How to Care for a Blood Python

Having a blood python can be fun and rewarding. However, a person should have experience with snakes before trying to raise one. There are several things to consider in the care of a bloody python.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Breathable Container
• Digital Thermometer
• Newspaper
• Mulch
• Heat Source
• Water
• Rodents
• Leather Glove

1. Choose the right container. A plastic container with ventilation holes or a glass aquarium with a secure screen top will do nicely. The bottom of the container should have an area of six to twelve feet.
2. Line the cage with newspaper or cypress mulch. Cypress mulch stays moist when misted, but newspaper is easier to clean.
3. Watch the temperature. The temperature should be in the lower 80s. Provide a basking spot in the cage that is between 85 and 90 degrees. This can be accomplished using heating pads that go under the cage or using basking bulbs. Use a digital thermometer to ensure adequate temperature. It is not okay to guess.
4. Control the humidity. The proper humidity for the care of a blood python is between 50 and 60 percent. Misting the cage every few days or placing a bowl of moist moss in the cage will help to maintain proper humidity levels.
5. Provide a hiding spot for the snake. Snakes love dark, tight spots to hide. Put flower pots in the cage or crumple some pieces of newspaper for the snake to hide underneath.
6. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. It is not unusual to find a blood python soaking in the water dish as well as drinking from it.
7. Feed your python once a week. It will need to eat two or three times a week before shedding. It is best to feed the snake dead rodents, since live animals can hurt or kill a blood python.

Tips & Warnings

• Soaking blood pythons in 80 degree water once a week helps to keep them hydrated and aids in shedding.
• If you are using a screen on top of an aquarium, cover it most of the way to preserve the humidity.
• Wear a leather glove when handling a blood python to avoid being bitten.
• Never stick your hand into the cage when you are feeding.
• Too much humidity can be just as harmful to a blood python as too little.