Bloods?

[EyeOfTheStorm]

What is the general temperment of Bloods? I am considering the purchase of a new Blood, but would like to hear from some Blood owners first. I usually try to get calm tempered snakes, because I have children. My Burm is great with the kids and doesnt mind the occasional fast movement, but I did however have a Rock once (before kiddos came along) that WAS NOT cool! Being the impulsive buyer at the time, I had failed to really reasearch what I was actually purchasing. I would rather that not happen again. So if any Blood owners could reply with some helpful tips, I would greatly appreciate it.

[JuliusSqueezer]

Bloods are fun. They are nippy babies but chll out as they mature. Once they mature they turn snappy again and hate to be handled. Imagine a fat sausage shaped snake thrashing around in your arms like a freshly landed yellow fin tuna. That's a blood python. Not a great choice for a family pet involving children.

[LdyDrgn]

I agree. They really aren't good when children are around. Most kids move too fast and jerky and it would severely stress out an already nervous snake. Most snakes don't like fast movement anyway and will snap if startled.

All that aside, Borneos are much better "behaved" than Reds or Blacks. They also don't get quite as large but are still rather hefty. They get large enough that colossal rats just aren't big enough prey items. You can keep that in mind if you decide to get one later when the kids are old enough to understand how to be calm and slow around them.

We can handle our pair without too many problems as long as the proper support is offered (and this can be a challenge! LOL). They hiss quite a bit getting out of their enclosures but have yet offered to bite.. rather vocal snakes. If support isn't offered properly they will thrash as Julius said... sometimes they will do it anyway

[EyeOfTheStorm]

Thanx for the helpful replies J-Squeeze, and Lady. If I dont really come across a calm, docile breed at the time being I will prob just stay with the big ol Burm for the time being. She is quite the calm and gentle one, and seemingly enjoys the oooos and ahhhs. I used to have roughly a dozen mixture of boas and pythons, but as times went on, kids come along... and my collection has diminished greatly.

[JuliusSqueezer]

Can't beat a good ol Colombian Boa for userfriendlyness.

[haroldo359]

what do they eat if col. rats aren't big enough? rabbits? i didn't realize they were that big.

[wvgemini]

Originally Posted by JuliusSqueezer

Imagine a fat sausage shaped snake thrashing around in your arms like a freshly landed yellow fin tuna. That's a blood python.

ROFLMFAO That's a great image! Our new one is pushing three feet and I just don't have quite the arm girth to hold her (or at least not comfortable enough yet). So I apply that to flopping around in my lap since I sit down when holding her. She's pretty docile once you get her out of the cage, though. But she hisses a little when you take her out. Other than that, she pretty much just likes to chill out on a warm lap.

[LdyDrgn]

Yup, Harold.... rabbits. But you have to be careful with the Bloods, they can and will get overly obese if their diet isn't monitored well.

[ssscales]

I agree as well with the comments mentioned above. My 3 are quite the hissers when removing from the cage and will occassionally thrash and snap to let you know they've had enough when out of the cage. These are not snakes you want around small hands jumping around all over the place. Mine are between 3-1/2 and 4FT long and about as thick as soda cans, I can't imagine once they reach 5-6FT and get as thick as 2Ltr bottles!

I'd stick to BCIs, Ball Pythons or even Dumerils until the kids are old enough and patient enough.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.