skinny bloods?

i just received my pair of hatchling black bloods. I've never personally kept bloods. they seem awfully skinny. is this normal for hatchlings? the breeder i got them from told me they have taken several meals. they also seem really chill. I'm not complaining about that or anything but i just worry. :P

i guess i just want some reassurance.

When i got mine it seemed a little skinny, they should be a decent amount bigger than a ball of the same length, but trust me these things grow fast. They will be nice and thick in no time.

Are they this years hatch or last years? That would certainly make a difference

Sometimes smaller animals were slow starters to get going on food....

But some people will even just "maintenance" feed animals to keep them going to keep food costs down.

Any pictures? Whered you get em if I might ask?

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/.../blkblood3.jpg

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/.../blkblood2.jpg

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/...9/blkblood.jpg

they are about 60 grams each. got them from outback reptiles.

They look a tad thin, but once you get them eating, they start growing really fast.

What kind of set up are you keeping them in, and with what temps?

Just curious :) Bloods can be very precise with what they need, and some can be pretty picky. Mine hates belly heat.

My blood has been on a weekly feeding schedule since I got him and he was in great health, but in my opinion, thin hatchlings can be fed every 5 days to help put meat (not fat) on their bones then moved to a weekly feeding.

i have them in 32 qt tubs. hot side, belly heat, is 89F. just went back to check. temp probe on the cooler side reads 78F. the male is hanging on the cool side and the female on the hot side. separate tubs of course with hides on each side.

oh, and for the record, Josh from outback reptiles was great to deal with. he answered every question i had. i dont think there is anything shady going on here at all. i just tend to worry sometimes. :rolleyes:

ID put them in shoebox tubs to be honest, theyre still really small.

Those snakes were more than likely not bred by him, as hes a known flipper. So you might not have gotten much info on them.

Are they 2011's or 2010's? Was he able to tell you?

They look to be at a decent shape for their size, but if theyre 2010's, theyve been maintenance fed or were slow starters.

Just get em going on some weaned rats once a week and go from there.

i sent him an email to find out but i havent heard back from him yet.

i will get shoe box tubs tomorrow.

thanks

You'll just have better luck I would think getting them going before you move them up to some larger tubs.

Those babies are still pretty small and a shoe box would suit them well for a few meals at least.

For the future, heres a good chart drawn up some years ago for us Blood people....

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ge004_0001.jpg

Verify the sex !! At 60 grams they have done NO growing and I'd bet $$ their 2010s..They hatch at 55-75 grams, If they eat in the current set up you can leave them in it but if they refuse the 1st meal or 2 you'll need to down size..
With that head color you you wont be looking at the darkest of blacks but they are great snakes to keep...ENJOY...

i moved them into 15 quart tubs. they both ate FT rat weaners for me this morning without hesitation. :D

thanks for all the advice!

both of my black bloods have taken 4 meals for me. approx 10 to 15 gram FT rat each at each feeding.
the male strikes hard and immediately every time but my little girl sniffs at the rat for a while, seemingly inspecting the entire thing, then ever so gently opens her mouth and slowly takes the rat from the tongs.
is this normal for a healthy blood?

my guy is up to 122 grams but my little girl is only up to 84 grams. she actually lost 5 grams from last week. these weights were taken the day before feeding and they are on a 5 day feeding schedule.

both of these snakes are really docile. great to handle. the girl seems "weak" though. should i be doing anything different with their feeding?

temps and humidity are good. i check thermometer/hygrometers before work, after work and before bed i check again with a temp gun.

here is my little girl

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/...rtle59/023.jpg

and here is my little man

http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/...rtle59/019.jpg

My young Blood won't strike at his food at all :P I just have to leave it in his cage and he crawls around smelling it for a while, then slowly opens his mouth and eats it, it's kinda lame but he's a good eater!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AkHerps

My young Blood won't strike at his food at all :P I just have to leave it in his cage and he crawls around smelling it for a while, then slowly opens his mouth and eats it, it's kinda lame but he's a good eater!

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good to know. I'm not too concerned because she is eating every time just figured if there was something wrong i could catch it before it became a problem.

man, i was never such a worrier before. ever since my son was born i think i over analyze everything! :oops:

Looking good...They're getting some girth...Keep it up!!

Yah, a couple of mine won't strike or if they do they will cuddle with it for a bit then eat it...Really weird, but as long as they eat, I'm happy!!!