The (Bloody) Grim Reaper.

[marvelfreak]

So i thought it was time for the Reaper to have his own thread. He normally won't sit still and to busy striking to get many pictures of him, but last week we had a nice photo shot. He will be a year in July. He is really starting to color up. He even let me pick him up without using the hook first. I have a feeling he is going to be one amazing looking adult.

To start with a couple of him letting me hold him without striking.

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/7117/bloodclan030.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/bloodclan030.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8044/bloodclan029.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/bloodclan029.jpg/)

Then some head shots.


http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2408/bloodclan100.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/513/bloodclan100.jpg/)

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5163/bloodclan101.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/bloodclan101.jpg/)

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/2636/bloodclan102.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/bloodclan102.jpg/)

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/6279/bloodclan103.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/bloodclan103.jpg/)

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/290/bloodclan104.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/bloodclan104.jpg/)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2693/bloodclan105.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/bloodclan105.jpg/)

[marvelfreak]

Some body shots.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7804/bloodclan046.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/bloodclan046.jpg/)

http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/7946/bloodclan042.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/576/bloodclan042.jpg/)

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7681/bloodclan038.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/404/bloodclan038.jpg/)

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6730/bloodclan036.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/151/bloodclan036.jpg/)

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8949/bloodclan034.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/341/bloodclan034.jpg/)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7715/bloodclan033.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/bloodclan033.jpg/)

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5167/bloodclan032.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/593/bloodclan032.jpg/)

[homocapra]

He's beautiful! How long is he?

[marvelfreak]

He right at 2 feet.

[Caylan]

He looks like one of those bloods that would flip himself over when he strikes lol. Great shots, he will be sweet looking a few years!

[Charlie64]

Stunning blood!

[Skumbo]

Aw hes awesome!
I need to stop looking at bloods.. I want one..

[alessia55]

He's awesome, Chuck :yes:

[Rogue628]

Wow! He's really an amazing looking blood!

[Trollbie]

So magnificent!

[marvelfreak]

He looks like one of those bloods that would flip himself over when he strikes lol. Great shots, he will be sweet looking a few years!

Thank you everybody.
He does. It funny as hell to. Out of the three he the most high strung, but the only one to have never bit me. When he strikes it's usually close mouth. He does do the big hissing quite a bit. I need to get him outside for some pictures.:D One thing i really like about him is his reduce pattern.

[KSTAR]

I love Bloods Just Don't Think I can Tango With One Just Yet....Give Me A Retic Or A Burm Before Those Little/Big Guys lol

[Trent]

Very sweet!!

[homocapra]

He's a lot like the one I just adopted, same coloring, size and temperament. I can pick him up but as soon as I put him down again be strikes and the huffing and puffing....so cute :)

[CDN_Blood]

...I can pick him up but as soon as I put him down again be strikes and the huffing and puffing....so cute :)

Ha! You won't think it's so cute when he's 5 feet long and 30 pounds of angry snake that hits like a heavy weight champion who's life depends on winning :)

[homocapra]

Ha! You won't think it's so cute when he's 5 feet long and 30 pounds of angry snake that hits like a heavy weight champion who's life depends on winning :)

Yeah yeah, I know. I've been tagged by my adult BCI and the bruising is the worst part. I once thought he broke my finger because it swelled up and turned purple (he didn't), and he has only done that as a feeding response. I'm a little nervous about having a big snake that actually wants to bite me...all the time :confused: So I hope I can get him/her to calm down a bit before then. But of not, I'll figure something out :)

[CDN_Blood]

I've only been keeping Bloods for 10 years, but I can tell you 1 thing I've learned in that time about them; if you don't approach them with respect and understanding, they're going to react like that. If you approach them slowly, giving them time to warm-up to the idea that you're not a threat before you try to pick them up, you'll have no problem, unless (of course) you simply don't understand the snake and do foolish things like move quickly around them or push the limited time that they're receptive to being handled.

These are not Royal Pythons, they don't like being handled for more than a few moments at a time, they're not comfortable being handled because they're not built for it and they demand respect. You can't treat them like other snakes; you can't just yank them out of a tank, you can't manhandle them, you cannot move quickly around them or pass them to your friends to play with on a whim, they simply won't tolerate it and I don't blame them.

[homocapra]

Oh yes I understand! I don't handle any of my snakes just for fun. I take in these animals because I want to give them a healthy safe place to live. I'm sure I'm probably a minority on this forum but, I don't believe we should be breeding animals for the pet trade. Many of the animals in my care have health and behavior issues because humans either mistreated them or didn't know how to care for them. You should hear the stories of my dogs alone. So sad. I have one of the most nasty royal pythons you'll ever meet. Why, because no one else wanted him. Most of the animals in my home are not beautiful, they are not a collection, they are the mutts and rejects of the pet trade, but they have a home with me for the rest of their lives. And I learn so much from them! I don't care about how humans have changed a species, morphs, inbred docility. I want to know what and why evolution resulted in their current natural behaviors and adaptations. Obviously a blood python fears for its life so its defensive. They are larger slower targets than say a garter snake. So they behave differently. Its all very fascinating.

[CDN_Blood]

...I'm sure I'm probably a minority on this forum but, I don't believe we should be breeding animals for the pet trade...

Well that makes 2 of us, so I'm awarding you 5 points and a
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb347/CDN_Blood/Cookie.jpg

[homocapra]

We can't blame any animal for it's nature. Guests at the zoo always ask me if we get in with the lions or giraffes and I have to explain that the animals are dangerous and we do what needs to be done to take care of them very carefully and no one ever gets into an enclosure with them. But that doesn't make them bad, it's just the way they're designed and we must respect that.

[Skumbo]

I've only been keeping Bloods for 10 years, but I can tell you 1 thing I've learned in that time about them; if you don't approach them with respect and understanding, they're going to react like that. If you approach them slowly, giving them time to warm-up to the idea that you're not a threat before you try to pick them up, you'll have no problem, unless (of course) you simply don't understand the snake and do foolish things like move quickly around them or push the limited time that they're receptive to being handled.

These are not Royal Pythons, they don't like being handled for more than a few moments at a time, they're not comfortable being handled because they're not built for it and they demand respect. You can't treat them like other snakes; you can't just yank them out of a tank, you can't manhandle them, you cannot move quickly around them or pass them to your friends to play with on a whim, they simply won't tolerate it and I don't blame them.

This is one of the best posts I've seen on any forum in a while, and also explains exactly why I would love a blood python once I'm more experienced with snakes.

+5 cookies

[CDN_Blood]

I don't spout dribble and nonsense, ya know :)

Thanks for the cookies! I've never gotten any 'cause I'm usually too busy making them for other people :D

[unknownclown]

Aw what a cutie he is

[marvelfreak]

Aw what a cutie he is
Thanks! I think we are about due for some updated pictures of your Bloods. (hint, hint):D

[jaleely]

I like'em. I bet he would be awesome in the sun, too, like you said! I'll wait for those...although you might want to try while he's still small *lol*