Question for all the blood python Guru's

[ball21]

I am thinking about getting a blood python. But i have a few questions before i thake the plunge. I know that blood pythons get to be quiet robust snakes. On the nerd care sheet and many others it has that you should feed according to the snake's girth. Do you guy's feed rabbits to your adults or just jumbo rats? Only reason is the mom's wont allow the feeding of rabbits. Rat are ok but no rabbits :( . And i dont want to get a snake im not capable of giving proper care to. i have experince with larger snakes and have read up on blood care. Also, i know they can be a bit flighty as neonates but do they calm down as they mature. Thanks for your time. All answers are apperciated.

[jordanm]

Its fine to feed them rats, and once they reach a full grown size they dont require as much feeding to keep at an appropriate weight either. And yes they do calm down greatly as they mature, but you'll find alot of the CB babies arent all that flighty in the first place.

[KLG]

Well said, J.

[kevin marter]

Hey ball1, Make sure it's captive born, and bred. Kevin

[ball21]

Thanks for the response. :DD A couple more question poped up in my head after i posted the first time, Is it pretty easy to get bloods to take f/t food items? Thats another thing the mom's is pretty attiment about. Also are they good feeders? Right now i have a Ball Python that's a pretty off/on feeder. And im hoping that if bloods are strong feeders i can arange feeding schedules so when food is refuse it can be offered to the blood. And since the ball eats f/t it saves me a lot of money, since i cringe everytime i have to throw a rat away. Thanks again for the help.

[KLG]

I find them very easy to switch to F/T, especially if you're transitioning from feeding P/K off of tongs.

If you get one from a reputable source, the snake should be a strong feeder. IMO, that's one of the things that someone should expect when getting a solid, well-established animal.
Most bloods are voracious feeders. The ones that aren't are usually tweaked out by husbandry-related issues, acclimating WC animals, etc.

K~

[Kitt]

So far the bloods I've got have been awesome feeders (one had problems and had to go to rehab, but that was because I did a DUMB and good him hooked on hamsters -- they are like snake crack, apparently). They don't have any problem taking f/t; in fact I had more problems getting my ball to take f/t than my bloods. Someone else already said it, but the absolute best advise with bloods is get a well-established CB baby which is already eating frozen-thawed! The effort that the breeder takes getting the baby to eat is well worth whatever extra you might pay for it.

[ball21]

Thanks for all your hel to everyone who responsed! :)