Python Brongersmai

[Rapture]

I have a question about the babies of this species... do they all start out with a more brownish color, and then turn more red as adults? Are all adults really red?

I really like the red coloration, but can't seem to find red babies.

[Kara]

Babies are typically some shade of reddish brown, some lighter, some darker, etc. They don't show their best coloration until around 2 years of age, and it can be kind of a crapshoot when choosing babies unless you know what the parents look like...and even then the offspring *can* be variable.

K~

[Rapture]

Thanks for the reply... The bloods and short taileds are confusing the poop out of me...

[Kara]

Anything I can help to clarify?

[Rapture]

Well, I have this information saved to my desktop:

1. Blood Python - Sumatran or Malaysian Blood - ( Python Brongersmai )
2. Short Tailed Python - common name Borneo Blood. ( Python Breitensteini )
3. Sumatran Short Tailed Python - common name Black Blood ( Python Curtus Curtus )

Is that info correct? I'm also having a hard time identifying Borneos from "Yellow" bloods

[Kara]

Sumatran & Borneo short-tails are erroneously called bloods. They are short-tailed pythons, not bloods. Hopefully we'll see more & more people using the correct terminology for these snakes as they become more popular, and that will help cut down on some of the confusion!

Sumatran short tails are just Python curtus, not P. c. curtus. They all used to be subspecies of curtus but were elevated to individual species status several years ago.

Yellow bloods can be tricky, especially as there are some "iffy" yellows floating around. It helps to check with the source of said animals & see what kind of background info they can provide.

Main thing to think about with brongersmai is that their eyes make direct contact with the supralabial scales. In breitensteini & curtus, there is typically a row of subocular scales separating the eye from the supralabials. Brongersmai also *generally* have 2 supraocular scales. Keep in mind that there are always individual specimens that are an exception to the rule, but these are good guidelines to follow.

I can send you the systematic paper on bloods & short-tails - it's technical but packed with info. Just drop me a line if you want it.

K~

[Rapture]

Oh gosh I want it

[Kara]

You've got mail.

[Rapture]

The highlight of my day!

[novato]

Looks like you got all the help that you needed. Kara (KLG) is a blood and a short tail python specialist.