You may not see them as they’re hidden by gums. This occurs because the snake feels cornered, and that it needs to fight you off. The rest is explained here. They may then keep the snake with other snakes, and it may get an infestation or infection. This article addresses all four species, referring to them generally as blood pythons for simplicity’s sake. Modern blood python research has revealed that they are healthiest at 60% humidity. Blood python temperament gets a pretty bad rep in the reptile world. But what if I told you that the blood python’s fearsome reputation was little more fact than the boogie man? That’s when they musk and get the most defensive. Aggressive specimens may bite and refuse to let go. Blood pythons are known for being nippy, hissing, and getting cage aggressive. The first reason is to feed.

Opaque walls. The snake may be too cold, especially if it’s shipped in the cargo of a plane. As blood pythons are aggressive, cage aggression is not unusual. This can usually be accomplished with a large water bowl and a thick layer of damp moss. These bites are different from feeding-response bites. Jensen is a blood python breeder and collector with 7 years of experience and about 30 bloods and short-tails in his collection.

The idea is to give you a shock. The blood python, also known as the Python curtus, is a good-sized snake that is often kept as a pet because of its great and active personality. Their feeding reflex is surprisingly fast for their size, and catches people out. parasites inside their body. Your email address will not be published. The purpose of this configuration is jaw separation. Make sure your blood python is always well nourished, Never offer food using your hand; use tongues or a plate, Be gentle when touching it and do not surprise it, Do not touch your snake when it is shedding. One of the reasons blood pythons aren’t more popular is their temperament. Fangs are used to hold onto prey and prevent it from escaping. If the snake takes up less than ½ to 1/3 of the space, you likely have the correct size. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). Most bloods and short tails sold in pet stores and at reptile expos are WC, so avoid those if you’re in the market. Blood pythons can musk when handled, which is another reason they don’t make a good beginner pet.

You can avoid this by lifting the snake from their enclosure with a snake hook. The teeth are longer than that, and you may see them through their translucent gums.

Again, that’s due to the fact that they were wild-caught. How Often Should Baby Ball Pythons Be Fed. They will strike at you quickly, as if they’re going to bite, but not open their mouth. All snakes bite if they feel the need to. Blood pythons (and all pythons) lack all of these things. When blood pythons’ basic needs are met, they actually have quite calm dispositions — in fact, Jensen stated that, all other factors being equal, one is more likely to find an aggressive ball python than an aggressive blood python. Negative reactions mainly occur from handling blood pythons. Light is stressful.

Are Ball Pythons Venomous (Poisonous) Pet Snakes? If the following three factors are met, the snake in question is most likely to turn out extremely docile: Blood pythons are advanced-level animals and, although the focus of this article is on their excellent dispositions, should not be attempted by inexperienced keepers. … Unlike some reptiles, this snake is known to have a feisty attitude that can be fun to get to know. ReptiFiles is not a veterinary website, nor is the author Mariah Healey a veterinarian.

Their bite reflex is very strong, and their jaws are strong too. This is where the snake is defensive when you move to reach in their cage.

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. In other words, they are simply scared out of their minds. They musk easily when handled. They get defensive, and may attack when you’ve done nothing to provoke them. Most owners will tell you that blood pythons are difficult to care for. None of this applies to captive-bred blood pythons. Before 2001, the four species were all classified as subspecies together.

Blood pythons also renowned for not eating frozen and thawed food. That’s because they’ve lived in the wild, where predators and threats could kill them at any moment. ReptiFiles.com is a compilation of factual, science-based research from the best reptile care resources in the world, packaged in one neat website. Blood pythons do not react well to change, so allow them at least 3-4 weeks to settle in to their new home and start eating regularly before attempting to handle. The active ingredient is produced by the cloacal scent gland.

All rights reserved. The only way to make sure that you get a CB baby is through a knowledgeable, experienced breeder. One row is along the bottom left, with another along the bottom right. What sets us apart from the rest? Blood pythons musk, hiss, and can be nippy. Whether captive-bred or not, the snake still possesses powerful jaws. They are not as aggressive and ill-tempered as some would have you believe. According to the Wiley Online Library, most wild-caught snakes have parasites. People call them “nasty,” “aggressive,” even “savage.” And as heavy-bodied adults with bright red coloring, they certainly look the part. Blood Python Enclosure (Tank Size and Setup Guide). Despite their large size, blood pythons have slow metabolisms and are prone to obesity. An adult may only need a hide on the warm side. It’s little wonder that they are tetchy and nippy after such a bad experience. A bite from a blood is no laughing matter. That’s why I set up snakesforpets.com – to answer every question that you could ever have about snakes as pets (and how they survive in the wild.)

However, this reputation isn’t a fair reflection of all blood pythons. The worst thing is their bite, which is much more painful than that of other types of snakes. If they don’t feel frightened enough to try self-defense, they will start by musking, and perhaps by getting aggressive. However, this is not a care sheet. The purpose is to deter predators from wanting to eat the snake, because it smells and tastes foul.

The current bloods and short tails on the market are roughly 50% CB and 50% WC. But self-defense bites are bite-and-release. Blood python husbandry, like that of many snakes, is a matter of balance. Their bite hurts much more than ball pythons or corn snakes, for example. A 20lb adult male can be fed a large rat every 3 weeks and be perfectly happy. A snake in the wild, stuck in a hollow log or a burrow, would have to fight off any threat that’s near the entrance.

Without fangs, the prey could wriggle free before constriction starts. What is ReptiFiles®? They are also ambush predators. But it is mostly undeserved. Otherwise the snake may develop an RI. You still have to be careful to avoid the blood python’s bite. They have venom ducts to connect the glands to their fangs, and hollow or grooved fangs to deliver the venom. Like all snakes, they’re obligate carnivores that survive on a diet of rodents. He is the first to disagree with anyone labeling a blood as “aggressive” or “nasty.” His current breeding projects focus on Borneo short-tailed pythons. When a python bites prey, it bites and holds on. But what makes their bites especially painful is their biting reflex.
I’ve always been fascinated by snakes and reptiles.
The bigger the blood python, the more painful the bite. They are beautiful to look at. Every species’ biting reflex differs, with some striking faster than others. Musking is a response to threats. Pythons have four rows of teeth. This means that the breeder prioritizes solid genetics, as well as uses proper husbandry. Primarily from Malaysia, they were reported to be untrusting creatures that were unpredictable even after years in captivity. Why Do Blood Pythons Have Bad Temperament? Musk is a foul-smelling fluid expelled from the cloaca.