PetHobbyist.com's 11th Annual Chat Month Complete Chat Month Schedule and Transcripts Subscribe to our free email newsletters about pets and animal issues Email Address:

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I am pleased to welcome Kara Glasgow, Ryan Norris and Rich Crowley to our 11th annual Chat Month..

PHFaust: Kara Glasgow (www.bloodpythons.com) Rich Crowley (www.richcrowleyreptiles.com) and Ryan Norris (The Blood Cell) will delve into the three species of snakes that are referred to as Blood Pythons.

PHFaust: Care, husbandry, reproduction and all things surrounding sharing your life with these wonderful snakes will be discussed. Learn why Bloods are slowly gaining popularity and learn more about their dispositions. Blood Pythons show the importance of Captive Breeding, as more generations are in the trade, the more docile the animals are becoming.

PHFaust: Tonight nothing is off the table when it comes to the three blood species. All three of our guests will be happy to answer any of your questions.

PHFaust: Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls I present Kara Glasgow, Rich Crowley and Ryan Norris, Our Blood Panel!

Rich Crowley: HI from the south, thanks kingsnake!

KLG: YAY!!!!

KLG: Hey Ricardo!

Rich Crowley: Hey k

PHFaust: And since the queue is empty cause we just started, I was wondering, I heard a rumor that there was talk to make Sarawaks a separate species.... Any word on that?

Rich Crowley: hey Ryan

thebloodcell: hi guys had to get a drink

KLG: The most I have heard is talk on making the orange-headed curtus a separate species...

Rich Crowley: hmmmm I will defer to the experts. I hope it does get elevated

KLG: If that happens, that would be cool to see the same happen for the Sarawaks...

KLG: at least sub-specific status.

Rich Crowley: agree

PHFaust: Why the orange heads? Are they that much different?

thebloodcell: Ya Rich would love that

Rich Crowley: everyone likes to be special

thebloodcell: We all know you do rich HEHE

KLG: Cin, they tend to be much smaller, lighter colored, different part of the curtus range

PHFaust: AHhh Ok, I just have the old chrome head here

PHFaust: Of course I also have the Sarawak

PHFaust: :)

buddythebloody: Are any of you working or have worked with orange head curtus?

Rich Crowley: k or ryan not me

KLG: Have worked with them in the past...not at the moment.

KLG: They're lovely snakes, wouldn't mind keeping them again.

thebloodcell: I have in the Past but right now just Chrome and Black Heads

Rich Crowley: chromes are nice,....did i say that/

KLG: chromes...mmmmmm

whooha_nr: Don't usually see much info in the ways of breeding the SSTP's online, any tips and tricks you could share with us?

KLG: DON'T MAKE THEM FAT!!!!

Rich Crowley: good q

Rich Crowley: keep them happy and separate until breeding

KLG: Make sure they're mature (3yo F, 2yo M)

Rich Crowley: stress management is key

thebloodcell: Females defiantly wait until a fu;; # years

Rich Crowley: agreed

thebloodcell: 3 years sorry

KLG: Keep things very consistent all year long until you go into the breeding season.

KLG: in order to trigger changes.

KLG: Other than that, breeding for all 3 species is very similar.

KLG: Not even other than that. It just is what it is for all three.

Rich Crowley: pretty easy once you get the hang of it

KLG: sorry...I just ate a burrito from Chipotle & am in a carb coma.

coco_nr: Which is more important to breeding age or size? I have always heard size stressed more. Particularly in females...

thebloodcell: All 3 have the same basic requirements

KLG: age...

Rich Crowley: both but age is best

thebloodcell: AGE!!!!!!!

KLG: you can breed smaller female,s but they need to have the age on them.

KLG: Sometimes waiting until the 4th year is even better if a female is little when coming 3 years old.

Rich Crowley: females help the males sometimes

Rich Crowley: at least with mine they cloacal gape when ready

beclende: Is the yellow color phase of brongersmai inheritable....say you breed yellow to yellow....do you get all yellow offspring? Ryan aren't you working with some of them?

thebloodcell: Yes I am in fact

Rich Crowley: selective breeding matters

thebloodcell: The Yellow i have all throw yellow offspring

KLG: I have bred yellow x yellow in the past & produced all yellow babies...

KLG: some were better than others, but you'll see that in any clutch.

Rich Crowley: buy CBB for consistency

BcRich_nr: iv been wanting a blood but iv have heard bad reps and good reps whats your opionon with there atitude.

