skinny bloods?

[cecilbturtle]

i just received my pair of hatchling black bloods. I've never personally kept bloods. they seem awfully skinny. is this normal for hatchlings? the breeder i got them from told me they have taken several meals. they also seem really chill. I'm not complaining about that or anything but i just worry.

i guess i just want some reassurance.

[jcotharn]

When i got mine it seemed a little skinny, they should be a decent amount bigger than a ball of the same length, but trust me these things grow fast. They will be nice and thick in no time.

[2kdime]

Are they this years hatch or last years? That would certainly make a difference

Sometimes smaller animals were slow starters to get going on food....

But some people will even just "maintenance" feed animals to keep them going to keep food costs down.

Any pictures? Whered you get em if I might ask?

[cecilbturtle]

they are about 60 grams each. got them from outback reptiles.

[AkHerps]

They look a tad thin, but once you get them eating, they start growing really fast.

What kind of set up are you keeping them in, and with what temps?

Just curious Bloods can be very precise with what they need, and some can be pretty picky. Mine hates belly heat.

My blood has been on a weekly feeding schedule since I got him and he was in great health, but in my opinion, thin hatchlings can be fed every 5 days to help put meat (not fat) on their bones then moved to a weekly feeding.

[cecilbturtle]

i have them in 32 qt tubs. hot side, belly heat, is 89F. just went back to check. temp probe on the cooler side reads 78F. the male is hanging on the cool side and the female on the hot side. separate tubs of course with hides on each side.

[cecilbturtle]

oh, and for the record, Josh from outback reptiles was great to deal with. he answered every question i had. i dont think there is anything shady going on here at all. i just tend to worry sometimes.

[2kdime]

ID put them in shoebox tubs to be honest, theyre still really small.

Those snakes were more than likely not bred by him, as hes a known flipper. So you might not have gotten much info on them.

Are they 2011's or 2010's? Was he able to tell you?

They look to be at a decent shape for their size, but if theyre 2010's, theyve been maintenance fed or were slow starters.

Just get em going on some weaned rats once a week and go from there.

[cecilbturtle]

i sent him an email to find out but i havent heard back from him yet.

i will get shoe box tubs tomorrow.

thanks

[2kdime]

You'll just have better luck I would think getting them going before you move them up to some larger tubs.

Those babies are still pretty small and a shoe box would suit them well for a few meals at least.

For the future, heres a good chart drawn up some years ago for us Blood people....