Aggressive and Unpredictable?

I was just reading Wikipedia and the page on Blood Pythons said that "They are often regarded as unpredictable and aggressive, but captive bred individuals tend to be more docile than wild-caught specimens."
So, Blood Python owners, is this true? Or is it a myth? Just curious.

They are animals that need to be work with regularly, unlike BP regular handling is needed, CB are definitely preferable compare to CH imports now as far as being unpredictable all wild animals are ;)

Blood are great snakes but you need to do your research (elsewhere then Wiki :rolleyes:) and if you are interested the best thing you can do is try t o find someone local that may have adults that you could interact with so you know what to expect.

You also want to check this great resource http://bloodpythons.com/cms/

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Originally Posted by Deborah

They are animals that need to be work with regularly, unlike BP regular handling is needed, CB are definitely preferable compare to CH imports now as far as being unpredictable all wild animals are ;)

Blood are great snakes but you need to do your research (elsewhere then Wiki :rolleyes:) and if you are interested the best thing you can do is try t o find someone local that may have adults that you could interact with so you know what to expect.

You also want to check this great resource http://bloodpythons.com/cms/

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I saw a pic of a Blood Python earlier, and I had just completely forgot that they even existed, so I was just looking at how big they get, etc.... Not looking at another snake for a few months ;)
Thanks for the info.

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Originally Posted by Arcapello

I saw a pic of a Blood Python earlier, and I had just completely forgot that they even existed, so I was just looking at how big they get, etc.... Not looking at another snake for a few months ;)
Thanks for the info.

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They can get big female being larger but you still see some big males as well I have a 24lbs boy so it's definitely something to consider which is why getting hands on experience will help you decide....it did it for me.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

They can get big female being larger but you still see some big males as well I have a 24lbs boy so it's definitely something to consider which is why getting hands on experience will help you decide....it did it for me.

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Do you think vendors at a reptile expo would let me handle their snakes to help me decide? It will be awhile before I get one but I might as well start researching so I know a lot more.

I have a female that is just over 4ft and weighs 13 pounds. She is captive born/breed and is a big puppy dog. She is the sweetest snake I own and she has become my favorite to handle. The most she will ever do is let out a little hiss but has never shown any aggression or defensiveness. She is a big baby that will just hang out with you as long as you let her.

Like mentioned each animal is different and I have heard of bloods that are not a nice to handle, but that can be said about any snake. Just be sure you are ready for their size. Even though they don't usually get real long it's the heavy body and weight that you have to be ready for. They get big and heavy and will require at least a 4ft cage when adult size and in some cases larger. Kingsnake has a female (or had) that weighed 38 pounds.

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Originally Posted by Arcapello

Do you think vendors at a reptile expo would let me handle their snakes to help me decide? It will be awhile before I get one but I might as well start researching so I know a lot more.

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I don't see why not! I would preface the handling with saying that you aren't ready to take one home today, but you want to get an idea of how they are to handle.

I have a young borneo short tailed python and I must say, while she is much more wigly and restless than a ball python, they really aren't too bad. Maybe I just have a nice one :)

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Originally Posted by Arcapello

Do you think vendors at a reptile expo would let me handle their snakes to help me decide? It will be awhile before I get one but I might as well start researching so I know a lot more.

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Probably hatchlings but I doubt you will see adults at a show and you only really get a good idea when you hold an adult.

This is good to know, I might want to expand in the future to other pythons (besides balls that is) and I have heard that blood pythons aren't too bad.

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Originally Posted by alpine

I have heard that blood pythons aren't too bad.

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Wanna know one of the best-kept secrets in herpetoculture?

:banana: BLOOD PYTHONS AND SHORT-TAILED PYTHONS ARE GREAT!!! :banana:

Good, USCBB selectively-bred bloods & shorties are among the most personality-filled, rewarding snakes to keep. The majority of them tame down easily as juvies, and they're really not that hard to keep, especially if you do your homework and have realistic expectations of these snakes and their husbandry.

