I am a victim of a herpadiction

[jncoclub]

Hello, my name is Jennifer, and I am a victim of a herpadiction.

I’ll admit it, we’re guilty. My fiancé bought his first snake, a Ball Python, almost 2 years ago. When I moved to FL and moved in with him I got attached. So we got a baby Columbian Redtail. Then 2 months later our addiction increased to a baby Burmese, and then probably about a month after that we peaked with a baby Hog Isle. I’ve put a stop to our addiction because my fiancé is in the Navy and there were/are a couple moves in our near future. We love our snakes and take good care of them, but after recognizing my newest addiction (sSNAKESs.com) I want to make sure our knowledge about our snakes grows at a faster rate then their body/hunger size.

So there is my confession (any others out there? I know there are.) And now for a question: our burm is very docile and super sweet. I know she will get big. Very big. How big does she have to get before there should be another person in the room when I take her out?
And how big when we should have 2 people in the room?
And three people….? Is it a judgment call, or commonsense to just have another person in the room when any snake hits a certain size? I’m most concerned with the burm because if she was to ever turn on us, even though she will be the biggest, she is the least suspecting by far.

Ok, this is long enough, any responses?

[snakemann87]

The rule is any snake over 8ft you should have someone else with you. And when she gets bigger just as many as you need to handle her. But you should always have another person. Its also good to have some alchohol on hand where she stays incase something happens.

[drewlowe]

Yes i agree i'm addicted to herps too. Sept not with snakes mines with lizzards. Ok more like leopard geckos. i started out buying 2 for a christmas present for my boyfriend and i say within a year we bought 3 more and started breeding them 6 months later. Ive also bought a few thru-out the years. Then within that same year we bought 2 bearded dragons. Then in my second year i bought 2 corn snakes and a rose hair tarantula. Now i have tons of babies coming from my adult colony of 7. And am breeding my corns and am expecting my first clutch to hatch at anytime. I have ran out of room to place anymore cages so my collecting has stop until we buy our own house hopefully next year. then i plan on getting a few more corns, another colony of leos, and a nile monitor. I also want to try to keep some frogs but that will be a few years off.
so ya you can say i'm addicted.

Sorry the corns are my only snakes and i don't know anything about burms. but good luck finding out your answer.

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

Hi there Jennifer:

Well my herpaddiction must come out too, no more secrets. The late night feedings and cuddling in the afternoons with my 19 snakes ranging from 18 inches to 5.5 feet is a secret I needed to tell all.....................lol.

Actually you do voice a good sense of understanding your animals and there potential characteristics and growth rates and safety. If there all showing signs that they are docile and you can read there actions from there on. Then for the most part you should be able to handle then just fine. But growth does become a factor at a certain rate later. while they are small now you can get an understanding how strong they are now and later too.

Of course once a boa or python reach the 8 foot plus it will depend on you. Can you handle and match its strenght at that size or not will depend on you, example if your a male at 6 feet and about 230 lbs a boa at 8 feet is not really a hassle. but if your a woman at 5 feet at 120 lbs with a 8 footer alone that would be a risk.

Either way more people here should help you out on this being I myself have handled large boids but never kept any yet at 8 foot.

Good luck and just watch your snakes carefully.

[Colonel SB]

I can safly say that every one on this forum is suffering from that wonderfull addiction.

[Mike177]

yep i am a victom too. now i think you should wait till she gets 8 ft for 2 people too and when she gets bigger you will NEED 2 people just because she will be so big. it is a female right?

[burmer]

Hi my name is Jim and I have a reptile problem. Problem is I'm running out of room to keep any more.
I agree with the 8ft rule. I don't handle my burm that is 12ft without someone else in the room. Just use common sense when handling and you'll do fine.

[jncoclub]

My fiance shares the same addiction (it's nice going through it with someone else, you know, someone who understands :) ) but I think I am more clingy to the snakes than he is. Normally there is some one else somewhere else in the house with me; and that happens to be a coincidence more than I plan it that way. All our snakes are female and they are all sweet. The burm right now is a little over 3 feet, but she is on the thinner side. She had some problems when we first got her as a baby (her whole clutch wouldn't eat for about 2-3 months), but then she picked right up on it. She is small now. I just wanted to get a sense as to what is in store for me. With her, I think she will be more of a long thin burm than a large fat long burm. Thanks for your help, 8 feet, noted. Any one else want to fess up their addictions?

[python_diva_06]

i think we all need to join H.A....lol

[MudBoy]

OK hands on the car and spread em!!! Im busted!!
I have coastal carpets (about 45 I think), blackhead pythons, woma's, highland jungles, tully jungles, olives, water pythons, scrub pythons, large blotched pythons(stimsons), bredli's, diamonds, green tree pythons, tipans, browns, king browns, tigers, tree snakes (only 2 of 3 colours), death adders, 2 bearded dragons a blue tongue and a pink tongue and a sand goanna!!
Does that mean im addicted??
As far as how big a snake gets before you should have someone else in the room when handling him I go along with 8ft but I had a very close call with a 9ft coastal carpet not so long ago, he got round my neck and got a fright and wraped me up with my arm over my head and round my neck, I was only seconds from passing out and I could not get him off without hurting him but a friend was in another part of the house and helped me so all was well.
I am 6ft 5ins tall and 120 kgs (dont know in lbs) and I have played football all my life and work as a solid plasterer in the building industry, I am strong and I could not get him off without killing him.
All I can say is to be careful and dont let yourself get into a position where something bad can happen, I learned from my mistake.

p.s. Does anyone have the number for H.A. ??
lol

[geckoguy157]

im a victim to it all started with one leopard gecko then 2 more then 2 more then 2 more and you know how it goes and now there are 50 reptiles in my house lol 11 of which are hatchlings

[LISA127]

yep, im addicted! mudboy, where did u find a pink tongued skink? i keep a blue tongued skink and have always wanted a pink tongue, but have no idea where to find one.

[MudBoy]

Lisa 127
Did you see my location?
I picked him up in my backyard and last week I had to stop on the way to work and chase one off the road on the way to work.
I dont know much about Ohio except its in the U.S. so I dont know what sort of lizards you get but over here just about everyone has one or two of these in the yard to keep the snails down.
If I could send you one I would but my laws and yours will not allow it so sorry.

Cheers

Rick.

[LISA127]

Mudboy,
thanks. i didn't notice your location. you're soooo lucky. in ohio, the only herps we really have are garter snakes and the occassional box turtle. that's it! i need to relocate.

[sapphire_moon]

Yup, H.A.....where's that number? I've got a 3ft female BP, and am getting a new baby boy (hopefully) this coming week! I'm excited and can't wait! Oh all the new things to buy, hide places, fake plants, pinkies (and up for my bigger BP)!!!!

And for the "how big should the snake be before I have someone help me" question. I say 6 ft. If your baby gets wrapped tightly enough around your neck at 6 ft then it's probably going to hurt him/her when you try to get him off of you. I know it's usually the arms and legs that get struck at. But just in case he strikes your upper arm and misses....well it can get out of hand I'm sure. I don't have any big snakes, But that is what I would do.........