Burmese Python Size

[SCReptiles]

There has been much debate over this issue as of late. I was in the pet trade in the early 1990’s when the reptiles craze began. We sold 100’s of burms and monitored the progression of many of them. The literature of the time claimed they would obtain a length of 20 feet, but I did not see that in any of the snakes we imported. I concede that occasionally a 20’ specimen is recorded in the wild and also on very rare occasions a captive specimen will top 20, but my position is that these are very rare exceptions. I have been in this hobby since childhood and I have personally seen 3 burms that topped 20’. That is 3 in about 25 years. I do not believe most CB burms of today will top 15’. I base this on a dual premise. A, in the wild, the biggest and strongest mate. IN captivity, the best colored and most docile mate. This is by nature reduces the size of the species. B, line breeding by nature will pass on week genes and reduce the size. (Line breeding – Breeding closely related specimens to encourage a recessive gene.) I have 2.2 burms. One male imported 1990, he is 14’. One female imported 1995, she is 14’. One albino female, CB 1997, she is 15’. And one male, CB 1995, he is 17’. My two imports I have had for many years and these are average size snakes, notice they are not 17 to 20’. The CB male is an exception. He was breed specifically for size by a breeder in LA. He had an exceptional size male, about 18’ and he sought out a large female and breed them. No other breeders are doing this. I know of at least two reptile showmen who are actively seeking 20’ snakes and can not find them. If anyone out there reading this has a 20 + burm, please post a pic here. And if you have a burm CB after say 1998 and it has surpassed 15’, please give us an account. Try to include a pic, I have seen countless “16 feet” burms that really measured about 12’.