Temperament of a Malaysian Red Blood Python

Taxonomy

• Blood python taxonomy has undergone significant revision in the last decade. Blood pythons (Python brongersmai), Borneo pythons (Python breitensteini) and short-tailed or black-blood pythons (Python curtus) are all very closely related snakes, sharing similar biology and life histories. Historically, all three species were considered to be subspecies of a single line, but a 2008 study by J. Scott Keogh, et al, revealed that all three groups are separated geographically and, as their DNA demonstrates, members of different species. The largest difference in the three types is color and pattern, though the blood python also differs in size; it achieves almost double the size of the other two types.

Temperament

• As keepers breed and work with more blood pythons, some have noted subtle variations in temperament, size and coloration among populations from different geographic areas. Of the three related species, and the many geographic populations within their range, blood pythons originating from Malaysia have the worst temperament of the group. As this population was one of the most heavily exported localities in the early years, it likely helped entrench the notion that all blood pythons have bad dispositions. While better than their wild-caught counterparts, even captive bred blood pythons from Malaysian stock are regarded as the least tractable of the group.

Handling

• No matter what species or locality of blood python you acquire, handle it while it's young so it will learn to accept handling as a harmless activity. Move calmly and deliberately when handling the animal, and never forcibly restrain its head or neck, as this will frighten the animal. Blood pythons can be massive, if not very long, snakes; adults can weigh 25 pounds of more, at only six feet in length. Adult blood pythons should not be handled while you're alone, in case the snake bites. Always be sure your hands are clean and you don̵7;t have the smell of rodents on your hands or clothing, which may confuse the snake and elicit a feeding response.

Captive-Bred vs. Wild-Caught

• Blood pythons got their reputation for being irascible, aggressive snakes when wild-caught adults were first imported. This bad temperament crosses all species and geographic lines; wild-caught blood pythons will not hesitate to bite and are large enough to cause serious damage. As breeders produced the first captive-bred animals, it became apparent they were far more docile and trusting than their wild-caught parents. Presently, blood pythons are bred in moderate numbers, and captive-bred offspring are often very tame animals.