KLG: the attitude thing is based on a couple of points:

KLG: 1 wc adults, which can be iffy

KLG: 2 babies

thebloodcell: They are still getting this bad wrap!!!!!

KLG: MOST BABY PYTHONS ARE NIPPY!

KLG: They think you're going to eat them!!!!

PHFaust: I would say baby snakes in general

Rich Crowley: yes agreed, but settle down

thebloodcell: CBB Like rich said are so Much nicer then the W.C. stuff from years passed

Rich Crowley: stress management makes a big difference

KLG: So many people think that every snake is going to be docile like a ball python right off the bat, and they just don't work that way.

KLG: So, if you take a baby & become part of it's every day routine.

KLG: just let it see you for maintenance, don't even have to handle it every day

Rich Crowley: bloods have more personality

KLG: it is going to learn that you are not a threat.

KLG: These are not mindless little droids...they actually can recognize their keepers.

Rich Crowley: YES

KLG: If you put the time into developing a good rapport with a young snake & be willing to take a hit now & then, you should end up with a nice, placid adult.

thebloodcell: Very well spoken Kara

KLG: Don't manhandle them.

Rich Crowley: agree with Kara

KLG: don't muck about...just become a positive experience for the snake on a regular basis.

KLG: end each handling session on a positive note.

thebloodcell: Constant handling threw positive factors goes a long ways

Rich Crowley: wear gloves if you are afraid until you feel comfortable

KLG: Ensure that your husbandry is correct!!!

Rich Crowley: positive conditioning

KLG: if a snake is in an improper setup it is going to be stressed & not want to be handled.

Rich Crowley: too hot is bad, too cold is bad and too wet is bad

Rich Crowley: too open and no security is bad

KLG: This is why we say that bloods are less forgiving of husbandry errors...bad husbandry affects quite a bit.

Rich Crowley: i get "killer" bloods that take only a couple months to tame...because bad husbandry,,,,it is called stress

Monkee_nr: Since obesity is an issue, can you give advice on feeding schedules as they age?

thebloodcell: med rats as adults is just fine

KLG: I feed adults every 10-14 days...usually medium rats throughout most of the year

Monkee_nr: with bloods you cant go with the feed as they poop method....

KLG: keep them relatively lean during that time...

thebloodcell: 5-7 days for babies

KLG: and then offer more food just prior to breeding.

KLG: No...they aren't frequent poopers...

thebloodcell: juvies 10 days

Rich Crowley: I feed less often but bigger prey with similar results

KLG: so every 14 days can be a good rule of thumb for adults.

thebloodcell: 2-3 weeks for adults MED rats not jumbos

Rich Crowley: each animal is different too

KLG: so we all do it a little bit different, and it all works!

beclende: Back on the yellow thing.....selective breeding is my plan with the project....is there any consequence to line breeding in bloods that isn't an issue with other pythons? I am planning yellow to yellow......then parent to offspring and offspring to offspring down the road with them......that is the extent that I plan on going with the project at this point? Any issues?

KLG: I would be careful constantly breeding down generation to generation...

Rich Crowley: I prefer diverse lines but some line breeding is fine

KLG: that is when you are more likely to see issues pop up.

thebloodcell: I find diversity is a great thing with the bloods

Rich Crowley: SOME not a lot otherwise problems pop up

KLG: I keep it within 1-2 generations...

KLG: genetic diversity is a good thing...

Rich Crowley: agreed

KLG: AND it's an EXCELLENT reason to get more blood pythons. ;)

KLG: at least that's the excuse I use.

Rich Crowley: YES

thebloodcell: Parent to sib once is fine I have found but not over and over

Rich Crowley: no shortcuts kiddies

thebloodcell: Exactly

KLG: "But honey, I need to maintain the genetic diversity of this project, so I HAVE to buy another one that looks this good & breed it to X snake."

Rich Crowley: kevvy just one more.....

KLG: LOL!

KLG: he is the king of just one more.

Rich Crowley: one more room!

PHFaust: I'm telling ya, just keep a few empty cages in the house, the spouse will NEVER know you added

KLG: ROFLMAO!

Cleobear_nr: do you ever see bloods achieving the popularity of the balls? It seems that the group that keeps them these days is a fairly small group, but I am seeing more at shows...

Rich Crowley: gosh hope not

KLG: I think they are going to be very popular...

PHFaust: we are kinda a clique

KLG: But I hope they don't achieve the same DRAMA & CRAZINESS as ball pythons.

