Would a Blood python be a good next step for me to take?

[littleindiangirl]

Do you want a snake to handle daily, and also one that is very active? Then a blood is not for you.

Do you want to have an impressive, watching, and drop dead gorgeous snake? Then a blood is one of the best to get.

They are completely different animals, comparing apples to tomatos if you ask me.

[jere000]

Before you get a blood you have to remember that they like high humidity and glass cages with screen tops don't work.

[SGExotics]

I heard the "normal" JCPs can get much darker in color when adults, but depending who the parents were. The normal JCPs are very beautiful too, and any JCP would be just fine for me.

I would say go with a coastal carpet... They are my favorite.. They get bigger too

[Oroborous]

I would say go with a coastal carpet... They are my favorite.. They get bigger too

You mean they get longer...Bloods will have a girth no carpet compares to.

[2kdime]

Healthy Bloods can get up to 30 pounds, though that's rather large.

This girl is 6.5+ feet and 18 pounds to give you an idea of they're size.

I'd say get either one, BUT like ANY other snake, know EXACTLY what your getting into.

[mooingtricycle]

Sumatran Short tailed python

But i could be biased!

[SGExotics]

You mean they get longer...Bloods will have a girth no carpet compares to.

I was replying to her post about JCP's (Jungle Carpet Pythons), sorry if i didnt make that clear enough.. What i was saying is to get a coastal carpet because they get bigger than jungle carpets... I wasnt talking about bloods...

[americangypsy]

I think blood pythons are just beautiful Would not mind adding one someday. Good luck with whatever you choose .

[m00kfu]

When it comes to JCPs, they are most certainly priced by selective breeding projects.. Which means the dark blacks, bright yellows, and clean pattern snakes fetch much higher prices than your more bland snakes.

For non-morph snakes, "normal" JCPs have a surprising range of prices.. I've seen hatchlings for as little as $100 and as much as $400 or more..

Just something to add to this, both bloods and carpets go through pretty drastic color changes as they get older. You really need to check out the parents if you want to get an idea of what a hatchling COULD look like as an adult.

[Crazy4Herps]

So I'm planning out on what to get at the expo which isn't for a while so I have a lot of time to plan on what to purchase and such. I'm stuck between a Blood and a JCP, but I'm leaning more toward a Blood. I'm looking for something else rather than a beginner snake (BPs, corns, sand boas, etc.) and that brought me to the Bloods and JCPs. Would a Blood be an all right next step for me? I'm trying to get into purchasing intermediate snakes, and I already own one (Dumeril's boa, though seems so easy to care for.. well for now). I heard they can be a little nippy when babies/juveniles, but I certainly wouldn't let that happen when it becomes older because I will be handling it like I handle all of my other snakes. I do have a problem controlling humidity sometimes, but that's because I keep using the heat lamps which I do not need. Though, I will definitely get heat pads. I love the way both the Bloods and the JCPs look, they are both so beautiful. I love the Blood's bulky size, but I love how beautiful the JCPs get. Though, the JCPs are more slender, and the Bloods seem to get heavy (how heavy would an adult get? 0_0). I'm still reading up on both species too. So, which snake would be a better-next-step for me?

I think they would both be appropriate "next-step" snakes for you, as long as you buy them as hatchlings.

As for choosing between the two... blood all the way!! I have a "thing" for thick snakes. Bloods are so much fun! Who can resist such a fat, ill-tempered beauty??

Imo, you have plenty of experience to handle and care for a blood; now it's just about what you are willing to handle and care for. Starting with a CB baby and handling regularly, you shouldn't have any problems with aggression as it gets older. However, you must understand that you may end up with a 20-30-pound snake and there is always the possibility of a bite, no matter how well you have tamed it.

If you are hesitant about size and / or temperament, getting a Borneo short tail (P. breitensteini) is an option; Borneos are very close relatives to red bloods and can be hard to differenciate. On average, they are slightly smaller and more docile than reds, but you should still be prepared for the worst.