Still debating..

[Ginevive]

Last weekend, I finally got to see a few adult sized Bloods; I had seen pics but never the real thing. I am seriously debating getting one to finish off my collection; I just love their hugely fat, girthy look.
So please give me the pros and cons of these guys. I have a nice huge low rubbermaid to house it in, and I can easily buy some more flexwatt for heating; I have to admit I haven't done much research on them but I am diong that this weekend. I am not a novice who just got into snakes; I have had my BPs for about 5 years. So people who have or have had a blood (s); give me your thoughts!

[cassandra]

The only thing I know about bloods is that they tip over their water bowls a lot - at least I hear Smulkin griping about on IMs all the time!

[Shelby]

Well I loooooove bloods. Absolutely love them, such cool animals.

P. brongersmai need a 4' cage when full grown. The boaphile 421D is a great cage IMO.

Young bloods are often full of fire and brimstone.. but normally will tame easily with gentle handling. My two are over 4' long and are nicely tamed.

Even a large adult can still eat rats and be fine.. no rabbits needed.

When handling a large blood you have to be sure to support their body well. If you handle them like you would a ball python or a burm, they can be injured since they are so heavy.

A blood is very unlikely to refuse a meal.

And yes they do love to tip their water bowls.. I give them a small drinking bowl, and a large tub with a bit of water and paper towels to soak in.

[Schlyne]

Techinically speaking, I have short tails, not bloods, but the care is pretty much the same

I got a kitty litter pan to use as a water bowl for my black blood, and she can still tip it over, but most of the time she'll drink from it, occassionally use it as a toliet and the occasionally soak.

With the sarawak (who I've raised since he was like 2 weeks old) I've really gone for the small cozy snug rubbermaid and moved him up as he's gotten older.

I've never had a short tail refuse a meal. I won't offer to them in shed though, I don't like the idea of a snake that big missing and hitting my arm instead

I also bought a fairly large rubbermaid latching style container with lid, and cut a hole out of the side so she can hide in it. It fits inside of her huge reptile tub without a problem. It took me a long time to get that plastic melted so she couldn't scratch herself on it. Also, I switched to using corrugated cardboard for substrate in her tank, as the newspaper would just get soaked and be useless. I've never gotten around to trying the cypress mulch.

[no teeth]

They can be very snappy when young but as most will tell you if you handle them enough they will become tame and are great snakes to own. Make sure if you buy one that you give it the proper living space. These sankes need lots of room when they get bigger.