KLG: That's just it...we're not that much of a clique, we just aren't into all the DRAMA!

thebloodcell: i hope not way to much drama over their

Rich Crowley: We need zealots not fads

KLG: Bloods are fun snakes for keepers who really enjoy keeping snakes!

KLG: BIG BIG PERSONALITY!

KLG: To me they're what herpetoculture is all about.

KLG: Just a very cool species to work with, naturally beautiful...but so far they haven't had to deal with all the hype.

Rich Crowley: slow and steady development

KLG: They are going to be a LOT more popular thought.

KLG: though, even.

Rich Crowley: agreed just not crazy popular. good popular

KLG: ditto that.

KLG: Keep it FUN!

Rich Crowley: love what you keep and do

boredfoot: Could you guys talk for a bit about the proposed python ban--HR669. Thanks!

Rich Crowley: hate it

KLG: SUCKS A BIG FAT ONE!

thebloodcell: No Good

KLG: WE ALL NEED TO RESPOND TO IT!!!

Rich Crowley: easy to propose a ban on snakes

KLG: EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE!

Rich Crowley: stand up for yourself

KLG: Get involved with PIJAC & USARK

KLG: Take the PIJAC survey ASAP!

thebloodcell: We all need to and I know most of have already but submit that letter

Rich Crowley: congress has better things to do

KLG: Strength in numbers folks!

Rich Crowley: speak up to the right people

thebloodcell: We all need to Stick together on this one

KLG: We can't just sit here with the mentality of "oh, someone else will do it" because we are ALL someone else!

Rich Crowley: YES YES YES YES

PHLdyPayne: http://pijac.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=505 Link to reject the proposed bill

thebloodcell: I have to HAVE BLOODS IN MY LIFE

KLG: ditto that!

iant: best advice on working with the not so nice bloods

Rich Crowley: keep them happy and stress free

Rich Crowley: be patient

KLG: be very patient

KLG: NEVER grab them behind the head

MattV_nr: long tongs

Rich Crowley: NEVER

thebloodcell: Hooks and gloves is what I used on some of my not nice bloods

KLG: give them a setup where they feel secure...

KLG: and be very purposeful when dealing with them.

KLG: Don't pussyfoot about & grab at the snake...

Rich Crowley: gloves work and be confident

KLG: just pick it up, do what you need to do & be done with it.

thebloodcell: Put paper over the glass if you have to so they feel more dark and secure

Rich Crowley: urates are washable :)

KLG: the more time you spend mucking about, the more time the snake has to get uppity.

KLG: Scars fade.

iant: lol ty

thebloodcell: Really Kara???

PHFaust: And if Kara can say that, she is just a tiny little girl. :)

KLG: Ok...blood python bites fade.

Rich Crowley: super glue works

KLG: Retics are another story impossible.

KLG: DUCT TAPE!

KLG: Another story altogether.

Rich Crowley: OMG

boredfoot: If the ban is passed, what will we have to do with the animals we already own? Not trying to be negative, but the BIG what if for me...

Rich Crowley: Armageddon

thebloodcell: Trying not to think that far head to be honest with you

Rich Crowley: the worse case is the authorities will be overloaded and animals will be euthanized....bad news

KLG: I don't really think the govt has thought that far ahead...

PHFaust: often times as seen with "pit bulls" there is a grandfather clause

KLG: If this passes, there are going to be all sorts of lawsuits, etc, fighting it.

KLG: yes, many snakes will be grandfathered in,

thebloodcell: They don't even know what their are going to do

PHFaust: but it is much easier to stop laws than overturn laws

Rich Crowley: YES

KLG: but I foresee something along the lines of class-action suits, since this affects an INDUSTRY, not just "pet keepers"

KLG: This is not going to be something open-and-shut.

rabernet: What's the most common mistake new keepers make with bloods? And Kara - can you tell us a little about Rolo and his background? He's gorgeous!

KLG: Hey Robin!!! ;d

MattV_nr: kara and rich, how long have you been doin Bloods?

rabernet: Hi Kara!

KLG: I think assuming they are going to be ball pythons is a biggie

thebloodcell: ROLO ROCKS

Rich Crowley: too hot is a problem

thebloodcell: Keeping them to Hot

Rich Crowley: 80-82f

KLG: Not doing enough research about them before getting one

KLG: keeping them too hot is definitely a biggie!

thebloodcell: Keeping them to wet also

KLG: They do not need sopping wet cages...

Rich Crowley: too much space

thebloodcell: 65% humidity is fine

Rich Crowley: security is important

KLG: Tanks suck...

