blood question

[brettsemrick]

I have been contemplating getting a blood python for months and I finally picked one up at the last dixie reptile show. He has had a really good attitude so far and I'm pumped about having him. He seems in pretty good health as far as I can tell, but, I think he might be possibly a little under weight. His spine is kinda out there a little bit and he has some loose skin on his sides. After looking at a few pictures of bloods on here and a few other places he seems like he is not quite as fluffy as a lot of the ones I have seen. What do you guys think?

[2kdime]

Maybe a TINY bit thin, but not underweight.

Hard to judge his real size, but I'd say a Medium rat every 2 weeks would probably suit him just fine.

You MIGHT give him a medium every week for a little while, but as adults they dont need that much food.

Remember too, a fat Blood is an unhealthy one, and males get lazy at breeding time. females when overweight will slug out.

Do you have your temps and humidity right?

[Tim Mead]

From the pic, it looks like a meal or two wouldn't hurt..
The 3 species often labeled bloods are triangular in shape and the back bone is always prominant..It's a feature of the species and exhibited in others as well..

[brettsemrick]

The ambient air temp is 81, hot spot 83, cool side 75.5, and my humidity is 75%. I need to solder a few more holes in the tub, which will be done today. Is about 50%-60% about right for humidity? I will definitely try a med. rat once a week for a couple a weeks and thanks for clearing the spine thing up, that had me freaked out for a second. If my husbandry needs to be changed any let me know.

[5snakes]

With my blood, he also shows his spine. I think some snake species do and some don`t. my other pythons and boas don`t have that, so I think that it is a natural thing. (my snakes are all very well fed) If you think he is too skinny than I do suggest feeding, if he is hungry, he will eat. My blood is slow to strike and kill. I think it is because it takes a lot out of a snake to strike and miss. So, i do believe that is why he waites sometimes up to a half an hour. Spine showing as far as I know is normal, though. Good luck and again, if you think he is hungry, feed him.

[brettsemrick]

Yeah, the spine thing started to worry me for a second. I'm gonna put the rats to him and hopefully he will beef up, which to my understanding I think they have slow metabolisms so it won't take long.

[snakey68]

Yeah, the spine thing started to worry me for a second. I'm gonna put the rats to him and hopefully he will beef up, which to my understanding I think they have slow metabolisms so it won't take long.

looks a little thin to me, nothing serious though, I would give two rats next feed appropriate size for him of course its hard to tell from the pic how big he is.

You will see a few bloods (not on here though I doubt lol ) that show little spine and are just far too robust and fat resulting from over feeding or ignorant owners not knowing any better.

Your just looks like it needs a good feed maybe for the 1st month, then cut back to every 7 days a large enough meal, my adults get fed every 10 days or 14 some times which is fine for an adult blood feeding on large rats.

[2kdime]

Bump the cool side up to 88-82 and just ditch the hot spot.

If you insist on using one, like I like to, make it like 86. But I only use one for the adults, babies get ambients solely.

You can also lower the humidity a bit, 60-65% really seems to be the sweet spot for these snakes.

[twan]

Congrats on your BP looking good i would loose the the water bowl and get somthing your blood wont tip like a ceramic dog bowl.

[brettsemrick]

Congrats on your BP looking good i would loose the the water bowl and get somthing your blood wont tip like a ceramic dog bowl.

I had a bigger one in there, but, the humidity was through the roof. I've burnt some more holes in the tub now so I'll try the larger bowl again.