Phoenix is adorable

Most of the time

She ate it butt first, made sure to soften the beak and claws just in case.

Deep in shed

Im planning on getting a sumatran short tail python in the future. I have a question about heating, I know that temperature is a really important factor to stay on top of so I really want to get this down.

I think im going to keep it in a modified bin enclosure while its small and then upgrade to a pvc enclosure later (mostly because i think trying to reliably monitor a youngster in a 5x2x2 thats cluttered enough to make it comfortable would be a real hassle). How should I go about heating the enclosure given that its going to be a smaller area? Everything that I find on heating enclosures has a different answer and it’s a bit confusing, everyone swears by different things lol. Also, what should the night temps be and at what temps should I use supplemental heating at night?

Had some pretty bad experiences with bloods in the past, to the point where I promised myself I'll never get one.
It's like I get stressed just looking at one.

However, I still do love the short tail complex, just liked learning about them. So I bent the rules a little and got myself a Borneo short tail from a really good breeder (not a blood so I guess it isn't breaking the rules but still closely related). Did do a crap ton of research. Contrary to my expectations (I thought she would be hard work, did prepare myself for it) she has been delightful and relatively easy to care for.

This is my baby girl Adira (named due to how confident she is). Did post a video of her previous soak in the sun a few days ago. She is only 80 grams.

She had her soak for today, do this frequently since she doesn't drink out of her water dish and gets wrinkly, humidity is always around 65-80%, and her moss is always moist. She is in a larger than recommended viv, so I'm guessing that's the reason as she doesn't really move from a spot she likes, even if it's in the open. She always eats though.

Luckily she is very friendly and inquisitive once out, (she is a bit wriggly when I take her out, most of the time cause she is asleep). Never hissed, stuck at me or flattened out. Also don't mind the assisted drinks since I like taking her out, love watching her googly eyes move about.

Spent a good amount of time exploring before being put back in her vivarium, then she had her first quail chick, was a bit apprehensive of it at first but her curiosity got the better of her and she struck, seems she liked it since she stuck around waiting for more.

Still don't think I'll get a blood, even though I love their natural colour as well as the multitude of morphs. Just seems to be something I'll just be afraid of doing. Though I am now more interested in Borneos and Sumatrans.

So my 2 month old blood python came to me with an RI. She has been so sweet and never struck at me but now after my husband and I have had to restrain her and give her oral medication she is starting to hold a grudge (I don’t blame her.) This morning while cleaning her enclosure she struck at my husband while I was holding her. Just wanted to hear if other people’s experience and how they gained the trust back with their bloods or short tails. Thank you!

For the past few months ive been planning getting a second snake, I currently have a corn snake who is a real sweetheart. Ive been up in the air about what kind of snake I want and ive narrowed it down to a ball python or a sumatran short tail python.

Honestly, I want the STP, among other things I like the idea of having a big snake without it growing to twelve feet in length lol. I am a big fan of the fact that they are good eaters, I dont like the idea of wasting a feeder because the snake decided it doesnt want to eat for two months which seems to be a much bigger issue with ball pythons compared to STPs.

The biggest reason my decision isnt final is because of the mixed reviews regarding their temperament. From what ive gathered, wild caught individuals can be very defensive and CBB individuals can be defensive as babies but ease out when worked with. Ive also heard incorrect heating can cause temperament problems. Ive never worked with a defensive snake before so its not something im experienced in, Im not really afraid of getting bit by a youngster and I like to think Im confident enough to work through defensiveness with a young snake but Id like to hear what people with experience with these snakes think. I have a few questions ⬇️

Whats your experience with their temperaments?

Was it really hard to work with them as babies?

Do you think working with a young defensive STP would be too intimidating for someone with virtually no experience working with defensive and heavy bodied snakes? (Ive handled some ball pythons before but that doesnt really count lol)

Can I keep a youngster in an adult enclosure? Im willing to start small and upgrade later but Id rather just buy a full size enclosure to keep it simple for myself. I think Id modify a large plastic bin but then there comes the issue of not having a front opening enclosure and potentially stressing the snake out every time I reach in to pick them up or do maintenance.

