Is this python suitable for a beginner?

Care is generally considered suited to keepers with some prior experience, since temperature, humidity, and feeding all need reasonably careful management. If it would be your first snake, it's worth building up basic husbandry knowledge before taking one on.

How big do adults get?

Adults typically reach 110-150cm with a correspondingly sturdy, thick build. It's worth planning ahead for an enclosure sized for a full-grown snake.

How is this different from a regular blood python?

"Black Blood" refers to a trade name for a group known for its especially dark coloration. It's endemic to Sumatra and Sebuku Island, and can be distinguished from its two closest relatives by how the scales on top of the head meet.

Is this species regulated under CITES?

Sumatran Short-Tailed Python is listed in CITES Appendix II. International trade requires a permit from the exporting country, but as far as CITES is concerned, no registration is needed to buy or sell individuals already legally in Japan.

Is this python easy to tame?

Temperament varies by individual -- some are calm, others more defensive. Keeping handling minimal after bringing one home and giving it time to settle in helps build trust gradually.

Sumatran Short-Tailed Python

The Sumatran Short-Tailed Python (Black Blood locality) is a strikingly dark-colored group within the blood python family, found only on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Sebuku. Its beige-to-grayish-brown base is overlaid with reddish blotches, while a thick, stocky body and an unusually short tail relative to its length give it a distinctive, heavyset silhouette. It can be told apart from its two closest relatives by how the scales on top of the head meet. Temperament varies by individual, but many settle into a calm disposition once they've had time to adjust, making them a rewarding snake to build trust with slowly. Adults typically reach 110-150cm, and their husbandry is generally considered suited to keepers with some prior experience.

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Sumatran Short-Tailed Python key facts

Care level: Intermediate
Lifespan: 15-25 years
Size: 110-150cm
Temperature: 27〜30℃
Diet: Mice and rats, frozen-thawed
Temperature & Humidity: General python and boa guidance applies: about 30 C by day and 27 C at night with a basking spot a few degrees warmer at one end. A brooding female shivers to generate heat when her surroundings drop below 32 C.
Enclosure: It is thick and heavy, so provide a sturdy enclosure matched to its bulk. Keep it clean and well ventilated, with hides and a water bowl of non-porous material always available.
Diet & Feeding: Carnivorous, taking frozen-thawed mice and rats. As with most pythons and boas, feed about once a week.
Temperament: It is often called unpredictable and aggressive, but properly kept and handled captive-bred animals are far more docile than wild-caught ones. Its size and handling demands suit experienced keepers.
Notes: It is a pythonid and therefore on CITES Appendix II. Japan designates only five pythons as dangerous animals, and this is not one. It has been harvested heavily for the skin trade, so choose captive-bred stock.

TraitsPythonReptileSumatraCITES II

About Sumatran Short-Tailed Python

A dark-colored blood python endemic to Sumatra and Sebuku Island, known for its stocky body and very short tail. Adults reach 110-150cm and husbandry suits keepers with some experience.

7 things to know before welcoming a Sumatran Short-Tailed Python

1Thick, Short-Bodied Build
The Sumatran Short-Tailed Python (Black Blood) has a notably thick body with a tail that's extremely short relative to its overall length. Because of this build, an enclosure with generous floor space tends to suit them better than one built for climbing.
2Distinctive Dark Coloration
True to its "Black Blood" name, this group tends to show reddish blotches over a beige-to-grayish-brown base with an especially dark, black-tinged pattern. Coloration can look somewhat different as the snake grows or depending on its condition.
3Intermediate-Level Care
Care for this python is generally considered suited to keepers with some prior experience, since temperature, humidity, and feeding schedules all need reasonably careful management. If this would be your first snake, it's worth building up basic reptile-keeping knowledge first.
4Individual Temperament
Temperament varies from one individual to the next -- some are calm, others more defensive. Keeping handling minimal right after bringing one home, and giving it time to settle in, is a good first step toward building trust.
5Prepare for Adult Size
Adults typically reach 110-150cm with a correspondingly sturdy build, so it's worth planning ahead for an enclosure and heating setup sized for a full-grown snake. An enclosure sized for a juvenile will quickly become too small.
6A Locality-Endemic Species
This species is endemic to Sumatra and Sebuku Island, and can be distinguished from its two closest relatives by how the scales on top of the head meet. It's worth asking about locality and identifying features, not just the trade name, before bringing one home.
7Set Up Before You Bring One Home
Have an appropriately sized enclosure, heating equipment, substrate, and water dish ready before your python arrives. Given how sturdy-bodied this species is, it's also worth double-checking that the enclosure locks securely and can't be pushed open.

Frequently asked questions about Sumatran Short-Tailed Python

Q.Is this python suitable for a beginner?: A.Care is generally considered suited to keepers with some prior experience, since temperature, humidity, and feeding all need reasonably careful management. If it would be your first snake, it's worth building up basic husbandry knowledge before taking one on.
Q.How big do adults get?: A.Adults typically reach 110-150cm with a correspondingly sturdy, thick build. It's worth planning ahead for an enclosure sized for a full-grown snake.
Q.How is this different from a regular blood python?: A."Black Blood" refers to a trade name for a group known for its especially dark coloration. It's endemic to Sumatra and Sebuku Island, and can be distinguished from its two closest relatives by how the scales on top of the head meet.
Q.Is this species regulated under CITES?: A.Sumatran Short-Tailed Python is listed in CITES Appendix II. International trade requires a permit from the exporting country, but as far as CITES is concerned, no registration is needed to buy or sell individuals already legally in Japan.
Q.Is this python easy to tame?: A.Temperament varies by individual -- some are calm, others more defensive. Keeping handling minimal after bringing one home and giving it time to settle in helps build trust gradually.