Renewed interest in bloods/short tails

[retic720]

Previously, I asked if how they'd compare to retics/afrocks and after getting feedback (VERY helpful btw), i decided against them as I read that I need to have at least 70% humidity for them to thrive and I know that our climate will pose problems.

However, I viewed some more caresheets recently and was surprised that their recommended humidity values are the same for retics. Now, retics are considered native fauna in where I come from, so in theory...bloods should NOT have any issues in our climate.

Is this the case? Still puzzled with the huge discrepancies amongst multiple caresheets on their required humidity values.

similar to the thread I started in the anaconda forums, given our native climate, would you consider blood/short tail husbandry as more "high maintenance" compared to the husbandry for retics?

thanks

[deathadder1069]

This is one snake that im very interested and hoping to get into pretty soon but yes ive seen the differences in everyones opinions about humidity...i figure go with the average which is at about 70-75% humidity...too low and its hard on shedding, too high and it may cause problems with respitory or scale problems. Good luck.

[Anna.Sitarski]

Yeah I have a Blood had his humidity a bit low and his shed went bad then I put it up and no problem. I keep a hidebox with moss in his tub and that is more than enough. I have to wipe up humidity every two days and he is fine. I have had little problem otherwise, just the one shed. He loves bathes too. Will stick him and he will sit for hours if I let him.

[Kara]

We keep our collection of bloods & short-tails at 65% - 75% humidity. The high end of that range is when they're going through a shed cycle receive daily misting. We also soak our snakes on a regular basis, which they enjoy.

I certainly wouldn't consider bloods "high maintenance" in any regard. 80-82 degrees for ambient temps, 65% - 75% humidity depending on where they are in the shed cycle, hot spots are usually only necessary for gravid females...they're pretty easy keepers!

[aahmn]

If what you are considering for husbandry includes caging, handling, etc, I would say bloods would be much easier. I don't own retics, but I don't think I could maintain a snake that large. What I've noticed for my bloods is that the humidity is a little more of an issue for the younger snakes and they are easy enough to provide hides for.

[TDent1]

I live in New Mexico and the highest humidity we've had in a few weeks is 19%. That being said, I keep my blood in a tub and I couldn't get it under 60% humidity if I tried. Occasional misting will keep the tub perfect!

[Inugohan]

I keep my bloods with a humidity of 65% and spray them once a night when they are in blue until they shed(a week usually) Not to mention just giving them a dish large enough to soak in or a humid hide(both if you can fit it all), and the ambient humidity can be allowed to dip below the normal for them occasionally. Constantly wet cages are actually bad for blood pythons, and can cause scale rot and RIs. If you want a blood, and you can keep a retic, I'd say you can keep a blood. Spraying them nightly works for humidity I find, when its really dry(my Kelowna winters exactly) and 2 times when a day when in shed works wonders. Not to mention a 1 hour soak when you see they are really close to shedding(cleared from blue) will almost garunteee a complete shed(usually in pieces but still, all off). Bloods are a great species to work with, and I feel no one should have any reason to be intimidated by them. I myself have been bit by more ball pythons(of course I have worked with far more ball pythons then bloods, but still) Humidity can be a pain but its really no different then pretending your retic is in shed everyday, and a large water dish, often provides the needed humidity, if there isn't as much ventilation. Best of luck, but I say, go bloods!! ~Caylan.s.~

[retic720]

thanks guys. the only thing stopping me from going all out "I want a Blood...NOW" is the humidity requirements. Granted, NERD's caresheet mentioned that 50 - 60% (which I guess is the same as Philippine room temp without AC, coz that's the same range mentioend by NERD for their retic caresheet) is okay, other caresheets indicatated 65% as a minumum and that I should aim for 95% during the shed phase. The only caresheets that agreed with NERD's advice were VPI and wallflowers'. This is the cause of my confusion and hesitation.

Obviously, I won't house a blood/short tail python in a cage size suitable for a retic but if I provide the same ambient temp/humidity for my resident retic for a new blood python, would there be any issues?

thanks in advanced. i won't mind a "plain short tail" but I seem to prefer their temperament based on research.

[AkHerps]

I haven't had a problem with my blood shedding, I just mist his tub maybe once or twice every couple of days when he is shedding and he does fine.

The only thing I don't like is the newspaper gets wet and soggy and its gross if the humidity is high in his cage.

I do not have 100% humidity during a shed and my bloods sheds have been 100% complete and whole since I got him as a hatchling.

And, I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, which is considered a desert.

[retic720]

thanks.

I do not mist/mistspray the cage of my retic and she sheds just fine; will I have to work a "bit harder" (aka, misting) for a blood/short tail?

thanks again