Tips For A "Cage Aggressive" Burm

uhhlise_nacole · 01-21-17, 11:04 PM

We brought home a female Burn just yesterday, less than a year old (unsure of exact age) so she's still rather small. We are giving her the 7 day adjustment period to let her settle. That's the last thing I want is a stressed out Burm on my hands. I opened her enclosure to top off her water bowl and I could aleady hear her hissing so obviously I didn't **** around in there. At the reptile store we bought her from they all said that she was the least "Cage Aggressive" out of all they've probably ever had there. sweet as a button so great for a first Burm. I'm hoping this is just due to new surroundings but if not.. I'd appreciate some helpful tips on the least stressful way to remove her!

dave himself · 01-22-17, 03:19 AM

You need to start tap training her right away, most burms will hiss even out of the viv. The best way we've found to remove our two is to hook them roughly around halfway down the body, then pull them gently out off the viv head end first. Also if she isn't tap trained putting your hand in the viv just to change her water bowl is not recommended, you'd be safer removing her from the viv just to do this

**Tsubaki** · 01-22-17, 11:27 AM

Tap training is indeed important, my burm hisses constantly even when out of his viv. Here's an older video of my labyrinth burm, no bites but a lot of hisses that's just how he is. He still does it, had never tried to bite me though. Be careful not every burm is the same but hissing doesn't Have to mean aggression.

David VB · 01-22-17, 02:32 PM

Hissing is not a sign of cage aggressiveness, most Burms do it a lot. Mine will hiss hardar the an angry cat, but won't get aggressive. The hissing lessens once i got him out and handling him. But as said, start tap training g from the start

Good luck and enjoy your girl.

uhhlise_nacole · 01-22-17, 03:56 PM

Thank you all so much. the help is much appreciated. all of our others very rarely make a peep so the hissing was pretty intimidating at first.

GyGbeetle · 01-23-17, 09:50 AM

I've been told by several folks that Burms are just hissy. My Burmese hissed for about a week, the first week she was home with us. Everyone says to let them acclimate, but to be very honest, if we had, she wouldn't be the sweetheart she is today (3 months after her gotcha day). We handled her for at least 15-20 mins every day that first week. We took her out of her enclosure to feed those first 2 feedings. And we braved her temperament while she was inside her enclosure by giving her gentle touches, shifting her around, changing her water, and other general maintenance. Now she only hisses maybe once a month (I think she may have been PMSing?).