blood question

I have been contemplating getting a blood python for months and I finally picked one up at the last dixie reptile show. He has had a really good attitude so far and I'm pumped about having him. He seems in pretty good health as far as I can tell, but, I think he might be possibly a little under weight. His spine is kinda out there a little bit and he has some loose skin on his sides. After looking at a few pictures of bloods on here and a few other places he seems like he is not quite as fluffy as a lot of the ones I have seen. What do you guys think?

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/e...rick/print.jpg

Maybe a TINY bit thin, but not underweight.

Hard to judge his real size, but I'd say a Medium rat every 2 weeks would probably suit him just fine.

You MIGHT give him a medium every week for a little while, but as adults they dont need that much food.

Remember too, a fat Blood is an unhealthy one, and males get lazy at breeding time. females when overweight will slug out.

Do you have your temps and humidity right?

From the pic, it looks like a meal or two wouldn't hurt..
The 3 species often labeled bloods are triangular in shape and the back bone is always prominant..It's a feature of the species and exhibited in others as well..:salute:

The ambient air temp is 81, hot spot 83, cool side 75.5, and my humidity is 75%. I need to solder a few more holes in the tub, which will be done today. Is about 50%-60% about right for humidity? I will definitely try a med. rat once a week for a couple a weeks and thanks for clearing the spine thing up, that had me freaked out for a second. If my husbandry needs to be changed any let me know.:gj:

:snake:With my blood, he also shows his spine. I think some snake species do and some don`t. my other pythons and boas don`t have that, so I think that it is a natural thing. (my snakes are all very well fed) If you think he is too skinny than I do suggest feeding, if he is hungry, he will eat. My blood is slow to strike and kill. I think it is because it takes a lot out of a snake to strike and miss. So, i do believe that is why he waites sometimes up to a half an hour. Spine showing as far as I know is normal, though. Good luck and again, if you think he is hungry, feed him.

Yeah, the spine thing started to worry me for a second. I'm gonna put the rats to him and hopefully he will beef up, which to my understanding I think they have slow metabolisms so it won't take long.

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Originally Posted by brettsemrick

Yeah, the spine thing started to worry me for a second. I'm gonna put the rats to him and hopefully he will beef up, which to my understanding I think they have slow metabolisms so it won't take long.

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looks a little thin to me, nothing serious though, I would give two rats next feed appropriate size for him of course its hard to tell from the pic how big he is.

You will see a few bloods (not on here though I doubt:colbert: lol ) that show little spine and are just far too robust and fat resulting from over feeding or ignorant owners not knowing any better.

Your just looks like it needs a good feed maybe for the 1st month, then cut back to every 7 days a large enough meal, my adults get fed every 10 days or 14 some times which is fine for an adult blood feeding on large rats.

Bump the cool side up to 88-82 and just ditch the hot spot.

If you insist on using one, like I like to, make it like 86. But I only use one for the adults, babies get ambients solely.

You can also lower the humidity a bit, 60-65% really seems to be the sweet spot for these snakes.

Congrats on your BP looking good i would loose the the water bowl and get somthing your blood wont tip like a ceramic dog bowl.:salute:

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Originally Posted by twan

Congrats on your BP looking good i would loose the the water bowl and get somthing your blood wont tip like a ceramic dog bowl.:salute:

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I had a bigger one in there, but, the humidity was through the roof. I've burnt some more holes in the tub now so I'll try the larger bowl again.