RecoverySnakes
Blood / short-tailed python care guide
Python brongersmai
A short, extremely heavy-bodied python from humid Southeast Asian lowlands. They need floor space, high humidity and cooler temps than most pythons.
Terrestrial — floor space first
Blood / short-tailed python enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult blood / short-tailed python should live in at least 60" L × 24" W × 18" H; we build toward 72" L × 30" W × 24" H (6 × 2.5 × 2 ft, roughly 15 sq ft of floor and about a 224-gallon glass equivalent).
Adults are girthy rather than long; width of the enclosure matters.
- Hatchling / baby
- 36" L × 18" W × 12" H recommended · min 24" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 48" L × 24" W × 18" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 72" L × 30" W × 24" H recommended · min 60" L × 24" W × 18" H
Temperature and heating
Gentle thermostatted overhead heat — bloods overheat far more easily than ball pythons.
- Basking / warm surface
- 88°F surface maximum
- Warm side (ambient)
- 84–86°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 76–80°F
- Night
- 74–78°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: T5 UVB 5–6% (UVI 1–2). Run lights on a 12 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 70–80%. Deep damp substrate and a big water bowl; keep the surface from going swampy.
Substrate and depth
Cypress mulch / coco chip blend. Depth: 3–4 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Large hide at each end
- Water bowl big enough to soak in
- Cork flats
- Solid, sturdy furniture — they push it around
Build list
- 6x2.5ft enclosure for an adult — Heavy-bodied snakes need real floor area.
- Radiant heat panel on a thermostat — Even warmth without drying out the humidity.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bulk cypress mulch — The dependable way to hold 75%+ humidity.
Blood / short-tailed python FAQ
How big should an adult Blood / short-tailed python enclosure be?
At least 60" L × 24" W × 18" H, and we recommend building to 72" L × 30" W × 24" H — about 6 × 2.5 × 2 ft, or a 224-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Blood / short-tailed python need?
Basking or warm surface 88°F surface maximum, warm side 84–86°F, cool side 76–80°F, night 74–78°F. Gentle thermostatted overhead heat — bloods overheat far more easily than ball pythons.
Does a Blood / short-tailed python need UVB?
T5 UVB 5–6% (UVI 1–2). Photoperiod: 12 hours.
What humidity does a Blood / short-tailed python need?
70–80%. Deep damp substrate and a big water bowl; keep the surface from going swampy.
What substrate is best for a Blood / short-tailed python?
Cypress mulch / coco chip blend, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does a Blood / short-tailed python enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 36" L × 18" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 24" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own blood / short-tailed python record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.