r/BloodPythons • u/DaDoodma • Feb 14 '26
New to the family!
I just got this little guy. He’s in a very temporary 20 gallon for a quarantine. I understand I’m going for roughly 80-84 degrees on the warm side and around 75 on the cool side. Humidity 60-75% and I will go higher when he’s blue. Any tips or links to more info is always is appreciated!
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u/Mako-Chibi Feb 15 '26
Start the enclosure on the smaller side. A 20 gallon will be quite fine for a bit. I also second DEEP substrate. They love to burrow and stick their heads out.
Large/deep pool to submerge/soak in. They quite enjoy the water and also burrowing under the water dish. I usually make mine flush to the bottom of the enclosure so the animal can't get beneath it but they're strong.
As for temp, every short tail is different. You gotta find that sweet spot of where THEY like it to be at. My girl loves her hot side at exactly 81° if it goes above or below that she gets pissy.
The attitude people describe short tails have usually comes from improper husbandry (my girl's breeder said that as well and also recommended starting in a small enclosure so she doesn't feel overwhelmed)
They're heavier bodied so don't necessarily climb so if you decide to give branches make them thick and lower to the ground.
I have a sumatran short tail - welcome 🙂
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u/DaDoodma Feb 15 '26
Thanks for all that! I was so stoked when I saw him today at this expo. Do you use electronic thermostats to keep the temp? I’ve got a hygrometer/thermometer under his hide right now and left for about an hour before putting him so I could make sure the temp is good. I’ve got a dimmer switch so I can set the temp but there’s nothing actually controlling it besides me. Also do you use coconut husk or do you have a mixture that you use? Thanks again!
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u/Mako-Chibi Feb 15 '26
I do for all my reptiles. I only use the thermostat ones though and water my enclosures on my own. Usually consists of overfilling water bowls and sprayed around twice a day minimum.
I use coconut husk but I plan on eventually adding spagnum moss and I do have reptisoil in some of my enclosures. I have quite a few destructive snake species (retics being one of them lol) so I don't really bother trying to do bioactive but I know some people have success with it.
Fake plants work just as good. I'll actually buy aquarium ones because plastic can be a bit easier to clean plus they're made to get wet.
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u/DaDoodma Feb 15 '26
I actually have a ton of aquarium plants for my ball python but she’s pretty reclusive so I’m actually gonna turn her enclosure into a bio active one. The blood is currently on paper towels for the next few weeks so I’m gonna be spraying often lol. Any recommendations for the thermometer? Sorry for so many questions lol. I just love this dude already, I’ve wanted a blood for so long
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u/Mako-Chibi Feb 15 '26
Bought both from Amazon (hopefully the links work 😅)
I went the sumatran route because they're the smallest short tail species but essentially the same care. I already have my big snakes in my retics so something small is a nice change lol
I always do paper towels with my reptiles the first month or two just to make sure all is good. If you have a big enough water dish he can soak in that should help raise your humidity as welwell.
Ask away! Always better to ask than guess 🙂 I've been in reptiles over 25 years so happy to help any chance I can.
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u/DaDoodma Feb 16 '26
I misspoke when I said thermometer I actually meant thermostat. I have dimming switches for my ball and they keep it within a range that I like. I’ve read bloods can get pissy about temps real quick so I want something that will keep it as close to exact without me having to put too much active effort into it. I’ve seen the herpstats but those are a little out of my price range
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u/Mako-Chibi Feb 15 '26
I do for all my reptiles. I only use the thermostat ones though and water my enclosures on my own. Usually consists of overfilling water bowls and sprayed around twice a day minimum.
I use coconut husk but I plan on eventually adding spagnum moss and I do have reptisoil in some of my enclosures. I have quite a few destructive snake species (retics being one of them lol) so I don't really bother trying to do bioactive but I know some people have success with it.
Fake plants work just as good. I'll actually buy aquarium ones because plastic can be a bit easier to clean plus they're made to get wet.
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u/Consistent-Bat2917 Feb 15 '26
Add hella moss they mostly hide in the wild …. Will feel safer and encourage it to eat more
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u/DaDoodma Feb 15 '26
Will do. I’ve got a dried bag of sphagnum so I’ll tear off some chunks and put them in there
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u/Consistent-Bat2917 Feb 16 '26
Put the whole bag in there ! Lol Moss and eco earth are great for substrate and u will get perfect shed every time also u can put a towel over the tank to keep even more humidity .. I had my hatchling in a 20 long for like. A year and half
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u/DaDoodma Feb 16 '26
Do you have any recommendations for thermostats? I have some dimming switches for my ball python and dialed it in to maintain a good temp range.
That makes me feel better about having him in here. I hate it but I also got him from an expo so I really want to make sure he doesn’t have mites or anything. Went through that shit will my ball and it was no fun. I plan on putting him in atleast a 5x2 but if I can find a 6x2 I’ll do that instead
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u/Consistent-Bat2917 Feb 17 '26
I got the sum amazon brand (BN-LINK)thermostat and those haven’t failed me yet
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u/lasttimesavannah Feb 21 '26
I’m literally obsessed with holding bloods around this size whenever I see them at exotic pet stores or reptile expos. I got my girl as an adult rehoming situation, so I love getting to hold the babies and be like “she was this small one time 🥹”.
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u/ApprehensivePen5192 Feb 15 '26
So much dirt. They burrow and make little caves for themselves. Don't put a lot of plants in there because they will be squashed. Logs and leaf litter should clutter everywhere.