Rich Crowley: ditto

KLG: overhead heating lights suck.

Rich Crowley: radiant heat but not too hot

KLG: Bloods are very straightforward to keep, but one must do some homework!

KLG: 86 is a great hot spot

Rich Crowley: feed at night

Rich Crowley: they live in shady habitat not open savannah

KLG: swamp dwellers...

KLG: to some extent.

Rich Crowley: as they age they don't care

Rich Crowley: adults are conditioned BY YOU

Rich Crowley: condition well grasshoppers

KLG: very much so...

thebloodcell: They do great in 4' cages

Rich Crowley: as adults

Rich Crowley: babies like it tight

KLG: yes...

KLG: babies are good in shoebox & sweaterbox racks.

rabernet: and Rolo?

KLG: or tubs.

Rich Crowley: rolo?

KLG: RoLo is my BABYSMOOSHYFACEBOY!

Rich Crowley: ROLO!

rabernet: background on him?

Rich Crowley: tell him to get it done

Rich Crowley: ROLO MUST REPRODUCE

KLG: http://bloodpythons.com/forumpics/26aug05rolo1.jpg

KLG: He is a 100% het-T+ albino that I got a juvie

KLG: And right now he is on breeding loan @ The Blood Cell.

KLG: He's a very picky snake, my all time favorite, but wicked selective about his women.

KLG: So he is visiting Ryan for a change of scenery this season.

Rich Crowley: cant blame him

KLG: Fingers are very crossed!

rabernet: thank you!

thebloodcell: He is one of the nicest REDS i have ever seen... And i have saw a few

KLG: Nuff said fore we jinx it!

beclende: At what size do you all move your adults to 4ft cages? Weight/length? Do you have a preference to boaphile or ap cages for bloods if so why? Have you ever come across a short tail that was too large for a 4ft enclosure?

KLG: ANIMAL PLASTICS ALL THE WAY!

KLG: They just make a damn good cage, period!

KLG: I don't use anything else.

thebloodcell: AP cages all the way

KLG: Quality all day long.

KLG: I will move them into a 4' once they outgrow the equivalent of a CB-70 Iris box.

thebloodcell: I use the VE 175 tubs for all of my adults

Rich Crowley: yes though Vision 322 or 422 works ok too

Rich Crowley: lots of options

KLG: I have a couple of girls that were MONSTERS in 4' APs that are now doing extremely well in the VE-175 tubs.

Rich Crowley: size matters

thebloodcell: my monster 10 year old girls do just fine in the tubs

KLG: My big girls - Sweet Cheeks (6'+) and Beefcake (6.5'+) were pushing it in the 4x2 cages

KLG: and seem to really rock the VE-175s

Rich Crowley: my 6ftrs are in 4ftrs

beclende: so when do they leave the cb70?

KLG: Maybe it's just me...I always felt they were borderline in the 4' cages...

KLG: CB70...I'd say an average of 3.5

KLG: feet

KLG: and 6 lbs or so...

Rich Crowley: agreed

KLG: and that's already a squeeze in a cb70

thebloodcell: About 2 and years

Rich Crowley: especially at feeding time

KLG: LOL! No kidding.

KLG: closing those babies back up is a witch.

thebloodcell: when the coil the rat what a pain

Rich Crowley: yes and they have a good strike

KLG: yeah they do!

BcRich_nr: when u say they do good in 4foot cages would a 55 gallon aquarium work sence its 4 foot long?

Rich Crowley: i have aquariums

Rich Crowley: only good for fish

Rich Crowley: access snakes from the side is best not above

thebloodcell: No bloods in tanks

KLG: no habla aquarium

thebloodcell: Only Fish

KLG: aquariums are CRAP for environmental control

KLG: unless you have a dedicated snake room with your temps & humidity perfecto!

Rich Crowley: lots of better options for housing

thebloodcell: way to much light in threw the sides

KLG: not that I have an opinion or anything.

thebloodcell: no hiding spots

Rich Crowley: no privacy

KLG: they make bloods feel wicked insecure...

Rich Crowley: equals

Rich Crowley: bad husbandry

Freakie_frog_nr: Hey guys what is their food to weight gain ratio like?

KLG: Oh man...

Rich Crowley: 50% is easily retained in mass

thebloodcell: Well

Rich Crowley: maybe more like 45%

KLG: They are the most fuel efficient snakes out there!

Rich Crowley: cant remember where the paper addressed this

KLG: Probably 40-45% or so...

