Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a large collection of geckos and want to get a snake! I used to have a red tail boa but he was a bit pissy so i traded him for a nice crested. Bloods interest me greatly but I had a few questions for ya guys. How do they handle? Ever bite, or try to get away quickly? Pretty calm or kinda irritable? I know it has a lot to do with how much time you put into handling them but in general... Thanks for your help,

Jack

Oh, can they be housed together?

I am no expert but will share my observations and what I have been told. Having 31 snakes including retics, anacondas, and afrocks, and bloods I have some experience. Perhaps some of the real blood experts here can add to this or correct me. Bloods are shy snakes and like to hide most of the time and usually slow moving. For years, like retics, thsy got a bad rap mainly from wild caught, ill tempered ones that were just scared from being captured. Captive bred and born shakes can be a lot calmer.

I have raised two Borneo short tailed pythons and one male Malaysian red blod from babys and have never been bitten by any of them. I have been told that the Borneo STP are more docile than the reds and that my red is the exception to the norm. He is like a big ball python-you can just reach in and pick him up and he likes to be held. He is 4 foot long and my son sits and watches TV with him-LOL. All of the bloods are firmly terrestial snakes and where problems arise are when they are held and panic when not fully supported, When holding a blood you should support as much of the body with your hands/arms as possible. Each snake is an individual and a lot of how the snake's temperment is formed by the owner. Bloods are wonderful snakes and can be very trustworthy. They are a bib constrictor that does not get big in length. If you want one, read all you can on their care and husbandry and get a nice CBB baby from a reputible breeder. That way you can grow with the snake. Babys are known to be nippy but with gentle handling and trust formed with both you and the snake, all should be well. Take care-Bill.

Snakes are solitary animals except only at breeding time. To prevent all sorts of problems they should be kept in separate cages.

If you decide to get a blood python I suggest you get a baby and raise it up.I find it more rewarding.Well, baby bloods can start off punchy but calm down as quick as a week or two from regular gentle handling.As adults that have been raised by you.You could almost call them catatonic.What I mean is my blood would and could sit through a whole movie on my lap without moving a musle.My boy is like a lap dog but is this giant snake instead.Captive raised bloods can be so sweet and calm unlike most snakes.My boa's don't sit for more than 10 minutes.Good luck.

blood pythons are wonderfull magnificent snakes, if u dont like getting bit ur in for a surprise, gloves often come in handy, but most bloods turn into puppy dogs after a year of ownership. they are very catatonic like that one guy said, u can sit them in 1 position and they well stay that way for hours, my other blood use to hide in his moss for 3 and 4 days at a time and never come out, but they can be very very aggressive it just depends on how u treat them otherwise they will be like 6-7 foot long, 50pound ball pythons, that eat great, and breed nicely too, a very rewarding snake, i left the snake buisness because of past failure, but i came back into it this year all because of the bloods. fascinating snake, a pride and joy to own, and grow with. u shood get 1.

jeff