New to Blood Pythons

Bonecrusher82 · 05-09-10, 08:59 AM

Well during my 12 month deployment someone stole my 3ft long ball python

who would do that honestly? So her replacement is a 1 1/2ft long blood python. I'd post a few pics but she's being real shy ie burrowing under her substrate, if I handle her she's fine while in my hands but when I put her back she freezes in place, and still wont eat. So is there any tips or tricks to keeping her? I have her temps and humidity set by the book, 78 degrees cold side, 88 hot, 2 watering dishes, and some stuff she seems to like to climb on when she thinks no one is around

infernalis · 05-09-10, 09:08 AM

About the only solid advice I can offer is to cease and desist handling.

Recent acquisitions require some time to settle in. The stress of moving and then handling the snake will cause lack of desire to eat.

Bonecrusher82 · 05-09-10, 09:12 AM

I kind figured that so now I guess I have a pet mouse until she decides to eat lol, I was hoping she would have warmed up to me like my ball did, she ate for me the day I got her. It is funny when she burrows, she leaves her nose sticking out

infernalis · 05-09-10, 09:16 AM

Just keep the mouse in a separate "cage" provide daily supply of food and water.

For super cheap mouse food, I use generic corn flakes, bran flakes or shredded wheat from the dollar store.

Wal mart sells a box of mouse food for $2.44 that is balanced.

If you leave the mouse in the snake enclosure, you risk the mouse injuring the snake.

Bonecrusher82 · 05-09-10, 09:17 AM

OH NO! I never leave a snake unattended with a live mouse

shaunyboy · 05-09-10, 09:28 AM

i would leave her in a quiet place,only disturbing her to change her water every other day.also give her as many hides as you can.at the very least 1 at hot end and 1 at cool end.this will let her settle down and feel secure.after 2 weeks offer her the same kind of food item her last owner had her feeding on.total bummer that some nasty **** stole your other snake.
cheers shaun

Bonecrusher82 · 05-09-10, 09:46 AM

Yeah it is kinda cute how she leaves her nose sticking out when she burrows under her bedding. So do Bloods like climbing? I know Balls arent supposed to like climbing but mind did.

Bonecrusher82 · 05-10-10, 11:15 AM

Is there anything I should watch for with my new BP? I havent seen her in 2 days, I know she's in the tank obviously but she has stayed burried, I'm a bit worried

Bonecrusher82 · 05-10-10, 12:28 PM

Jasmine decided to come out while I was adding water to her dish so I stole a few pictures for you guys

dragunov.762 · 05-10-10, 12:31 PM

awesome blood

Will0W783 · 05-10-10, 01:08 PM

She is very pretty. Bloods are naturally reclusive, secretive snakes. They love to burrow in their substrate and they need a thick layer of it for that purpose. The major problem I see with your setup is that you have her on aspen. You are going to run into the issue of keeping it moist enough in there for her without it molding. Aspen molds very easily and is really only good for lower humidity snakes. I keep my bloods on cypress mulch and mist them once a day with a good heavy misting. They also need large bowls and will spend a good deal of time soaking in their water, often for days on end. I can't see your water dish in the picture so I have no idea how large it is, but for my 3 foot bloods I use a tupperware container that is 1.5 feet long x 1 foot wide. That way they can curl up comfortably in it. I would strongly suggest you get her off aspen as soon as possible and get her some cypress mulch so you can hold humidity for her better. Bloods are very delicate, IMO pains in the butt, and if it's too dry they tend to get respiratory infections, but will also get very sick if it's moldy and soggy and too wet, or too hot or too cold. They are not a forgiving species. Beautiful to look at, but notoriously cranky and difficult to keep healthy. Best of luck with Jasmine though, she looks good!

Bonecrusher82 · 05-10-10, 02:49 PM

Thanks Willow, I have a humidifier in the tank which even with a screen top seems to keep her humidity at about 82-88% depending on the weather here, she does like her water dish and fits in it nicely without me having to worry about her drowning. I like to use aspen because it doesnt seem to cause a problem if some does happen to get ingested. She also likes to go climbing on her drift wood branches(when she thinks no one is around). I havent really been messing with her much as I've only had her for a little over a week but when I work in her tank she seems be get a little curious, she hasnt displayed any ki9nd of aggression towards me or anyone really.

**Aaron_S** · 05-10-10, 03:02 PM

Why are you working in her tank if you've set it up properly? You only need to change water and then not be in there again.

I would take Willow's recommendation on changing the substrate. Once you've stopped messing around with the enclosure and everything then try feeding the snake a live prey item. Don't move the snake beforehand. They are ambush predators.

Bonecrusher82 · 05-10-10, 03:05 PM

I took her water dish out and cleaned it, I'm new to Blood Pythons not to Pythons in General. And I will check into the Cypress Mulch and give it a shot again. I previously had a Red Tail Boa that got sick from Cypress Mulch.

**Aaron_S** · 05-10-10, 03:06 PM

How did it get sick from cypress mulch?

Just because you've had other pythons doesn't make them all the same. They can come from different parts of the world and have different requirements.