Blood Python (Normal 100% het. Pied 50% het. T- Albino)

Python brongersmai
Common Names: Blood Python, Brongersmai Python

Species Overview

Size: Adults typically measure 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m), with females being stockier and heavier-bodied. Rare individuals may exceed 7 feet.
Appearance:
- Like the wild-type form, these pythons are usually dark brown to jet black, often with faint golden banding.
- While there is no visual indicator, this animal is 100% heterozygous (het) for the Pied gene and 50% heterozygous for the T- Albino gene.
Distribution: Blood Pythons are native to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and nearby islands.
Habitat: They thrive in swampy forests, marshlands, and humid lowland habitats, making use of dense ground cover.
Behaviour: A terrestrial ambush predator, relying on camouflage and power to capture rodents, birds, and other small prey.

Captive Care

Enclosure: Adults thrive in enclosures measuring at least 4 ft × 2 ft × 1.5–2 ft, with emphasis on floor space. Provide a snug hide, deep humidity-retentive substrate, and a large water bowl for soaking.
Temperature & Humidity: Keep a basking area at 86–88°F (30–31°C) and a cooler end at 78–80°F (25–27°C). Humidity should be maintained at 60–70%, increasing to 80% during shedding.
Diet: Juveniles should be fed hopper rats or equivalent prey every 5–7 days; adults thrive on medium to large rats every 10–14 days. Overfeeding should be avoided, as Blood Pythons are prone to obesity.
Behaviour in Captivity: Captive-bred T- Albinos are generally hardy and reliable feeders, though they may be defensive if startled and are strongly food-motivated. With consistent husbandry, they usually become steady and manageable captives.
Special Considerations: They do best in naturalistic, humid setups with deep substrate, which supports hydration and burrowing behaviour.

Genetics Note

Pied (Recessive - 100% Heterozygous): This mutation creates irregular to large patches of solid white, leading to very striking contrast to the animal's rich browns and blacks.
T- Albino (Recessive – 50% Heterozygous): This mutation is tyrosinase-negative, meaning it removes all melanin, leaving only whites, yellows, and oranges.
Difference from T+ Albino: T+ Albino retains some browns and caramel hues, while T- Albino creates cleaner, higher-contrast colours.
Breeding Potential: If crossed with other animals with the same or higher heterozygous percentages of Pied and T- Albino genes, the animals produced may be pied, T- albino, or both.

The Blood Python (100% het. Pied 50% het. T- Albino) is highly sought after as a crucial genetic building block in many of the most desirable designer projects in the Blood Python hobby.