Burmese Python Size

SCReptiles · 07-17-03, 08:53 AM

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’.

Ed_r · 07-17-03, 09:20 AM

I know of 3 different people in the Chicago area (all members of the CHS) thats have 18' measured females. Now was the snake fully stretched out at the time of measure I'm not sure. These are all females. But the question is how big would they be if the got the proper care their entire lives? All 3 of these were rescues that were taken in about 2 years ago at 14- 15', severly underwieght and i know a couple had a severe RI. They were taken in and were fed a proper diet, cured of their RIs and now are 18' and probably a little more.

Regardless of all the genetic deformaties of the cb Burms they are STILL the 3rd longest and 2nd largest snake ever recorded. If I'm not mistaken the largest in captivity is 28' and almost 400 pounds. Still a very large snake.

SCReptiles · 07-17-03, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Regardless of all the genetic deformaties of the cb Burms they are STILL the 3rd longest and 2nd largest snake ever recorded. If I'm not mistaken the largest in captivity is 28' and almost 400 pounds. Still a very large snake

Negative ghost rider. There has never been a burm recorded over 30’. There has been one Retic, 33’ and one Rock 32 ½’. The Burm may very well be the third in terms of length, I am not sure. If I had to bet I would say there has been an anaconda or two exceed 30’. You are very much correct on the largest snake ever held in captivity being a burm. Far as I know, that one is still alive. The official scale was 408 pounds, but the owner told me she was off food at the time and usually goes about 430. The best length they have been able to get on her is 26 ½’.

NewLineReptile · 07-17-03, 09:35 AM

Your right on the most part SCReptiles. But even if you have not seen alot of 20'+ Burm's dose not mean that there is non out there. I my self have 4 Burm's a 2 year old pattern at 14' a Green at 11' at just under 2 year's and the othe two are under ten feet at just over a year and all of them are still growing. As for a 20' burm the guy i got my pattern from has a 6 year old at 20' and i will be glad to post a picture of her as soon as i ask him if he would mind. I do agree with you that they are no seen to often but there are some out there and i think with the right care and living space they can get to 20'+

just my 2 cent's
Brandon

Ed_r · 07-17-03, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Negative ghost rider. There has never been a burm recorded over 30’

Ummm how is that a negative. Largest Burm on record was over 29' but under 30' Not sure what the longest anaconda was on record. Regardles the difference between 3rd and 4th is only by a couple inches either way. I'm sure somewhere in the depths of some rainforest somewhere in the world there is a larger snake, just hasn't been found yet.

This is neither here nor there, I think the reason of your post is to say that Burms are not as bad to own as everyone makes them out to be. I never said they are BAD to own. But The ARE BAD to own if you have no clue what your getting into, and buying on an impulse cuz he looked cute in the petstore and was cheap.

I personally Love Burms, they have tons of charecter and great personalities for the most part. To an experience keeper that does know what they are getting into, I support them 100% about getting a burm. But this same person i support, I gaurentee you would not ever post something "I got/am getting a burm, what do I keep him in, how much do I feed, how big will he get?"

Sorry the absolute biggest pet peve of mine is people buying first then desiding to learn about it, well and stupidity, but I see this as one of the same things.

Samba · 07-17-03, 03:39 PM

SCReptiles - The snake I believe you are referring to is 'Baby' the world-record holding female Burm. I read in an article in Reptiles Magazine not too long ago that she has passed on. Not sure what caused her death, but she was a mighty snake!

On another note - I thought Burms were the 5th largest/longest snake in the world? Perhaps I am wrong, but this is the way I recall it. I'm glad I have a male, I sure wouldn't want to deal with a female of that size and weight! (Although I would if she needed it!)

Ed_r - I completely agree with you! =)

Linds · 07-17-03, 11:08 PM

SCReptiles,
How do you figure linebreeding reduces size? What about those that selectively breed for size?

Quote:

Originally posted by SCReptiles
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’.

