Keeping 4ft Blood for friend, first big snake!

[WSmiddy]

So they delivered a 120gal (I think) (4"x1"x2") tank, almost 4.5ft Blood, with a water bowl 2 heating lamps and one half log thing. The snake is really cool, he hisses alot but wont strike at you. They Feed him 3 med size rats and said he couldnt be picked up for 2 days. Today is the 2nd day and I got him out cause he was moving around alot.

What would be a better improvement for his tank? He has green..outdoor carpet in there i think? Does he need something to get under? Should I mist him down? Ive read alot about them but most ppl are talkin about small ones and not a almost 5fter. Any imput would help!

I have a bearded dragon, 3 sugar gliders, and 4 dogs ... So I want to be sure he's getting cared for as well as my other pets.
Thanks, Smiddy

[alessia55]

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[marvelfreak]

19891

Here's a list of what all you need or need to do.

1. Get UTH under tank heat pads. Lamp tend to dry the air out to fast. You will want to get one big enough to cover 1/4 to 1/3 of the bottom of the cages.

2. You are going to need a bigger cage. By cage i mean something not made out of glass. Glass tanks are for fish not snakes. You will want something at least 4x2x1. Big would be better.

3. For the bottom of the cage you want news paper or Reptile bark. Bloods don't poop often but when they do it big. News paper makes it easier to clean. Reptile Bark makes cleaning easy plus help with the smell. Nice thing about Reptile Bark it can be clean and reused. Tell how right on the bag.

4.Food at that size it should be eating jumbo rats or rabbits. One every 10 to 14 days.

5. Hides you will need one at each end.(warm end and cool end) Water bowl big enough for it to soak in. With a big water bowl you should only have to mist when in shed.

6. For now you can use the tank but cover about 3/4 of the top to help hold humidity in. Also cover the sides and back of the glass will help it feel secure.

7. If the snakes cool to the touch and hissing a lot now be warned ones it warms up it might be a little more ill tempered.

Any question feel free to ask. Oh and we love to see pictures.

[icole]

So they delivered a 120gal (I think) (4"x1"x2") Have you seen Spinal Tap? That is one tiny tank. It is the same size as a pack of 100 mil cigarettes.

[GarterPython]

I think he meant 4' x 1' x 2' .

[MoreliAddict]

Hi & welcome.

Need pics to assess situation...

[icole]

I think he meant 4' x 1' x 2' . Do do I. If it is plastic, and the floor is 4' by 2' it is adequate,m but 4' by 2' by 1' feet is only 60 gallons.

[Wildside]

Do do I. If it is plastic, and the floor is 4' by 2' it is adequate,m but 4' by 2' by 1' feet is only 60 gallons.

I think 60 gallons is alright for a 4 ft. Blood.

[WSmiddy]

Thanks for the info I'll have pic's up soon. Just to be clear its a glass aquarium 4ft long, 1ft wide, and 2ft tall. Ive made a hide for him and he stays in it most the time. I get him out once a day he's been nice so far but breaths hard and has white saliva sometimes at the tip of his mouth. I thought he was hissing but i realize now he's just breathing hard...is that normal?

[SnakeyJay]

The breathing hard is a sign that he's stressed or scared.. Theres a guy on here called CDN Blood... Look up his YouTube videos for tips on how to handle these snakes. :)

[Wildside]

Thanks for the info I'll have pic's up soon. Just to be clear its a glass aquarium 4ft long, 1ft wide, and 2ft tall. Ive made a hide for him and he stays in it most the time. I get him out once a day he's been nice so far but breaths hard and has white saliva sometimes at the tip of his mouth. I thought he was hissing but i realize now he's just breathing hard...is that normal?

It could also be a sign that his humidity isn't high enough. Bloods need very high humidity. Putting a humid hide in there should help.

[GarterPython]

Don't handle him so much epecially after you just acquired him. He is probably pretty scared.

[icole]

Plastic tanks hold humidity much much better.

[marvelfreak]

Thanks for the info I'll have pic's up soon. Just to be clear its a glass aquarium 4ft long, 1ft wide, and 2ft tall. Ive made a hide for him and he stays in it most the time. I get him out once a day he's been nice so far but breaths hard and has white saliva sometimes at the tip of his mouth. I thought he was hissing but i realize now he's just breathing hard...is that normal?
Bloods are like the Big Bad Wolf the love to huff and puff. If your not careful they will blow all over your house.
That their way of saying leave me alone. If you are holding him and he breathing heavy it means he feel insecure and scared. If when your holding him you feel he stomach shake, rumble, or they fart put him down right away. It means he getting ready to crap or piss on you. This is one of their defense mechanisms.

If you see him wag is tail this to is a sign that he doesn't want to be messed with. I would give him a week at least to settle in then keep handling to no longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

[SnakeyJay]

Just a warning... Apparently when these snakes bite, they hit like a tank. Just something I've heard many times.

[marvelfreak]

Just a warning... Apparently when these snakes bite, they hit like a tank. Just something I've heard many times.
So very true. For some short and fat their speed and power is ungodly.

[MrBD1980]

Plastic tanks hold humidity much much better.

This seems to be a statement I read lots ATM...it not true at all...glass holds humidity just as well...it often the mesh top that needs consideration!

Brian

[WSmiddy]

Ok thanks ya'll I think i understand him a little better now!

[SnakeyJay]

This seems to be a statement I read lots ATM...it not true at all...glass holds humidity just as well...it often the mesh top that needs consideration!

Brian

The point everyone's getting at is that glass doesn't hold an ambient temperature very well, and this warm air is crucial to gain humidity... Cold air does not hold humidity. Glass is not a good insulator, hence why we have double glazing etc... Go gain humidity in a glass viv you need a high powered heat source to keep ambient temps up which in turn usually dries the air out anyway...

If you have a Heated rep room then the argument is void but for most people glass is an issue.

[Rogue628]

Personally I've found plastic tubs hold heat and humidity better than glass tanks. For better humidity in tubs, you put holes near the top and have them nicely spaced, not bunched together.

Not only that, but I've found that tubs are alot easier to maintain than glass tanks since they're not near as heavy. All of my animals but one is in plastic tubs, and that animal does well with ambient temps and humidity so the little 10 gallon tank is fine for it.

CDN_Blood is a great source of information on bloods as well as Caylan. Both of these members can help you iron out any husbandry issues you may have with the blood. I do recommend watching some of CDN's youtube vids about his bloods. They're really informative about blood temperaments and can help you read the animal better.

Good luck!

[MoreliAddict]

This seems to be a statement I read lots ATM...it not true at all...glass holds humidity just as well...it often the mesh top that needs consideration!

Brian
There aren't alot of glass tanks I know of that are completely sealed aside from air holes, and open at the front. Plus, glass is HEAVY...