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Short tailed python attitude Q...

Posted By:

Behindblueyes21

In Relation To:

Rockett [2142]

Ok, so some of you may have seen my blog about my new blood python. Turns out she is a Marbled Short tail python. (possibly het for ultra-breit) - I sent her pics around to a few blood/ short tail breeders to find out what she is.

Anyhow... My question is about attitude and temperatures. Some boas and pythons (my viper boa for example) can get agitated/grumpy over a certain temp. Viper boa is above 88 from what I have read.

To the point: My new gal is stunning! And WAS a sweetheart. Just would sit with me, no problems. I could take her out no worries. But tonight was different, I brought her out to snap some photos, and she totally freaked out!! She struck at me so hard she literally jumped off the table. And of course, that did not help her falling, so she continued to strike at me from the ground!!! I just stood back and let her calm down. After a few minutes, her breathing slowed and I was able to gently pick her up. It is feeding time so I decided to see if she would eat after being upset, so I go grab a rat and put it in the feeding bucket with her. Before striking the rat, she takes one more powerful lunge at me, again jumping at least a half foot or more. I felt her head hit my arm, but no teeth even with her open mouth!! (lucky) I dunno why she so suddenly seems to hate me!!

Has any one else had experiences like this with bloods/short tails? HELP!


Points:	150
Topics:	General Health , Knowledge Base
Tags:	Behavior, Breitensteini, Curtus, Python, Temperament, Temperature
Species:	Pythons > Pythons > Python breitensteini
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Assisted Answer

9/23/2010 8:03:11 AM

abi21491

Have you checked all of the basics first, ie her setup, temps, humidity, hides, substrate... blah blah blah lol. Bloods can be a bit trickier than other species to keep happy as far as all of that goes. She could also just be having a bad day. Is she about to shed? I've dealt with super tame bloods and bloods that were Satan's spawn 24/7. Never had any that swung between the two extremes though. Maybe she was cold when you got her, making her seem nicer than she really was?

Accepted Answer

9/23/2010 9:16:49 AM

JohnJohn

One thing I've really learned is that baby bloods are very sensitive. They really need to feel secure. What kind of enclosure is she in? An opaque sterlite tub is much better for them than a glass tank, even if they have hides, etc. And they really do best in small spaces, like a tub that really seems too small. A perfect size for a baby blood is 40 square inches of floor space. Your girl looks a little more grown in the picks. I think, even if she's older, she may feel most secure if kept in a somewhat smaller enclosure.

I agree with Abi though. I really try to keep conditions perfect for the blood. I use paper substrate with some of it shredded up. I have a water bowel that is a little bigger than necessary but really helps to keep the humidity up. I try hard to keep a very consistent temp gradient from 80 on the cool end and low 90's on the warm end. This helps with humidity as well getting water evaporating from the water bowel.

Also, they are really sensitive so they need a lot of time to really settle in before too much handling. Although, like Abi said, I've heard of bloods that are dog tame and others that were "Satan Spawn". I do think it's good for them to be handled often, but I also really believe in giving them a lot of time to settle in well.

Bloods are the best though! The most awesome snake anyone could ever have! I bet you'll have a great time with her.

Member Comment

9/23/2010 9:30:53 AM

abi21491

Well said John :) I also agree that bloods are some of the most awesome snakes ever :)

Member Comment

9/23/2010 10:05:52 AM

JohnJohn

Hahahaha. We really should show all those ChondroHeads what it's really about......BLOODS! Maybe we should instigate some sort of iHerp Blood-Fest. Maybe for Halloween! I think there's an idea there somewhere.....hhhhmmmmm.

Member Comment

9/23/2010 8:22:06 PM

PythonHouse

Funny you should mention this, as I had a similar experience. My Blood - Winston - has always been soooo docile. He is now 4 yo, never bitten, never agressive, but the other night he struck at me (luckily didnt connect) for apparently no reason that I could see, he was just hanging out in my bedroom on a shelf in the walk-in robe and when I said Hi he struck. He spent the rest of the night roaming the room and climbing to the top wardrobe, then sliding down the side to the floor to repeat - I didnt know they could climb like that being so fat.

I have been speaking to some friends and they have their bloods mating at the moment. Maybe it is just mating season and they are antsy!

We have been having a lot of thunderstorms each night, and all of my big snakes are really restless.

Author Comment

9/24/2010 3:54:12 AM

Behindblueyes21

Ok cool!! I will stick her in a smaller rack. and maybe i will tape black paper around it or something. LOL. I think she needs to be warmer too so I will up her temp some too. I appreciate the answers!!

Member Comment

9/24/2010 2:40:17 PM

JohnJohn

Tasia,

I think you will find that this snake can be a real joy, but that this is a species that needs just a little more attention to detail than some others. Not that any others don't need it. But short tailed pythons just have to have everything perfect. A smaller enclosure will probably make a huge difference. They really do like it. Temps and humidity also have to be perfect.

Good luck!

Member Comment

9/24/2010 3:35:05 PM

Katie M

Two of my longterm bloods, Scarlet and Rosemary are both quite lovely to work with, and are quite docile, however, if they feel unsupported, or if they feel uncomfortable with their surroundings, they will get into a kind of hissy mood. Sometimes Scarlet will work herself up into a tizzy when I try and put her back into her tub. That said, getting a calm, docile, sweet blood takes longterm, forever work. So, you have to stay dedicated to their care. My new 4 are starting to come around too. Start slow. I just take these four out (one at a time) and put them in my lap for a tv show, or if that's too stressful, the first clip.

Bloods are notorious for being pretty nasty if they don't like what you're doing. Sounds like she didn't like that table too much!

Member Comment

9/30/2010 11:18:51 PM

jasonc

I can say I know my male gets like that when its feeding time the if I put him of for a day don't you should not even get close to him.other than that him and mgirls are great to work with. But what has been said it right small spacetemp and humidity have got to be right.

Member Comment

2/2/2011 3:43:29 AM

abi21491

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