Jason H on here has two very large burms, I do believe they are 16'... possibly more by now? I personally have never worked with a burm over 12', but have seen pics of his and can defintiely say they were larger!

Quote:

Originally posted by Samba
SCReptiles - The snake I believe you are referring to is 'Baby' the world-record holding female Burm. I read in an article in Reptiles Magazine not too long ago that she has passed on. Not sure what caused her death, but she was a mighty snake!

I read in Reptiles that she passed away from old age... which would make sense since they estimated she was well into her twenties

Ed,
Couldn't agree with you more (the part about the right kind of burm keepers). I personally am not a burm fan, but thats just preference. I find them too grumpy and not very attractive... except for the patternless ones

paul_le_snake · 07-17-03, 11:17 PM

she could have passed away from old age, but id hazard a guess at gross obesity, due to extreme feeding.
cheers
paul

Mike177 · 07-18-03, 02:22 PM

I see there is alot of debate on the biggest 2ed biggest 3ed biggest and so on. realy i think that there is alot of controvecy over the topic. i have had some books say one thing and one say onther. currently i am reading "The Encyclopedia Of Snkes"
and i have come to the conclution that there is realy NO SHURE WAY to decide witch snake is the largest. because we havent recorded all the snakes in the world, and there are reports (not that i think that they are creadable) of 64 foot andicandas. also they are more resent reports of andacondas that have been shot and messured at 33-34 feet. if you read several books every author has a little variotion in witch snake they think is the largest. in my bet i would say the retic is the longest and the andicanda is the biggest. but realy i dont think we will every realy be able to anser the question of witch snake is the biggest with 100% accuracy. there will alwas be the odd ball that shows up 3 inches bigger than the last one. in captivity and in the wild. because no matter what you read or who u ask you are not going to get the same anser. now i am not makeing a argument for eather side but thats just my $00.02

creander · 07-18-03, 02:51 PM

You are right the Retics are the longest , and the Anaconda is the fattest.

http://www.pythonmolurus.com

mikemcguire · 07-18-03, 03:27 PM

Quote:

but realy i dont think we will every realy be able to anser the question of witch snake is the biggest with 100% accuracy. there will alwas be the odd ball that shows up 3 inches bigger than the last one. in captivity and in the wild.

i agree 100%

Big Mike · 07-18-03, 03:35 PM

Aparently there is a $50,000 reward for anyone who can bring in a 30' snake to the Wildlife Conservation Society...in the US. It has never be claimed.

reticguy · 07-18-03, 04:12 PM

...and that $50,000 reward has been in place since the 1920's or 30's I believe.

Oddballs don't seem to be popping up bigger than the last. There's been very little coming close to the longest in the world (retic killed on Sulawesi in 1912 that measured 32'9"). That's 91 years and still nothing in excess of that monster. Anything else hasn't been confirmed by a biologist and shouldn't be trusted as legit.

I believe the longest green ana was around 29' (can't recall the exact measure), but definitely blows retics out of the water as far as weight is concerned.

Nathan

marisa · 07-18-03, 04:29 PM

Has anyone else seen that show on TV with this Anaconda guy looking for a BIG anaconda? He says he believes the only BIG snakes left are living in certain areas where the water levels don't totally dry up during a drier season, so the snake woud be swimming most of the time to help support a larger body weight for those 30ft+ giants. If they are out there.

I will try to lookup the show and name now, if I find it I will add it to my post.

Marisa

Mike177 · 07-20-03, 12:34 AM

Quote:

I believe the longest green ana was around 29' (can't recall the exact measure), but definitely blows retics out of the water as far as weight is concerned.

ya i have read that too. but when u hear reports you have to rule out the ones that arnet credable. like the 63 foot andicanda that they suposavly found? i am not saying that completle false......... but it is. shure its possable, but so is anything, aslo what would a snake that size eat?? it would probly much on baby elephants!, i mean JESUS! that would be crazy but in my oppinion i consider the logent to be 33 feet. untill more conclusive evendence.