new blood python!

[fangsalot]

i just got my new blood python(finally!!!)hes about 1' and im probing it tomarrow to check sex.now i liketo use wood chips for substrate(large chunks,made by flukers)but what do you guys think?large wood chips with a blood?as a matter fact if i can get away with it...would the zoo medsmall red chunks be ok as well?alot of people use newspaper,but i feel newspaper doesnt hold humidity well.i have him on newspaper till tomarrow,and for a person who likes naturalistic enclosures,its driving me nuts!!newspaper is so ugly.oh also,i have him in a 20 gallon long tank(not too sure of the dimensions)you guys think thats cool for him right now?THANX AGAIN for your responses.

 

[LHP]

Here is a good caresheet from the Barkers at VPI.
http://www.vpi.com/8VPICareSheets/Pythons/bloodpython/BloodPythonMaint.htm

I used sweater boxes when mine (closely related P. curtus) were smaller and have recently moved them into 48" Vision cages. Newspaper, while not pretty, is great. While they live in swamps, constant exposure to too much humidity can do them harm in captivity (respiratory infections, belly rot, etc.) You can provide a hide box with moist sphagnum moss especially when they're in shed.

At hatchling size they can be a bit picky about feeling secure- you may have to hold off on the 20 for a while and use a smaller shoe box or something till it gets a little larger (won't be long!)

Good Luck!

Lindsey

 

[Mushroom Spore]

What kind of wood chips are these? Some kinds of wood bedding are actually toxic to small animals, including snakes. I have no idea why stores keep stocking that crap. (Probably the same reason they do heat rocks, ugh.)