KLG: which is why it is SO easy to make them uber fatties!

thebloodcell: When their younger they pack on the size very fast

KLG: and as adults they pack it on as extra poundage.

iant: might we see yellow head SST see sub species status?

KLG: ball pythons by the gram, bloods by the Pound!

KLG: Ian, there's a chance it could happen!

KLG: There have been talks of the research in the works.

Rich Crowley: we need more research

thebloodcell: Posibley in the future

iant: they have always seemed more borneoish

Rich Crowley: habitat is disappearing

Rich Crowley: borneos originated from curtus

Rich Crowley: millions or 100 thousand years

boredfoot: What's the biggest blood you've ever worked with? And, the oldest?

Rich Crowley: 6.5ft 14year borneo

KLG: Beefcake is my biggest/oldest

KLG: She is 6.5 ft & turning 14 this year.

KLG: Borneo.

Rich Crowley: largest now is 9yr and 6ft

Rich Crowley: Borneo

Rich Crowley: biggest blood was a red 7.5ft monster and MALE

KLG: Sweet Cheeks is a close second...she is 6.5 ft Brongersmai

thebloodcell: I had 2 8' girls they were 15 years old

Rich Crowley: 22yr old with friend

KLG: big chickie.

KLG: And she is turning 8 this year.

thebloodcell: way to FAT

beclende: Once your blood becomes to big to soak in a water dish to you offer a tub large enough for them to soak, say a 28qt in a 4ft cage for example? Do you think that they need to soak....or is fresh water for drinking enough?

KLG: I give them big water crocks

thebloodcell: no soak

KLG: then will soak them overnight in a tub once a month or so.

KLG: Otherwise they will just swamp their cages if you give them a giant tub of water.

thebloodcell: Water bowl is fine with high humidity works great

Rich Crowley: no need to soak if humidity is good

KLG: They do enjoy soaking!

Rich Crowley: spilled water dishes help ...they will soak if you let them

KLG: but it is easier to manage smaller water dishes & then do supervised soaks.

Rich Crowley: hate when the dishes spill at shed time

Rich Crowley: lots online people

FkdMatt: what kinda of new morphs are we going to see for the 2009 season? and what crazy projects are you guys working on?

KLG: You will see when they hatch!!!

KLG: Why must you ask us to jinx things?!?!?!?!??!!?

KLG: BAD JU JU!

Rich Crowley: don't spill the secrets until you can prove it

thebloodcell: Matt you tell me yours first hehehe

KLG: Umm...really red reds, really black blacks, and really Borneo borneos.

KLG: We're taking it back to the homeland.

KLG: or something.

FkdMatt: always a secret

KLG: (not really...but really brown Borneos just sounded lame)

thebloodcell: Exactly

KLG: Dude...it's not a secret once it proves out.

PHFaust: really chocolately borneos

KLG: It's bad luck to talk about things that haven't happened yet!

Rich Crowley: I like cream borneos

PHFaust: actually its the sarawaks that are chocolately

thebloodcell: We will see what hatches out Hope for a few things

KLG: I do have some really wicked extreme granite borneos in a co-project,...

KLG: the have been doinking like bunnies...

FkdMatt: I know just thought I would ask

Rich Crowley: they do that don't they

KLG: and the side-swipe stuff should be cool.

KLG: i wish i had blood python stamina.

KLG: but I wouldn't be able to walk afterwards.

KLG: for a week.

boredfoot: Our local zoo has two adult bloods that always look skin "dry". Sort of permanently in a state of pre-shed, looking. Do they all get that way as they age, or might it be a husbandry issue at the zoo? Mine isn't that way, but she's only 2+ yrs. old...

KLG: probably a humidity issue.

Rich Crowley: husbandry

thebloodcell: humidity !!!!

KLG: they shouldn't look dry & leathery, nor should they look wet & crinkly.

MattV_nr: for all 3 of you. how long have you all been handling bloods?

Rich Crowley: 14yrs

KLG: I got my first one in 2000.

KLG: And promptly went out of control from there.

KLG: So almost a decade now.

Rich Crowley: my first was an nasty looking borneo blood

Rich Crowley: i ordered a red

Rich Crowley: go figure

KLG: My first was a Sumatran short-tailed from VPI...

thebloodcell: sorry

KLG: her name is Coco Mama & she is one of my favorites.

KLG: The ultimate chrome dome.