Just my $.02 from keeping a few of 'em over the years. ;)

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Originally Posted by Kara

Wanna know one of the best-kept secrets in herpetoculture?

:banana: BLOOD PYTHONS AND SHORT-TAILED PYTHONS ARE GREAT!!! :banana:

Good, USCBB selectively-bred bloods & shorties are among the most personality-filled, rewarding snakes to keep. The majority of them tame down easily as juvies, and they're really not that hard to keep, especially if you do your homework and have realistic expectations of these snakes and their husbandry.

Just my $.02 from keeping a few of 'em over the years. ;)

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This may sound like a dumb question, but are Blood Pythons and Short-Tailed Pythons two completely different snakes, or...?

Kara's post is fabulous and right on the $$..:gj: Like Tony the tiger says..
Theres 3 different types/locales/species in the "OLD" family..
Only one of the group comes in red tones so it is the blood python..The other two are often refferred to as bloods but dedicated keepers prefer short tail designation..
Aggressive- NO,
Unpredictable- every snake is, as is life..
They greatly enhance my day to day life as well as that of others..

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Originally Posted by Arcapello

This may sound like a dumb question, but are Blood Pythons and Short-Tailed Pythons two completely different snakes, or...?

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Checkout this thread: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-tail-pythons

I was hesitant about getting a blood because of their reputation. I bought one from an individual who knew she had a great disposition and I have to say I am so glad I made the jump! She is very calm and docile, great snake to hold and a very different personality than the balls. I would call her the opposite of aggressive and unpredictable but they have their individual personalities.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Kingsnake has a female (or had) that weighed 38 pounds.

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The 38 lb girl that was sold was actually listed on Fauna. For us she was puppy dog tame, never struck at anyone, and we completely trusted her. The new owner is having issues with her striking and getting used to her new environment. I've heard, but not seen it documented, that blood pythons are in the list of the 3 most intelligent pythons and can become one owner kind of snakes, so maybe she was used to my family or maybe it was just the enclosure changes and smell changes that set her off I don't know. We have hopes that given time to acclimate she will calm down and be the passive easy to handle snake my wife and I have known for 4 years. Once she settles in she will be able to be viewed at the Texas Serpentarium and Reptile Museum and possibly even handled.

We keep a fairly small and limited Red Blood python breeding collection. From our experiences we have had calmer animals that are much easier to handle by keeping them in a rack system (ARS-8514 and ARS-9006). I think it has something to do with approaching them from the top compared with head on as you would in a display type cage. I would also like to point out that we don't use hooks with anything and with our red blood pythons we only feed frozen thawed.

We tried keeping a pair of borneo pythons at one point, but both had bad attitudes and we sold them. We had one male red blood python come through that was devil spawn also and he got moved to someone interested in the challenge. All three of these though were kept in front open display type enclosures, and I would be currious at how they would do in a rack considering since we went to the rack we have had only one that has a mild temperment issue, but it only comes out when your holding him for more than a couple minutes.

As far as predictable goes, I think if you work with them enough you start to see that look that comes with I'm not in the mood right now compared with I'm cool and you can touch me.

I have been struck by both of my STPs (though my Sumatran only struck me once at the show), and I will say that my borneo is a little difficult and very nervous, still love him all the same. I have heard some can be difficult, but not everyone is the same, every SSTP I have encountered is docile and easy to handle, and almost every Blood. I would say that Borneos might be the most nervous... Would you all agree? Regardless Short Tailed Pythons of all kinds are my favorite type of snake.

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Originally Posted by Kara

Wanna know one of the best-kept secrets in herpetoculture?

:banana: BLOOD PYTHONS AND SHORT-TAILED PYTHONS ARE GREAT!!! :banana:

Good, USCBB selectively-bred bloods & shorties are among the most personality-filled, rewarding snakes to keep. The majority of them tame down easily as juvies, and they're really not that hard to keep, especially if you do your homework and have realistic expectations of these snakes and their husbandry.

