Bloods

[axwielding1]

I'm certainly not the most knowledgible here, but her is what I've found/learned:
Of the Bloods, the Sumatran is the most common to find, and usually has the best temperment. The Sumatran is usually more orange,tan,yellow,, although there are some really red specimens.
The Maylasian Bloods are usually the most RED, and, most often, are more easily agitated. There are exceptions, but this is most commonly the scenario. But hey, if you look that good, you can be a little nippy! I own a Sumatran Blood, Very orange to yellow color, and she is a sweetheart to handle. I certainly wouldn't be afraid to purchase a nice Maylasian though, they can be handled easily once you get to understand them.
I keep mine between 60 and 80% humidity, and find a temp gradient from 80 to 86 to be the best for her. She does like to be cool very often, and doesn't bask at all. Once they hit there stride with eating, they grow VERY quickly. I purchase mine in september at 16", now 7 months later, she's 34" and quite heavy!
She sheds every 30 days, and her shed cycle, from start to finish, is about two weeks. She will not eat at all. The first sign of shed is the edge of the large head scales becomes dry and white, from that point, she won't eat. As soon as she sheds, she begins eating, 2 medium rats per week, and it seems she eats more just before she sheds. The defacates once every 3 months or so, and urinates(chalk) 3-4 big marbles every month or so. She soaks often, and usually gets the water pretty funky(fishy) smelling. I change it every morning. I got rid of her hides this weekend and put down 4 inches of sphagnum moss which she loves, and prefers to burrow rather than go in a hide anyway. She eats f/t rats or f/k rats only. I never feed live..
Hope this helps, I'm no boid expert, but these are things I've figured out with my snake, individuals have different needs...
ax.

[Borneoblood151]

Hey Ax,
Not to beat or flog a dead horse with this, but I have to contradict you on a couple of points regarding the most tractable to the least tractable of the Curtus group (now, no longer considered Curtus as they are now classified as separate species).

First, as for the least tractable when first purchased and then some, as there are individual animals that will continue to exhibit surly demeanors through out their lives, is by far, the Red Bloods. In order of the least tractable, that prize would have to go to the Malaysians and the Bangka Bloods in that order. There are other insular types not yet reported and not cared for in captivity, but we'll probably see a lot more types in the years to come. As for the most tractable of the Red Bloods, the Northern Sumatrans take the lead.
Some exhibit discontent when handled right out of the bag, with others displaying placid demeanors right from the start.

The second most tractable of the Short-tails, would be the Borneo Short-tails, and the Sarawak short-tails to the west on the Island of Borneo, over the Kalimantan range of mountains.

Third and finally, but not least, the most tractable and exhibiting the most placid demeanor of the Short-tails and from hence the Curtus group acquired their moniker of short-tail from, is the Sumatran Short-tail (aka: Black Blood), of south western Sumatra over the Barrisan range of mountains.

Hope this clears up somethings for you!

- Angel

[Smulkin]

Indeed, Born'. I have to confess when I reached into Kali's (Sumatran Red) yesterday to change her water and she did NOT strike at me it was a moment of dumbfounded joy.