Live VIX BloodHound Templates
VIX BloodHound templates from ZoneTraderPro bring volatility information, market internals, and price-based trading signals into NinjaTrader 8. This guide explains how to install the templates, configure market data, and verify that your charts are working correctly.
Overview
Understanding the VIX BloodHound Templates
The VIX BloodHound templates read several data sources at once and turn them into a single visual signal. Before you install anything, it helps to know what each part does and what it is not claiming to do. Each piece below is one input into the bigger picture.
VIX-related market data
Volatility-related symbols give information about changing volatility conditions. The system looks at several of these sources instead of relying on the VIX alone. A rising or falling VIX does not automatically decide which way the ES will go — it is context, not a command.
SPY divergence
SPY is used to spot divergence signals that can help inform ES trading decisions. SPY is not the ES futures contract — it is a closely related market that often forms more divergences. Depending on the template you load, you can evaluate SPY divergences, ES divergences, or both. Read more about SPY divergence →
BloodHound
BloodHound combines the different inputs into visual trading logic and signals. The histogram helps display changing bullish and bearish conditions as they develop. These histogram states are analytical outputs — they describe what the inputs are doing, not a guarantee of future price movement.
NYSE TICK
The $TICK adds market-breadth context. When it stays persistently above zero, more stocks are ticking up; when it stays below zero, more are ticking down. This tells you about participation across the market. It does not promise a specific trade outcome on its own.
Market maker hedging
Options hedging activity can influence how the market behaves, and volatility data can hint at those conditions. The template does not measure any individual market maker's position, and it cannot prove what caused a particular move. Treat it as one more piece of context.
Important distinction
This page documents the legacy VIX BloodHound workflow. It is a separate analytical product. Do not confuse it with the newer ZTP SuperTick indicator, TRCF, or the Delta Strength Suite. Those are different tools covered elsewhere on the site.
VIX, TICK & ES Template Examples
These are the actual charts the templates produce. Click any image to view it full size.
For the full strategy discussion behind these templates, see the Real-Time VIX Templates strategy page.
Before you begin
Requirements & Licensing
Before installing the VIX BloodHound templates, make sure the following are in place. Two separate licenses are involved — read the note on each carefully.
NinjaTrader 8
The templates are built for the NinjaTrader 8 platform. Install and update NinjaTrader 8 first.
ZoneTraderPro software & license
You need the appropriate ZoneTraderPro software installed with an active license. This is separate from your BloodHound license below.
SharkIndicators BloodHound
A compatible SharkIndicators BloodHound installation with its own valid license is required to load the .blk template files. BloodHound is a third-party product licensed by SharkIndicators — not by ZoneTraderPro.
Template files
The BloodHound .blk template files and the NinjaTrader .xml chart templates from the Download Center below.
Market data service
A data service that provides the required volatility and index symbols. ZoneTraderPro's original setup uses Kinetick. See Market Data Setup.
Access to the symbols
Your data subscription must include the VIX-related index symbols and the NYSE $TICK the templates read. See the symbol table.
Two licenses, not one
Your ZoneTraderPro license and your SharkIndicators BloodHound license are separate. You need both active for these templates to run.
BlackBird is not required
You do not need BlackBird just to run a BloodHound template. BlackBird is a separate automation add-on.
Imported vs. placed files
Some files are imported through NinjaTrader's Control Center. Others are placed directly into NinjaTrader or SharkIndicators template folders. Each download card below tells you which.
Package note: Not every ZoneTraderPro package includes this specific legacy VIX template. If you are unsure whether it is part of your purchase, check your order or contact support.
Download Center
VIX BloodHound Templates & Chart Downloads
Right-click each link and choose Save Link As… to download the file, then place it in the destination shown on the card.
BloodHound Templates — Version 17
ZTP VIX V17 — TICK/VIX
The combined TICK + VIX BloodHound template. Use this when you want market-internals context layered with volatility.
Destination: SharkIndicators BloodHound template folder
Download ZtpVixV17TickVix.blkZTP VIX V17 — TREND
The trend-focused BloodHound template. Use this when you want the multi-symbol VIX trend read without the TICK layer.
Destination: SharkIndicators BloodHound template folder
Download ZtpVixV17Trend.blkVersion note: Version 17 is the current release of the VIX BloodHound templates, dated March 12, 2025.
NinjaTrader Chart Templates
SPY Template
SPY chart template with the ZTP SPY divergence and KP2 Ratio indicators. ZtpSpy35Tick.xml
To: NinjaTrader 8 chart-templates folder
Download$ADD Template
NYSE advance/decline ($ADD) chart template. ZtpAdd10Tick.xml
To: NinjaTrader 8 chart-templates folder
DownloadES 3.5-Point Chart
ES chart template with a 3.5-point ZigZag. Ztp35PointZigzag.xml
To: NinjaTrader 8 chart-templates folder
DownloadES 7.5-Point Chart
ES chart template with a 7.5-point ZigZag. Ztp75PointZigzag.xml
To: NinjaTrader 8 chart-templates folder
DownloadLOW Vol Template
Low-volatility VIX chart template. ZtpVixLowVolClient.xml
To: NinjaTrader 8 chart-templates folder
DownloadLowCor90D Template
90-day correlation VIX chart template. ZtpVixLowCor90DClient.xml
To: NinjaTrader 8 chart-templates folder
DownloadRelease note: The VIX chart templates (LOW Vol, LowCor90D) were last updated March 14, 2024.
Protect Your Existing Configuration
Older instructions told customers to delete old SPY and VIX templates outright. Use this safer process instead so you always have a backup to return to.
- 1
Close the relevant NinjaTrader workspaces and charts first.
- 2
Back up your existing chart templates and BloodHound files — copy them to a dated backup folder before changing anything.
- 3
Identify the older template versions you are replacing by filename.
- 4
Replace only the specific older files that must be updated. If a file must be removed for compatibility, move it to your backup folder rather than deleting it outright.
- 5
Restart or reload the necessary charts.
- 6
Verify the newly installed files load and display correctly before deleting any backup.
Step by step
Installing VIX BloodHound Templates
Work through these steps in order. Steps 6–8 are covered in more detail in the Market Data and Instruments sections that follow.
Verify software and licensing
Confirm NinjaTrader 8, your ZoneTraderPro license, and your SharkIndicators BloodHound license are all installed and active before you begin.
Back up existing templates
Follow the Protect Your Existing Configuration steps above. Copy your current chart templates and BloodHound files to a dated backup folder.
Import the ZoneTraderPro package
When applicable, import the approved ZoneTraderPro installation package through the NinjaTrader Control Center (Tools → Import → NinjaScript Add-On). You do not need to uninstall your existing ZoneTraderPro software unless a specific update requires it.
Install the BloodHound files
Place the two .blk files into the SharkIndicators BloodHound template folder. The screenshot below shows the expected path.
The exact BloodHound template folder is shown in the screenshot above.
Install chart templates
Place the .xml chart templates into the NinjaTrader 8 chart-templates folder shown below.
Configure market-data subscriptions
Set up a data service that provides the required volatility and index symbols. See Market Data Setup for the Kinetick details documented by ZoneTraderPro.
Configure connection settings
Set your connection priority so the data feed that supplies the index symbols connects first on startup. See Connection priority.
Create or verify instruments
Add the VIX9D, VVIX, UVXY and COR90D instruments with the correct type, exchange and mapping. See Required Symbol Configuration.
Open charts and select templates
Open the appropriate charts and apply their chart templates and the matching BloodHound template.
Verify everything works
Confirm charts, historical data, live market data and BloodHound outputs all load. Work through the Validation Checklist.
Note: Exact menu paths can change between NinjaTrader versions. Where a path is uncertain in your build, confirm it in NinjaTrader's current documentation rather than assuming.
Market data
Kinetick Market Data Setup
The legacy VIX template needs access to specific volatility and market-internals data — the VIX-related index symbols and the NYSE $TICK. Not every feed carries these index symbols, which is why a dedicated market-data service is used. ZoneTraderPro's original setup recommends Kinetick.
Subscription options documented in the original setup
These are historical prices and may not be current. Check today's pricing and the exchange fees you need on Kinetick's current subscription and exchange-fee pages. The subscriptions you actually need depend on the symbols you want, professional vs. non-professional classification, the available exchange packages, and any data feed you already have.
GLOBEX Combo can only be added after you have a Kinetick account — see Kinetick's GLOBEX help page. The original setup chooses the "All 4 Level 1 Globex" option.
Connection Priority
What the legacy setup requires
The original installation relies on Kinetick being connected first when NinjaTrader starts, because the first connection is what fills the charts with data. In NinjaTrader go to Connections and, under the Kinetick configuration, enable connect on startup.
It also uses the continuous ES ##-## instrument. You do this once: open a regular ES chart and change the symbol from, say, ES 12-25 to ES ##-##.
How to confirm each chart's feed
Right-click a chart and check its data series / connection to confirm it is receiving the intended feed. Make sure the VIX index charts are pulling from the service that supplies those index symbols.
Good to know: Connecting Kinetick first is a requirement of this legacy configuration. It is not a universal rule for every NinjaTrader installation.
Instruments
Required Symbol Configuration
Go to Tools → Instruments and click Add. You will add four symbols. Use the settings documented in the original page below. Add only these symbols — do not add extras just because they might be useful.
| Symbol | Type | Exchange | Kinetick Mapping | Trading Hours | Instrument List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIX9D | Index | CBOE | VIX9D.XO | — | INDEXES |
| VVIX | Index | CBOE | VVIX.XO | — | INDEXES |
| UVXY | Stock | Default | UVXY | US Equities ETH | SP500 |
| COR90D | Index | CBOE | COR90D.XO | US Equities ETH | INDEXES |
A dash (—) in the Trading Hours column means this guide does not specify a trading-hours value for that symbol. Check the trading-hours setting that fits your data and account before you rely on the chart.
The #1 customer mistake
Creating an index symbol as a stock. If you do this, the chart loads blank or incorrectly configured. VIX9D, VVIX and COR90D must all be type Index. Only UVXY is a Stock.
How to verify each instrument
- Open Tools → Instruments and type the symbol name.
- Check the instrument type reads Index (or Stock for UVXY), not the wrong one.
- Confirm the exchange (CBOE for the indexes).
- Confirm the provider mapping (e.g.
VIX9D.XO). - Confirm the trading-hours template.
- Confirm instrument-list membership (Indexes or SP500).
- If any symbol shows as "stock" when it should be an index, delete it and re-add it correctly.
Add the index symbols to the INDEXES instrument list (Tools → Instrument Lists, click INDEXES → Add, type the symbol, select it). Add UVXY to the SP500 list the same way.
Confirm it works
Validation Checklist
Work down this list after installation. Every item should be true before you rely on the templates.
NinjaTrader opens without relevant indicator errors.
The required BloodHound templates are discoverable in BloodHound.
The chart templates are discoverable in NinjaTrader.
VIX-related symbols load and show data.
SPY and ES charts load.
$TICK data loads.
The correct data provider is connected.
BloodHound displays its expected output.
Chart timestamps and active sessions are consistent.
No missing-instrument or missing-data-series errors appear.
Keep in mind: A quiet period with no trading signals is not by itself proof of a broken template. Sometimes conditions simply do not meet the template's criteria. Use this checklist to confirm the data and files are healthy before concluding anything is wrong.
Fixes
Troubleshooting
If your VIX BloodHound templates are not working as expected, match your symptom to a card below and follow the specific checks. Reinstalling the whole platform is rarely the fix.
Blank VIX chart
Check the instrument type (must be Index, not Stock), the symbol mapping (e.g. VIX9D.XO), your data subscription for CBOE indexes, and the trading-hours template.
BloodHound template missing
Confirm the .blk files are in the correct SharkIndicators BloodHound template folder and that they are the right file type. Restart NinjaTrader after placing them.
Chart template missing
Check the NinjaTrader chart-template directory and confirm the exact filename is present. A file in the wrong folder will not appear in the template list.
ES loads but VIX charts do not
Check whether the connected provider actually supplies the required index data. Many feeds carry ES but not the CBOE index symbols — this is what the dedicated market-data service provides.
Incorrect or missing BloodHound output
Check the input charts the template reads, the required indicators, your licensing, and that all needed data is present. BloodHound cannot compute from charts that have no data.
Signals differ from a video
Check the template version, session settings, amount of data history loaded, and overall chart configuration. Older videos may show earlier template versions and settings.
Need Help Configuring Your VIX BloodHound Templates?
ZoneTraderPro offers individual training and setup guidance based on your purchase and support eligibility. Reach out and we will help you get the templates reading data correctly.