Discover the Largest Blood Python Ever Recorded

Blood pythons are nonvenomous snakes native to southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia). However, despite their lack of venom, they do not hesitate to strike if they feel the need to. Blood pythons strike very powerfully when they do. They sometimes forcefully jump or leap forward to attack.

Despite this, blood pythons raised in captivity are one of the best pets for inexperienced python owners. Adult blood pythons can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 15 pounds but some specimens surpass these measurements by far. In this article, we’ll discover the largest blood python ever discovered.

Background on Blood Pythons

Every snake lover has at least heard of blood pythons. The species was once considered aggressive. They were quick to bite, easily angered, and never seemed to create or forge bonds. However, as time progressed, it was found that this wasn’t entirely true. 

Scientists discovered that blood pythons were only aggressive if they had been captured as adults. Snake lovers are grateful for this discovery because it allowed people to give the species an actual chance and see just how awesome they are. One of the best things about blood pythons is their temperament when bred in captivity. These snakes are by no means harmless but are very friendly compared to other pythons their size. 

Blood pythons are often called Malaysian blood pythons as they are native to the country. In the wild, they aren’t quick to attack if they aren’t in search of food. They are anxious snakes and would rather flee than fight. However, they stand their ground if they feel the need to.

Are Blood Pythons Constrictors?

Blood pythons, like all pythons, are constrictors. There are 41 species of python snakes and none of them is venomous. Pythons are found only in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Since they are not found in America or Europe, they are considered Old World snakes.

How To Identify A Blood Python 

Blood pythons are easy to identify. Apart from their length and heavy bodies, they usually have hues between dark brown and yellow. They also go through a red phase. Blood pythons have small stocky tails compared to many other snakes.

These pythons get their name from how they look during their red-color phase. Usually, their skins are darker colored while the lighter colors make up their markings. These yellow-tan markings start right from their heads. A blood python’s head has a line dividing it equally and vertically.  Blood pythons also have shiny and smooth scales with brown and black spots all over their sides.

What is The Largest Blood Python Ever Discovered

The biggest blood python on record was a 50-pound specimen entered by Dāv Kaufman, a multiple award-winning filmmaker, in 2018. The 50-pound specimen was located in a breeding facility in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Although Dāv Kaufman doesn’t give an accurate figure of her length as he does about her weight, the videos prove that she is well over 10 feet! Kaufman supplied that the female specimen was about 17 years old at the time of filming.

Check out Kaufman’s video here.

How Big Can A Blood Python Grow?

The average height of blood pythons is 4 to 6 feet. Some specimens attain 8 feet- although this is rather rare. They attain full maturity at 3 to 4 years and weigh an average of 12.5 pounds.

Are Blood Pythons Bigger Than Ball Pythons?

Blood pythons are much bigger than ball pythons. This is one of the reasons that ball pythons are more common as pets.

Do Blood Pythons Make Good Pets?

Blood pythons are incredibly easy to handle if they are bred in captivity. They are medium length and can grow to be very large depending on how they are fed. It is important to note that overfeeding your pet snake to get it to grow large is dangerous to its health. They should be fed once every two weeks.

As a species, blood pythons are calm and behave well most times. They can be a bit difficult to read, however. This is one of the major reasons you shouldn’t attempt to tame a wild snake.

Blood pythons have a reputation for being quick to bite and there is certainly truth in this. As babies, blood pythons bite really easily. However, well-trained adults behave much better. They give off clear signs such as huffing before they bite. If you’re considering a blood python, you might want to keep handling them at a minimum.

What Does A Full-Grown Blood Python Eat?

Blood pythons eat rats and other small rodents. These snakes have healthy appetites which is why it is so easy to overfeed them. As a blood python owner, you won’t have problems feeding your snake healthily.

How Big of A Tank Does A Blood Python Need?

This depends on how large your blood python is. Average-sized pythons would need an enclosure from 36” L x 12” W. However, larger-sized pythons could need an enclosure up to 48″L x 24″W. If you are getting a baby python, you would need a much smaller enclosure so they feel cozy and secure. Adult blood pythons prefer cooler temperatures.

Can You Breed A Ball Python With A Blood Python?

A lot of snake breeders try to cross various species to develop a cool hybrid species. However, some of the results aren’t anything worth noticing. That is not the case for the ball python and blood python mix. Crossing these two results in the super ball python; a hybrid so stunning, that it is considered a designer python.

As you might imagine, crossing these two breeds isn’t easy and the rates of successful conception and hatching are low. Female blood pythons lay 12 – 30 eggs at a time. A research article published in December 2001 showed that a female blood python must be enclosed with a male for vitellogenesis to commence.

Can You Handle A Blood Python?

If blood pythons are trained well, they are easy to handle. However, irrespective of how well trained the python is, you need to be on alert and read their body language. This isn’t too much of a problem as snakes aren’t meant for constant cuddling. Considering their size, blood pythons can be very well behaved.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © dwi putra stock/Shutterstock.com