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Montessa_Python   Catfish_82   Pythonpetey  
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 #2006893


Montessa_Python
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 Questions for Catfish

I keep Balls and colubrids so know all about humidity..
BUT would like to get some specific tips for my new blood.
I have one hide, and will get another today, She is in a 55 qt steralite tub, long and low, and wide.
She has a stuck shed on her head/eyes, and the store owner said she does NOT like her head being touched.
I was gonna let her soak after a bit of settling to help her get it off.
SO...my questions are..
Should I use moss?
Should I use only cypress mulch?
She is in a semi rack system with a UTH that has been converted for side/partial under heat.
The room itself is kept at 78 degrees to 80.
I am reading more up on them and their keeping requirements are very similar to balls.
So any other tips??
Thanks
Carol
05/18/09  08:18am

 #2006962


Catfish_82
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   Message To: Montessa_Python   In reference to Message Id: 2006893


 Questions for Catfish

Carol, Heh I’m so glad I checked this forum today, I’m on my way to Virginia and will be without Internet for a few days. To answer your questions. How old is the snake? If I correctly recall, you said it was a year and a half in another post? So the snake should be fine in that size tub you have. You said you will have two hides, that’s fine just make sure they’re kind of snug. Bloods like really close spaces, it helps them feel secure. For the stuck shed, you can soak them and that’s fine too. Mine sometimes will retain a bit of skin on her head despite my efforts. Although Marle will let me pick bits and pieces off her. Give yours a while and I’m sure she will do the same. You can use whatever substrate you like really. Most bloods love to burrow and any kind of mulch will give them that chance. I personally use newspaper, but that’s just because it’s easy to clean. The rack system is fine, the room temps are fine. However, I’m going to disagree that they’re similar to balls in care. Bloods like cooler temps. My hot side/hot spot is around 86-88 while my cool side is close to 82. Ambient air temp varies sometimes between 84 and 86. Thats really more of a sub-adult and adult temp range. Young bloods actually do well with cooler temps. Bloods need much higher humidity (which is another plus of using newspaper for me. If it gets too damp just swap it out) 65-70% humidity is a normal range. I personally bump up to around 80-85% when she is in shed. Also she’ll need a water bowl big enough to soak in. They do like to soak from time to time.

As far as my experience with them, bloods will pass urine and small amounts of urates fairly frequently however full on bowel movements can be months apart. Marle’s record is six months. In addition, they have a slower metabolism and most well established bloods have fantastic feeding responses which can make them prone to obesity. They are very heavy bodied snakes and don’t enjoy being picked up and draped over things or handled with only one hand. Support their mid bodies when you do pick them up. I’ve also noticed that they tend to be (and I cringe making this leap) one person snakes. Marle has taken only a couple of swipes at me, and that was only when she was very young and I first had her. After wards she was fine. However, a friend took her out of her cage when I wasn’t around and she lit him up like a Christmas tree. You’ll be fine and if you do have further questions ask. You may also want to talk with Python Petey and MikeyP, they are two of the more active members of the forum and blood owners. They could share their insight as well.

Good luck.
05/18/09  10:42am

 #2007297


Pythonpetey
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   Message To: Catfish_82   In reference to Message Id: 2006962


 Questions for Catfish

Montessa:

Crunch has spend the past year in a 40-gallon terrarium with a sliding screen top and plastic sheets over the screen that I adjust to moderate the humidity. I have two UTHs on separate thermostats on opposite sides of the enclosure to keep the temps just right. Like Catfish, I keep the warm side around 88 and the cool side around 84. Crunch stays on the cool side after eating, and slowly works his way over to the warm side as feeding day approaches.

I also agree with Catfish about using newspaper for substrate. I use large amounts of torn and crumpled sections of newspaper for Crunch to bury himself under (he does not have actual hides), with a 4" deep broiler pan in the middle of the enclosure for him to drink/soak. I change the newspaper every three or four days unless he messes and requires immediate changing. When Crunch was young I used Cypress mulch as substrate, but quit using it after Crunch got a nasty splinter stuck in his left nostril (no lie).

The humidity in his tank stays around 65% to 70% most of the time; I bump it up to around 80% as soon as I see his eyes gloss over for shedding. Even with the higher humidity, I have to repeatedly soak Crunch to get him to shed. The last time he took so long to shed, that after two consecutive days of soaking I finally rubbed my hand up and down his body to get the skin off (the spoiled, lazy bum won’t even rub his own shed off). When he was younger I would not have dared do that to him, but now he allows me to gently peel off stuck shed from his face, eyes and underside his jaw.

BTW: I just bought (and assembled) Crunch’s adult cage - an Animal Plastics T10 (48x24x15) with a UTH. This should help keep the humidity up and still provide the temperature range needed. Having solid sides (unlike the glass terrarium) should help him feel secure.



05/18/09  09:18pm


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