Rich Crowley: Rumor has it Ryan was born from a Banka

KLG: Oh...I thought he was just raised in a barn...

thebloodcell: Close rich

KLG: Must have gotten confused.

KLG: Sorry Ry!

thebloodcell: Just cause I talk slow

KLG: LOL...

Cleobear_nr: Out of curiosity any clue why they store their poo?

PHFaust: LOL

KLG: Slow metabolism

thebloodcell: Slow met...

KLG: the wheels of poo turn slowly...

Rich Crowley: anal retentive

PHFaust: but when they turn they do produce

KLG: isn't anal-retentive hyphenated?

Rich Crowley: not if i type

Rich Crowley: :)

KLG: And quite frankly, I think that's a reason they're so great to keep!

KLG: They don't eat all the time,

Rich Crowley: Low maint

KLG: they don't poop all the time.

KLG: low-maintenance!

KLG: LOL Rich!

Rich Crowley: Not like an indigo

KLG: The polar opposite of an indigo!

Rich Crowley: YES

iant: feeding rebounding females after they lay?

KLG: IanT

KLG: hey guys!

KLG: Ian...i will give them a couple of bigger rats within a week-10 days of them laying...

Rich Crowley: yes feed them....

KLG: then let them stay relatively lean through the summer ...

Rich Crowley: breed every other year

KLG: then offer food more heavily going into breeding season if I re-breed that female.

KLG: which isn't often.

iant: i didn't expect such a weight loss

KLG: Otherwise she's back to regular 2x feeding a month.

thebloodcell: I feed a few bigger rats right a way but after that back to normal feedings

Rich Crowley: hollow after they drop eggs

KLG: Yeah, but she will put it on QUICKLY!

KLG: Wait and see!

iant: very coll ty

Rich Crowley: Yes

thebloodcell: You have all summer to get weight back on them

Rich Crowley: they do gain it quickly

buddythebloody: are there any albino borneo's in captivity?or has one ever been caught in the wild?

KLG: There was an albino borneo in the UK...

Rich Crowley: only one caught did not live

Rich Crowley: i want one big TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KLG: but AFAIK he is no longer living.

KLG: Awesome snake.

KLG: e-mail me for pics.

KLG: there will be another.

thebloodcell: Wish it was in my snake room!!!!

Rich Crowley: send me a pic later

KLG: you betcha!

PHFaust: Rich I want that hold back

Rich Crowley: all my hets will go to you C

PHFaust: Out of curiosity, Why does it seem that blood as they are growing have bizarre growth spurts

thebloodcell: That is related to feeding I feel

Rich Crowley: Bizarre owners

PHFaust: it seems really different from other pythons who seem to grow more evenly

PHFaust: PFFFT

KLG: eh...

KLG: right out of the egg yes...

PHFaust: I know you are out of town rich, I can pick up a few extras along with rodents... ;)

KLG: but i don't notice it as much as they get a bit bigger...

thebloodcell: Juvies I don't notice that as much

KLG: but maybe that is just because I do the slow-and-steady growup with them.

KLG: My theory would be

KLG: that as they move up to bigger meals they really put it on because they are so fuel efficient.

KLG: And we all love graduating them up to bigger meals and bigger boxes...

Rich Crowley: once on med rats they sprout

KLG: so maybe that's a reason...

PHFaust: yeah kinda noticed that

WALL2WALLREPTILE: Slow starters seem to catch up quickly

Rich Crowley: need more cages myself since they are all growing

KLG: I notice more growth on babies on adult mice than similar rats,

KLG: I think an adult mouse probably has better bone density than a similarly-sized rat rich...

KLG: more mature muscle...better protein? Just thinking.

coco_nr: do you think they are more vocal because of personality or because of their size/lungs? Is it actually vocalization or just the way they breathe when they are handled

Rich Crowley: personality

KLG: THEIR LUNGS ARE HUUUUGE!

thebloodcell: personality for sure

KLG: She's got HUGE tracts of land...

Rich Crowley: lungs help

KLG: and as a result it adds to their personality because they are so vocal!

KLG: So, talkative + big lung to do more talking = rockin bloods!

thebloodcell: They do have huge lungs though so when they are vocal their is a lot of air coming out to say HI

KLG: the lung is approx 60% body length!

KLG: and on top of that they are just kick ass.

KLG: :)

boredfoot: What do you mean by vocal? Mine makes an occasional huffing sound. Is that it?

KLG: they huff & puff more than other snakes

KLG: just while moving about.

KLG: you hear them more.

