A New Blood Python

[Mark Jones]

We operate an Exotic Animal Rescue, (a 501(3)(c) Tax Exempt Rescue), finding new homes for unwanted, sick, or mistreated exotic pets. Over the last year we've handled too many snakes to count. Finally though, I've got one that I wanted rather than one 'dumped' on me.

My wife works at a Pet Supply store and special ordered me a Blood Python as a surprise. (Beth is a great wife!) Anyhoo, the snake I named "Sanguine" is healthy, well hydrated and has a very good appetite. She's about 16 inches long and rather plump like all of her kind. I had her checked by our Rescues on-call vet who declared the snake free of parasites and in good health. She currently resides in a temporary home made from a aquarium tank, (as a rescue we get tons of these), with a water dish big enough for her to submerge in if she wishes, a rock cave to hide in, undertank heat, protected overhead light/heating on a timer, and a substrate of mixed Eco-Earth and shredded aspen. Humidity is a constant 65-70% and the temp is 80 degrees at the warm end. She happily takes F/T mice, (Fuzzies at the moment, but I think she can handle larger.)

Questions:
1) Am I on the right path?:dumb:
2) She will rapidly out-grow this tank, and while I have many sizes to choose from, this beastie isn't here for the short term like most that come through here. She's mine. Where can I find plans for a decent Blood Python enclosure to build myself?

Thanks, folks!

[Mark Jones]

Thought I'd try to post a picture of my girl. That isn't a heat rock she's on, it's her cave.

[Big_V]

Questions:
1) Am I on the right path?

I would change the temperature you are keeping the blood at. Warm end temperatures should be somewhere close to 90 degrees. 80 is too cold for such an animal as they come from the Malaysian pennisula. Humidity is within a good range, stick closer to the 70% humdity, but should probably be raised during shedding.

2) She will rapidly out-grow this tank, and while I have many sizes to choose from, this beastie isn't here for the short term like most that come through here. She's mine. Where can I find plans for a decent Blood Python enclosure to build myself?

Id plan on building your own enclosure. Though I do not personally have any plans for the construction id suggest you search the enclosure forum and the blood forum for threads from the past year or so. There are plenty of discussions on size of housing, to heating sources to options in housing. There are plenty of commercially available housing options within many price ranges and esthetic appeal.

Good Luck,
Ryan