Reptile & Amphibian Forums

when can i start soaking my blood still a baby maybe 3-5 months still not handleing it trying to let it get use to its setup. and when i do start to soad it how deep should i make the water should i make it warmer than room temp
sorry for so many quest the past couple days just want to raise a happy healthy blood

I just keep a water dish in my setup that is large enough for my blood to fit her entire body into. If she wants to soak, then she will do so at her own leisure.

Also, how long have you had your blood? If she has eaten a couple meals, then you should be fine handling her on occasion. The earlier you start making positive contact with the snake, the better off you'll both be.

shes had one meal from me i only had her for about a week. im very new to a snake this thick and i am comfortable handling her i just feel like she would rather me just leave her alone she does alot of hissing or atleast what sounds like hissing when i open her tank

wait a week and get another meal into her... then after a few days you should start handling her. Just let her sit in your lap for about 10 minutes, then put her back. She'll get used to being picked up, and hopefully over time stop hissing. My girl used to hyperventilate, but has stopped unless I move too quickly. Just take it slow with her.

Remember, she's only going to get bigger and tougher to handle unless you show her you aren't going to eat her now. Taming a juvie is a lot easier than taming an adult with bad habits and preconcieved notions about people being good for bringing food and nothing else.

i have handled my bloods within the first 2 weeks of getting them. sure they are a little nippy but there are things you can do. first off, what i do is before i get a blood or any snake i wear the same shirt for 2 or 3 days in a row. this may sound gross but there is a method to the madness. then when i get the snake i wear a pair of thick (non leather) gloves and a sweatshirt when handling the snake. this will prevent you from being bitten too bad (if a baby it probably wont even hit skin). when i get the snake home, i take off the shirt (thoroughly worn and slept in) and use it as a substrate for the tank. this is known as the "tshirt trick". the snake will then crawl around through the shirt and after a few days will become accustomed to your scent. after a few days of leaving it alone , put on the sweathsirt and gloves (nonleather to retain your scent) and gently pet the snake with your gloved fingertips. do this for a few minutes for a couple days. this is just to get the snake used to being touched. remember...a snake wont let you pick it up if it isnt used to being touched. after a couple to 3 times of petting you can then attempt to pick up the snake. this is when you can do the lap thing that everyone raves about. by this time the snake will recognize your scent and be quite comfortable with it. if you start off with the lap method then its going to be hell for you because it will be jittery around you and strike at you whenever you move, espescially if youre a smoker like me.

as far as the water goes, i fill my bloods water bowl up with cool water (about 70-75F) to a depth of about half the snakes height (laying down...please do not hold your snake up vertically and measure half of its height). should be about 1/2 to 1 inch of water depending on the size of the snake. be aware that not all bloods like to soak in water. i have 3 bloods and only one of them likes to soak.

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1.1.1 Blood Python
1.0.1 Redtail Boa
1.0 Dumeril Boa
1.0 Carpet Python

Hey,
Very nice pic's. I love them when they are that size.
-Angel
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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

I don't think it's too soon to start a soaking program. It helps to keep your blood hydrated and shedding properly. Once a week or so for 45 minutes to an hour, about an inch of warm water (90 - 95 degrees - it cools quickly at room temp) in an appropriately sized rubbermaid-type container.