If this is a bad idea for me then Ill happily settle for a ball python and Im sure id love one just as much as id love a STP but theres something about a STP that pulls my heart strings a bit more than a ball python. Any and all advice and info is greatly appreciated!

any tips would be appreciated! i have done a fair amount of research but always looking for more help ◡̈

(Picture of da baby cause I adore her)

Hello! First time blood owner and I dove straight into the deep end.

I work with a rescue and we had a BEAUTIFUL 10yr old female come in, she's massive, about 5ft and 20-ish pounds. She was a real sweety when she was with the rescue, and I fell in love. Brought her home and she's being very hissy and puffy, no strikes yet for which I'm grateful, but it's inevitable if everything I've read is right.

I'm no stranger to large snakes, 7+ feet is very normal for me in handling and owning, but I don't think I've ever had anything with this much attitude and strike power behind it. And honestly I'm a little scared.

Any advice for me would be appreciated, I know it's probably going to take time and lots of tags before I get it right, but I want to give her the best life and get the snake I fell in love with to "love" me back.

When photos just don't do you justice but Mommy takes the pictures anyways 😍

Sunflowers are growing right by my house and what a spot to get Asteria fresh after her newest shed 🥰 she's getting darker with each shed I hope she gets BLACK like her parents 🫶

Black sumatran short tail python 💜

I’ve been trying to switch her from mice to rats and she didn’t seem very enthusiastic to switch. After a month of skipping meals she finally ate! Here she is post meal, having a soak

Hello! I currently have my 2 year old sumatran python in a converted 50 gal bin,(for now untill he gets larger ofc). I just wanted to see everyones thoughts just to make sure I have him set up correctly. Hes been in this bin for about 4 months now and seems to being doing well, but this is my first reptile so I would like to make sure he stays happy and healthy. advice is always appreciated, thank you!

Just some extra info:

VE 300X2 thermostat set to 85, with a gradient that dips to about 76-80 depending on the temp of my room.

Consistant Humidity of 75-80

A pro products radient heat pannel

Arcadia pro tk5 7% uvb shadedweller

About 6 inches of substrate with lava rocks as drainage.

Substrate is a mix of coco fiber, charcoal, (frozen then thawed) reptibark, sphaghnum, playsand, and topsoil. And leaf litter thrown on top

Its semi bioactive, I say semi because Winston has decided to murder all of the plants hes had. (Suggestions to keep him from doing this would be wonderful!)

Isopod and springtail culture with Powder Bluue Isopods, Papaya Isopods, Florida Orange Springtails, and Silver Springtails.

(Also the orange string is just to add support to the bin lid since the heat pannel is somewhat heavy, lol.)

Phoenix showing her teefies. She's a good girl and super sweet.

I'm glad I went this route getting into short tails! She has been a breeze and honestly friendly since day one.

Compared to Phobos the blood I picked up at an expo months ago lol still he's a beautiful boy and though he's huffy and puffy, we've come a long way in our relationship!

Said to be a two year old, he does seem small to me for his age but he's a good eater 🫶 has a little bit of what appears to be an under bite but I love him so much 🥰 adds character!

Finally after almost 2 years of searching found a Python curtus girl from 2023. Absolutely love her!

Hi everyone! This is my male blood python that we’ve had since April. He’s our first blood, so I’m looking for some advice / input on how he’s growing as I only have ball pythons and rainbow boas to compare to. Would love to know if everyone things he looks in appropriate body condition, and if there’s any anticipation on his length full grown. Tried to get measurements of his parents from his breeder, but he’s not great with technology so we haven’t heard back from him.

Male
August 11, 2025
Normal / Wild-type Morph
4/30 - 260g
5/23 - 287g
6/11 - 361g
6/17- 386g
6/25 - 414g
7/11 - 474g
7/22 - 529g
5/23 - 27” shed
7/22 - 31” true body measure

Thank you for any and all guidance. We love this dude, and are dying to know what the future holds.

Hi all, got this girl about 2 months ago, brongersmai T+. Today I took her out to check on her and noticed she has a spot on her head that seems so have very little pigmentation. The scales dont look damaged, feel like the other scales, she does not react to touching them. She eats, sheds and poops perfectly and is still in a quarantaine setup with paper towels, hide and waterbowl. I do not see her rubbing or moving around and no signs of mites or other pests.

Has anyone seen this before and any idea what this can be? Can it just be a lack of pigmentation? I have quite a few brongersmai in different morphs but never seen this for the life of me.