Just my $.02 from keeping a few of 'em over the years. ;)

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Just a "few" huh Kara?

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Originally Posted by sissysnakes

Just a "few" huh Kara?

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There's a lot to be said for understatement. ;)

[QUOTE=sissysnakes;1933933]I have been struck by both of my STPs (though my Sumatran only struck me once at the show), and I will say that my borneo is a little difficult and very nervous, still love him all the same. I have heard some can be difficult, but not everyone is the same, every SSTP I have encountered is docile and easy to handle, and almost every Blood. I would say that Borneos might be the most nervous... Would you all agree? Regardless Short Tailed Pythons of all kinds are my favorite type of snake

No, I do not agree, My collection is made up of several hundred pounds of Borneos and everyone of them is a pleasure to play with..A large part of the reason I keep only Borneos is because of their quiet nature..If you'll look at my last thread you'll see my 5 year old granddaughter playing with one..As a matter of fact I often give her the shoeboxes of babies to clean..Animals in the animal kingdom sense what is before them..My granddaughter knows no fear and has zero difficulty taken care of 50 or more babies..When we have visitors here we hand them one after the other and all is great and they leave with a smile from ear to ear..:salute:

[QUOTE=Tim Mead;1936497]

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Originally Posted by sissysnakes

I have been struck by both of my STPs (though my Sumatran only struck me once at the show), and I will say that my borneo is a little difficult and very nervous, still love him all the same. I have heard some can be difficult, but not everyone is the same, every SSTP I have encountered is docile and easy to handle, and almost every Blood. I would say that Borneos might be the most nervous... Would you all agree? Regardless Short Tailed Pythons of all kinds are my favorite type of snake

No, I do not agree, My collection is made up of several hundred pounds of Borneos and everyone of them is a pleasure to play with..A large part of the reason I keep only Borneos is because of their quiet nature..If you'll look at my last thread you'll see my 5 year old granddaughter playing with one..As a matter of fact I often give her the shoeboxes of babies to clean..Animals in the animal kingdom sense what is before them..My granddaughter knows no fear and has zero difficulty taken care of 50 or more babies..When we have visitors here we hand them one after the other and all is great and they leave with a smile from ear to ear..:salute:

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My borneo was nervous when i got him and im still working with him. It was more question than strait up opinion. It is my understanding he was not held much as a baby... im sure your babies benefit from the confident hands of your granddaughter though!

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

Sissy, my passion and pride for these guys is what prompted such a lengthy answer..:)
I suspect what occurred with your case is the animal did not recieve the bonding that occurrs here with our babies..Animals are put into a groove by the way we keepers keep them..IMO..
If their needs are met and exceeded they go on to perform as such..If they are not, then they do not respond as a keeper would wish..Again IMO..;)

I have a Sumatran albino female and a Sumatran short tail ("black blood") female, both sub-adults, and though the short tail girlie had some defensive reactions in the past (note I didn't say aggressive) she quickly grew out of that with more frequent, but short, handling sessions. With my experience with my two I would say neither are unpredictable and sure not aggressive, I think it's mostly how you approach them. I'm really enjoying mine and love to watch them grow: and boy do they grow fast! :P

Tim: Vega, my shortie from you that you gave me advice on, really has done a 180 since when we talked last. She's just a big (well, still relatively small) puppy dog and doesn't mind being being handled for longer spurts, being carried or lifted around if needed, or being sat on a lap to just sit there and relax anymore. I'll get more photos when she's shed since she's blue right now. :)

They are monsters and must be stopped!:banana:

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...ae1be830f7.jpg

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...526b6bf63c.jpg

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Originally Posted by bwt501

They are monsters and must be stopped!:banana:

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...ae1be830f7.jpg

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...526b6bf63c.jpg

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If that does not picture the beauty of the family and love of beautiful animals, I don't know what does..
Hats off to you my friend..