New sstp!!!

[leylaraks]

Hello!

I finally get to post over here...LOL!

I am predominantly in BPs, but have always loved the bloods. My reptile vet talked me out of getting one (or two) back this Fall when I was heavily researching them and asking around about breeders. So, I kind of abandoned the idea temporarily (but luckily held onto my articles on keeping STPs).

This week I went out to check out what I thought was a Black Blood Ball Python (I have no interest in breeding hybrids, but thought owning one might be neat...and maybe a stepping stone towards full blown STPs). I'm looking at this snake thinking, "this baby looks like full blooded Sumatran STP...I don't see an ounce of ball in him/her?" Turns out, the previous owner misspoke when we had talked and this snake is a full blown Sumatran STP! Good health, visually speaking...a little dimpling in the eyes - assumed that the previous husbandry wasn't quite hitting the humidity requirements! The previous owner did have everything in her collection under heat lamps in screen top glass tanks and said this baby soaks all the time. After doing some research on the species, that's a good sign of either mites (which I did a thorough check and found none) or trying to escape too much heat. I have this baby in a LARGE rack/tub enclosure now with belly heat, soak tub is still available, but since I got him/her yesterday, it hasn't touched it at all. I did go out and picked up an extra digital thermometer and a new hygrometer, just because some of my gauges are older and I want everything spot on with this SSTP. It goes to the vet this afternoon for a full check and a proper sexing. Three years old, super sweet...weighed in at 8 pounds (the previous owner didn't have a gram scale, and I need to find a bigger bowl or tray for mine, I figure I'll let the vet do the honors for today LOL).

Just so excited and looking forward to learning as much as I can so I can do well with this species and hopefully add on a Blood cousin down the road! I'll add pics soon!

[leylaraks]

I gotta work on getting better pics lol! I'm learning how to handle a lotta snake and a phone simultaneously!

[leylaraks]

She's a girl! Also has some scale damage due to bad husbandry...glad I got her when I did. There was a small spot in her mouth that we're checking up again next week (don't think it's mouth rot, could be from a rat or a loose tooth maybe?). Otherwise she seems pretty healthy, nothing some proper heating elements, humidity and shed cycles can't fix.

Love her!

[leylaraks]

[Rob]

Looks great!

[KMG]

Very nice addition!

Im just curious why your vet talked you out of a blood?

[leylaraks]

She knows I was starting breeding projects this year with my balls. She explained that bloods were a little more complicated than balls and that it might be too much in one year (nailing down hatching husbandry and a new species at the same time...which, I see her point, although I'm diving in at this point no matter what lol). Although she was all smiles to see the SSTP and commented on how the previous husbandry was clearly off, but she said she was confident I'll set this baby straight. Nothing at all against the species, she loves pythons and was excited to see a SSTP...not something you see everyday around here lol!

[KMG]

I see.

I don't think Bloods are more difficult. If anything I may consider them easier since they don't need much more than rats which they will readily eat. The only thing that can make them a challenge is their size and the size cage they require. My big female is just over 5.5ft and weighs in at 30lbs. She can be a handful when she doesn't want to go back home but she is usually a puppy dog.

What skin issue does it have?

[leylaraks]

Looks like the scales have been over soaked and she's had some bad sheds. Her eye caps are both dimpled due to humidity issues. I can try to get a better pic later of her scales. They look almost frayed in some areas.

From what I've read balls are a bit more forgiving if something is not quite right, whereas a blood not so much? I think it's all relative at the end of the day. Owning balls has probably helped me prepare more though for this SSTP. I'm sure a few years ago when I started this hobby I would have been like "thermostat what?" Lol

[leylaraks]

Here's my attempt at getting some decent pics of her scale fraying:




And a pic of her lovely face, because I just adore her!

Her previous owner said she spent every second in her soak tub...since I've had her (just around 48 hrs), I've only seen her dip her head briefly in her soak tub once...the rest of the time, she's been curled up loving her belly heat. When I reached in to get her today, she didn't start her normal hissing fit, was calm as can be. I think she likes the tub environment over the tank! ️