Rich Crowley: yes as well as the adult soft roar

thebloodcell: Way more huffy

KLG: And some are VERY opinionated!!!

KLG: RoLo for example...he wants to tell you about EVERYTHING while you're handling him.

Rich Crowley: they are big show offs

KLG: huff huff huff huff huff

Rich Crowley: huff in their cage and the deflate when you get them out

KLG: sounds like he is doing Lamaze

Rich Crowley: hahahha

PHLdyPayne: gee my male BRB does that once in awhile...

KLG: LOVE IT!

Rich Crowley: so does my hognose

PHFaust: there are tones to the huffs too.

Rich Crowley: singing

iant: ever catch them sleeping on thier sides? whats up with that?

Rich Crowley: think they are dead

KLG: dude...they are JOKERS!

Rich Crowley: during the shed

KLG: i think they do it to give us heart attacks.

KLG: ESP during shed!

thebloodcell: yes a lot of the time

iant: lol they are sillly

Rich Crowley: yes just to make us paranoid

thebloodcell: scares me awake that's for sure

KLG: And then when you go to poke them they try to eat your FACE!

PHFaust: I have not experienced this, much to Kara and Rich's pleasure

KLG: Ambush predators at their finest.

iant: lol ty

Rich Crowley: expect that call

PHFaust: lol

KLG: Ian - blackheaded pythons like to sleep UPSIDE DOWN.

Rich Crowley: bloods jump!

KLG: that will give you a heart attack.

Rich Crowley: OMG

KLG: I can't tell you how many times I have gone & poked mine & then almost gotten drilled in the head.

KLG: i swear i can hear her laughing, too.

KLG: little snakey hissy laughs.

KLG: The bloods laugh at us too.

beclende: Ryan do you have a website? I have kara and rich bookmarked, can't find you?

thebloodcell: Bloodpythons.com has become a joint effort with Kara

KLG: yep yep

Rich Crowley: bloodpythons site is so HOT

KLG: I've been really fortunate to have Ryan on board...

thebloodcell: It has been great

KLG: along with our friend Curtis Barber...

beclende: Great job on the update ryan and kara

Rich Crowley: Kudos to Curtis also

KLG: Thank you!

KLG: Curtis (aka Skippy) has been a HUGE help at shows...

KLG: he is a passionate young Borneo keeper...

KLG: loves his short-tails!

whooha_nr: When you talk about upping their food intake before breeding season, just how much food are we talking about?

Rich Crowley: double up the food

KLG: Whooha

KLG: I will feed weekly

thebloodcell: Well I personal don't change it a hole lot

KLG: On the small side of medium rats

KLG: but definitely every week.

thebloodcell: More of a lighting change for my bloods

KLG: The frequency of food tells the females that hey, we have resources available to make de bebes

Rich Crowley: males presence also helps

KLG: ditto that...have the boys around...split them up,

whooha_nr: So do you usually start feeding them more until they become gravid then?

KLG: feed, introduce...

KLG: Depends on the girl whooha...

KLG: ultrasound helps there.

thebloodcell: Depends on the female

KLG: once they are gravid they usually don't eat.

KLG: But I will feed them up to that point.

KLG: Smaller & smaller meals.

thebloodcell: some of my girls will go 45 days with no food

Rich Crowley: showgirls

Rich Crowley: keeping them beautiful figures

Rich Crowley: :)

whooha_nr: Thanks for the tips :)

thebloodcell: not enough thats for sure

Rich Crowley: Ryans girls are Hollywood starts

Rich Crowley: STARS not starts

Rich Crowley: Kara's are Broadway....

thebloodcell: Thanks Rich

Rich Crowley: Just like her :)

thebloodcell: We will see though

KLG: uhhh.....

KLG: ***runs & hides****

Rich Crowley: can you tell I am sucking up to everyone :)

MattV_nr: how many bloods do you guys have in your collection right now?

Rich Crowley: MATTV.......not enough

Rich Crowley: roughly 4 dozen

KLG: more than last year, not as many as next year

KLG: A couple of hundred....

KLG: thousand...

Rich Crowley: I am a hobbyist and not a pro breeder

KLG: no, not really

Rich Crowley: go a day job

KLG: but into the hundreds.

Rich Crowley: geez GOT a day job

thebloodcell: A few hundred

MattV_nr: haha nice i'll be there some day hopefully

KLG: whoa Ry...you're holding out on me

Rich Crowley: Ryan too many send to me

KLG: sneaky bugger

thebloodcell: What?!!!

