python curtus take a long time for the first shed. I've got them set up correctly, so even though it seems wrong to me that they haven't shed, they are eating and growing, and will shed when the time comes for them to.
Please don't consider this an attack, it certainly isn't meant to be.
Good luck with your new snake!

Heh, I didn't mean to make it sound like I was going to hold the little guy down and peel him like a banana. I've got the temps, humidity, and set-up all as close to perfect as I can get it - I just didn't know if there was anything else I needed to do to help him out. I'm going to try him on a rat pinkie thursday; I remember reading awhile ago on this forum that bloods often eat before their first shed, so we'll see how that goes.

Yes bloods take ages to shed and deficate so dont worry. But they will eat plenty if before the first shed! I have some babies that are May births I believe and one if them is just now about to shed and the other isnt even showing signs but they've both eaten at least a dozen times. Make sure you wait atleast a week to try and feed as your snake is probably still stressed from its new environment.
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior