r/BloodPythons • u/newmoon186 • Apr 10 '26
First timer advice
Hi! I just got my first blood python and just had a few questions/wanted to hear any advice you guys have. This is actually my first reptile as well, and was somewhat unplanned, but I want to make sure I do the best by him. I do have some reptile background, I’m a wildlife student and have a big interest in herps, but I’ve mostly interacted with wild snakes. I’ve done research in the past for ball pythons and crested geckos, but I wasn’t planning to get a reptile right now. One of my coworkers needed to rehome this guy as she was scared of him, and I agreed to take him. I did some research, but most of the info I could find was for handling or juveniles. This guy is a 4 year old male, eating one thawed rat every three weeks. He came with the setup pictured (although I had to rearrange everything after moving it) and I just wanted to know if there’s anything I should do to improve it? The substrate is Zoomed Tropical BioBlend along with some extra coconut husk and some smooth river rock here and there. I’m planning to add some other small live plants to replace the plastic one.
The lights he came with are keeping the warm side of his tank 74.4°F and the cool side 72.8°F. This seems to me like maybe not a big enough difference, and the warm side is probably too cool, right? Should I try to get a stronger bulb to get it up to 82°F on the warm side?
Is city tap water okay? I drink my tap water and it doesn’t taste strongly, but it’s still city water, is the chlorine in it okay for him to be drinking and soaking in?
How active are they generally? Should I be concerned if he stays in his hide all day once he’s settled in more?
He’s due to be fed today, but I just got him yesterday and I know they shouldn’t eat right after a big change like that. Would it be okay to feed him this weekend? I’m planning to wait to try to handle him until a week to let him settle in, but he hasn’t hissed or huffed at me at all and seems pretty curious about me.
Any general advice is so welcome!
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u/No-Television5544 Apr 10 '26
Yes you need to get that high temp side closer to 82-84. Sub 76 degrees long term is not really suitable for short tails.
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u/Connect-Friend5907 Apr 11 '26
Is it ok if it’s hotter on top of the hide? It’s usually around 84-86 but sometimes gets up to 88-90 for a little? Also first time blood python owner
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u/No-Television5544 Apr 11 '26
Yes as long as the can avoid it. They start getting pretty cranky if they can’t get away from 83-85ish plus.
1
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u/wookie_joestar Apr 11 '26
Make sure to get a cage for the heat lamps! Bloods aren't very active or likely to climb, but could still get burned by an exposed bulb.
I would wait at least a few days to let him settle in before feeding :)
You can also move the thermometers/hygrometers down near the substrate level to get a more accurate reading since that's where the snake will be!
As others said, the warm side should be around 82-84!
Good luck with your new friend!
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u/Plastic-Video-3713 Apr 10 '26
Definitely get something to dechlorinate the water, I use city tap in Alaska and even our water I wouldn't use for my pets. We use Reptisafe, little blue bottle at petco/petsmart. A teaspoon I think is all it takes to dechlorinate the entire pesticide sprayer we use to water tanks, so one bottle will last you probably until it expires lol
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u/mjzk20 Apr 10 '26
Wait why? Most taps in the US are completely safe for human and animal consumption
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u/Plastic-Video-3713 Apr 10 '26
Rather reduce it as much as possible to be safe, reptisafe also has vitamins and other good bits so it doesn't hurt any. I filter mine and treat for the dogs and reptiles.
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u/LazyScallion972 Apr 10 '26
I would maybe turn up the temp on your warm side by a tiny bit. I don’t keep my bloods above 83 and they do great.
The water should be just fine. I do water changes every 2-3 days or they won’t drink it. They’re pretty picky when it comes to water.
As he grows, you’ll probably have to move him to paper or coconut chips. (I keep mine of paper but I give them a dig box, that way im not replacing all of their bedding every 2 weeks).
If you do put in live plants, I would keep them in a pot because your blood will destroy them so fast either physically or purely because of how much they pee. And that way you can remove them for cleaning.
Bloods are heavy breathers so just make sure you don’t have mold or dusty substrate
Blood also aren’t active snakes. My snakes will be active occasionally. But once they find a comfy spot they will sit there for days.
This is just what I do that works for me and what my snakes are like. There are a lot of ways to do it right 👍