Tips for taming male blood?

Will0W783 · 05-20-09, 02:38 PM

Hi guys,
I just bought a pair of Sumatran Red Blood pythons at a reptile show on Saturday. The female is a sweetheart. The male was docile at the show, but once I got him home he has become irascible. He was trying to attack my camera when I went to take his picture, and he strikes at me when I pick him up, albeit not very well. His aim sucks so it is rather pitiful when he tries to bite me. But the guy who sold him to be said he was "cool", so I'm hoping I can calm him down. These are my first bloods, and I know they tend to be nippy, so if anyone with experience handtaming them has any suggestions or tips for me I'd really appreciate it.

**Aaron_S** · 05-20-09, 06:08 PM

Let the animals settle in. It could very well be the stress of being housed in a deli cup, or some other small container at a show, then put on display then bought by you and brought home and placed into a new environment. If you want pictures and to handle your animal, then you must take it very slow. Blood pythons can be "tamed" but I do know of a lot that aren't and never will. Most of the time you just have to respect their nature and live with your future 4 foot, 20 pounds of teeth.

Will0W783 · 05-21-09, 06:15 PM

Thank you Aaron! I noticed tonight that his eyes are looking bluish and his pattern is faded, so I think it's a safe bet he's going to shed. When I bought him and the female, both of them had pitted eye caps. I have the humidity around 80% in their enclosures with misting several times a day, so hopefully he will get them off when he sheds. Do you think his snappiness could be from not seeing well? When their eye caps get pitted, can they see out of them, or is it like looking out of a dried out contact lens?
I really appreciate your advice, as you have such great knowledge of so many reptiles. I've only been keeping for 3 years, and only had the majority for a year, but I try to read as much as I can on each species before I get it and keep researching once I have it.

Kmef07 · 05-21-09, 06:24 PM

Quote:

I really appreciate your advice, as you have such great knowledge of so many reptiles

HERP GOD!!!!!!! lol

Will0W783 · 05-22-09, 07:20 AM

Yep, Aaron sure knows his stuff!

**Aaron_S** · 05-22-09, 08:07 AM

When a snake goes into a shed cycle and the eyes get their milky blue look then the snake really can't see well. It isn't uncommon for snakes to become more agitated when in the early stages of a shed cycle.

Tuteuk · 06-22-09, 12:00 PM

I have a baby blood in my home now as well....He has been here 4 days now, and finally today...I got to touch him...

I agree about giving the animal time to settle in, lets face it, when your that small it is safest to come out teeth first. You might be a predator, give them time to settle down, get used to your life now...patterns and such....

Oh BTW....Mine bite me 3 times when I got it home...LOL
Good luck

Will0W783 · 06-23-09, 10:04 AM

Actually, Vlad (blood's name) is calming down quite a lot. He still breathes heavily when I go to pick him up, but the last three times I've held him he hasn't made any threatening moves towards me. Same with my white-lippeds. The female was insane when I first brought them home- she would snap at me through the glass and even snap at the water when I misted them. But after a week of settling in and a few weeks of patiently working with her after that, she is handleable. I still wouldn't trust her with kids, but I'm not afraid of being bitten anymore.