KLG: Oh...so modest & innocent. yeah. whatever.

KLG: Rich & i aren't buying it!

thebloodcell: Cant give it all away!!!!

Rich Crowley: YES TO US

Rich Crowley: :)

Bubba_nr: I remember hearing that some people don't feel the need to cycle for reproduction.... is that true?

KLG: Maybe not cycle temps

KLG: but cycle light, sure

Rich Crowley: cycle is defined in many ways

Rich Crowley: light is needed to change

KLG: A KEY TO BREEDING SNAKES IS CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENT!

KLG: whether light, temps or otherwise.

KLG: or both...

KLG: etc

KLG: all of the above

Rich Crowley: Add Male and it helps also

KLG: ditto that.

PHLdyPayne: unless you have a self cloning female

KLG: Whooo for parthenogenesis!

iant: so who is going to write a book on these awesome pythons? since there doesn't seem to be alot of info out there.

KLG: oh...I heard a rumor of a couple of books in the works.

Rich Crowley: VPI

KLG: Dave & Tracy are doing one.

Rich Crowley: Cant wait

KLG: Looks like there may be another one as well.

thebloodcell: Funny I did too!!!!

Rich Crowley: Dave is in Chicago in April

Rich Crowley: Should pester him on the subject

PHFaust: dave barker is speaking at the CHS General meeting in April the final weekend....

MattV_nr: yeah def, do it!

Rich Crowley: See if he will add my Mudd Bloods to the photos

boredfoot: Do you folks keep other types of snakes as well as all those wonderful BLOODS?!

Rich Crowley: YES

KLG: I have blackheaded pythons, womas, Angolans, black milks

KLG: and a king cobra.

thebloodcell: Not a one!!!!! only Bloods and Shorttails

Rich Crowley: balls, boas, colubrids, solomon boas, Morelia

KLG: Plus...you know...my other half has a ton of snakes too, so I am around that stuff a ton.

Rich Crowley: Birds also

Rich Crowley: Torts also

KLG: BIRDS!!!

KLG: yay birds

Rich Crowley: The birds hate me

Rich Crowley: Birds bite me snake lick me go figure

PHFaust: cant forget The Feek

KLG: The FEEK!!!!!!

Rich Crowley: Love Feek!

KLG: TWEEEEET!

KLG: worlds most spoiled Peach Faced Lovebird!

KLG: he just turned 6, btw

beclende: what's an average clutch size for each of the three species? What temp do you incubate at?

Rich Crowley: 88-90F

KLG: Average clutch i would say is 15 between the three.

thebloodcell: Temp 89.5

KLG: And I incubate at 89-90

Rich Crowley: 12-20 eggs

KLG: My smallest clutch this past season was 10 from a brong...

KLG: largest was 30 from a breit

Rich Crowley: My borneos lay around 24

thebloodcell: around 15 avg

beclende: thanks to all of you.....wonderful job

KLG: 19 from a curtus

Rich Crowley: 19 from a curtus is big

KLG: Rich...they can have biggo clutches...

KLG: I know Tim Mead had some mega curtus back in the day...

KLG: Have had blacks throw 20+

thebloodcell: I had a Curtus with 25 once

Rich Crowley: Locally a Borneo laid 42

beclende: 42 is huge.....het retic?

MattV_nr: blacks throw 20!?!?!?

Rich Crowley: heard 23 from a brongersmai (red)

Rich Crowley: OLD female 6.5ft

KLG: I had a clutch of 22 brong last season.

MattV_nr: nice, I can't wait for my Blacks next season now!

KLG: lol...don't jinx yourself!

MattV_nr: haha true

iant: i needa bigger cooker

iant: lol

boredfoot: Had an absolutely great time tonite! Thanks all!!!!

KLG: ditto that! Thanks for your great questions!

beclende: yeah thanks again guys and gal

MattV_nr: same here!

Rich Crowley: great questions

iant: yes yes

thebloodcell: thanks it has been great

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us here at kingsnake.com, Thank You for taking your time to chat with us. Transcripts will be posted with in a few days. Once again, Thank you Kara, Rich and Ryan!

Rich Crowley: Go Bloods!

PHFaust: Please visit Kara's website at www.bloodpythons.com (Newly launched and redesigned!) and Rich's Website at www.richcrowleyreptiles.com Ryan likes to keep his antics in person, so watch for him at shows.

thebloodcell: Great Q

KLG: YAY!!!

KLG: Thank you Jeff, Cindy & the whole gang at kingsnake.com