Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since bloods are from swampy/marshy areas, it logically follows that if you duplicate their natural habitat(with some tweeking here and there) you-and the snakes- should do just fine. Until they've outgrown them, sweater boxes should do just fine. Later, you may want to invest in vision cages or something that holds humidity well. Bloods naturally dwell in WET/DAMP environments. Wetness is FINE. JUST KEEP THEM WARM!!! (and clean) Sankofa

Hey,
No No No! I don't agree with that at all! Wetness IMHO, in captivity with bloods is not a good thing and can lead to "RED Belly" mighty mighty quick if left unchecked and in that state for extended periods of time. I've seen it, have experienced it, and know the basic consequences of "WET CONDITIOINS". There is a real problem with that as the water type in their natural habitat, versus tap water, do not have the same bacteriostatic properties in the form of PH balance. Snakes lying in wet soppy conditions will almost invariably develop what I call RED BELLY, followed by blistering and infection. Damp is preferable with the occasional drying out. I much prefer newspaper and do not use wet hides at all, and have not had any problems with any of my bloods suffering from UI, or other condition since.
-Angel
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In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil

Thanx for the enlightenment! Where'd you get your info.? I used to work in a pet store and at times(months at a time)we kept the baby bloods in pretty wet/damp conditions. they seemed to thrive. their skins were beautiful. They never developed scale rot or RI. They ate consistently too. In fact, the first blood I ever owned didn't do to well because I used the "separate moist hidebox" method. Maybe it was because the humidity OUTSIDE the humidity hidebox was pretty low(20%-30%). He/she seemed to spend 85% of his/her time OUTSIDE of the hum.hidebox. Anyway, I have a Borneo blood now and it seems to be thriving. It has eaten each of the two weeks I've had it. It's in a small sweaterbox that's sitting in a terrarium on a heat mat. Side on heat mat/93F Off heat mat/82F Good ventilation/condensation visible on sweaterbox. More damp than wet inside. -Life Is Learning- Sankofa

Hey,
Well, I hate to go into what I know about the subject, but it happens to be quite a lot. Read on! I've been a keeper at the Bx Zoo, worked with reptiles of all kinds and types, from bloods to hots etc and all manner of boids. My age you wonder, soon to be 45. Pretty old guy. We were keeping bloods back in the 80's in just such conditions and even today, if conditions or wet and saturated substrates and hides are allowed to become wet and soppy, along with poor ventilation, there is no telling what will become of your bloods and or short–tails. I have some babies that when allowed to sit in their substrate when they spill their water, will develop red belly within a couple of days if left that way. Number of bloods and short-tails in my collection you ask? 32, just shipped 2 today. Should I go on? Nah! JM2C!
-Angel
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In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil

Hey,
Also, been keeping herps for 31 years. Pretty long time. My high time flies.
-Angel
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In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil