Getting a Burmese

[jmc]

I'm adopting a Burm from a friend of mine, she's a 2 month old Hypo Fire. Before I get her I wanted to get some advice from you guys. Could you guys walk me through enclosure set up, substrate, etc?. As far as I know, heating has never been an issue where I'm from since we get highs of 32 or 33 celcius during the day and it drops to between 25-24 C at night. I still do have a heat lamp for my Beardie though which is turned on for 5-6 hours a day, but I wouldn't know if a snake would need one.

[DJC Reptiles]

I would recommend keeping a low wattage under tank heater on during the night for a small temperature boost. Burmese pythons get large and can eat two jumbo rabbits a month, make sure you have enough supplies for the task. A minimum enclosure size for an adult Burmese should be 8’ long, 3’ wide, 2’ tall, though the snake will do better with something bigger. A cool spot should be provided during the day to allow your snake to thermoregulate. I am not exactly sure how to do this in a big environment, but I am sure there is someone on here who will. You might not need a cool spot but, it would make the snake happier. Last thing, make sure to provide a large water dish big enough for the snake to soak in.

[craigafrechette]

That is a LOT of snake for a beginner. Are you sure you're up to the task? These snakes get huge and they are extremely powerful. You will DEFINITELY need a 2nd person with you to handle an adult burm as well. It is not smart and can be dangerous to handle one alone.

They also require huge enclosures and are expensive to feed.

Taking this animal on is a 20+ year commitment. Are you sure you're ready for such a difficult task and commitment?

I'm not trying to talk you out of it, but since you're asking basic husbandry and setup questions I'm afraid you're not fully understanding what you're getting yourself into. I highly suggest doing a few weeks (at least) of research before making a decision on such a challenging animal. I've personally got years of experience keeping various species of snakes and a burm is something I'm not ready for. If I can't 100% commit to providing a proper home for an animal for its entire lifetime I won't bring the animal home, it's simply not fair to the animal.

Just my two cents and something to think about...

[Jim Smith]

I think that craigafrechette gave you very good advice. Burms are huge snakes that require a lot of work and expense and as he mentioned, you should never attempt to handle without at least one more experienced person with you. Huge snake that takes a huge commitment. Just a thought...

[jmc]

I agree with you guys, but my friend is a compulsive buyer you see and he bought this snake from someone for really cheap which for him is a really good deal. The things you've told me are exactly what I told him but he just was just too tempted with the deal. The seller told him it was a burm but I'm not 100% convinced (but I still posted this under the Giant Python Discussion to be sure). I'll try to post some photos of her so you guys can take a look. Anyway, long story short, I know how this is going to end with my friend. He's going to take good care of her for a while then lose interest and just leave her be. I was thinking that maybe with me she would have a better chance. That's my logic anyway.

[craigafrechette]

I think what's best for the animal needs to come first. If your friend does end up getting bored with it, rehome it properly. Obviously that's not as easy as rehoming a ball python or a Kingsnake, since there are very few people who keep giant pythons like burms. Just because your friend might lose interest doesn't mean you have to take the animal on.

And you guys aren't even sure it's a Burmese python?? Who the heck buys an animal without knowing what it is?? That's just plain irresponsible and unfair to the animal.
Not to be rude, but if you can't even identify it, you're definitely not ready to keep it either. An animal like a Burmese python requires an experienced keeper with access to at least one other person with experience handling large snakes. It is simply not smart and not safe for the animal or the people involved otherwise.

Anyway, this isn't a dig on you, but if that animal truly is a burm I hope it finds a good home with a qualified keeper before the animal or somebody gets hurt.