interesting situation

[JasonBrennan]

Are you serious? I am seeing them for $50 CANADIAN now! That's like $35 US!! Check the queensnake.ca classifieds or the US python classifieds. They are everywhere.

I am dead serious! I see normal burms for the prices you are talking about, but not ALBINO burms (as in what this thread is about). I am def going to look (never heard of queensnake.ca before)...I will buy a boat load of albino burms for $35 US!!!

[joe&beth]

Originally posted by Invictus
A 43" 1-year old burm? I VERY highly doubt that. They are BORN around 24" if I'm not mistaken, and I've personally never heard of a 1 year old at less than 6 feet. (And I believe many people here have reported their yearling burms at over 10 feet, even for males.) But yes, please post a pic as most of the people here will be able to tell you inside of a microsecond what species it is.

Ok, well that will happen around 7:30 am EST tommrow, the pics that is. The snake was not measured after purchase and has never given any indication or signs of ill health. She (yep, I was told it was a she and its now a habit) has always eaten well and been normal in every way. The pics are 2 days after a shed and 1 day since a feeding. She has been getting 2 full grown mice a week for the last 6 months or so. I have noticed her skin could "fit tighter" but, that look goes away a week or so after a shed. This snake was nowhere near 24" upon purchase, more in the 18" range. i have already suggested a 3 mouse feeding but, depending on prevailing opinion it might be a 2 fuzzy rat feeding instead.

Now, on to the next question, if it is a burm and this is abnormal growth, what do we do about it? Also if this was a baby when purchased (albeit a small one too) is 18 or so inchs in a year that far off base? I dunno, thats one of the reasons I'm here asking. Now, if this a albino ball then what? Or perhaps it is some sort of a cross. Anyway, the pics will be up in the AM provided the server will accept them. I refuse to attempt to post pics on a dial connection. I'm just not that patient.


Thanks,
Joe

[BurmBaroness]

If the snake was 18" at brith, then it is most likely a BP. Burms are usually bigger than that. If it is a burm, and the growth is abnormal, it's due to lack of proper diet. A corected diet will put weight on and help growth, but the burm will take longer to reach the maximum potential it has. Yes, 18 inches is pretty off-base for a baby burm. I appropriately sized prey item is MUCH better than 2-3 smaller items, as far as the snake's digestive system goes. You still haven't said what you paid for the animal, but not all albino BP's are $5000. I have seen them for less than half that. Also could have been a screw up at the pet store, if you got it at a pet store, altho I'm sure someone got fired over that one. The only time I have ever seen a snake with "loose" skin is just before shed, or when it is dehydrated.

[joe&beth]

Ok, well, the snake was bought at the exotic show in Raleigh NC last August. My wife gave $100.00 for her and like I said she was between 14-18 inch. she was told it was a ball (of course after reading all the replys about albino balls I'm even more inclined to think burm) However thats a moot point, what would you think to be a "appropriatly sized" for one this size?


Thanks,
Joe

[BurmBaroness]

For a burm? Between 5-8 ft. If it truly is a burm, I'd be really interested in knowing the dealer/breeder you bought it from, as they need to be shown to be dishonest. Also, if it's truly a burm, and it was only 14-18 inches at birth, it could be likely that the animal was very small at birth. Still, a pic would help. BTW, if it's truly an albino ball python, you got a SWEET deal............lol

[Invictus]

Burm OR Ball, you should really be upping the meals. We give our 4 foot Miami corn 2 adult mice per week. That's an appropriate meal for a corn. NOT for a BP or a Burm.

[ohh_kristina]

I agree with Invictus. I feed my yearling ball python large rats, and he takes them easily. A yearling burm would probably be on small/medium rabbits, or a large if you like to feed big meals Definately post pictures! I'm anxious to see what it turns out to be. I think it's a ball, i mean..a burm just can't be that small at a year.

[T.O-SK8TER]

Bryce-
A male burm will be much bigger than what you claim! The average is about 12-17 feet for a male, female, 15-20 feet.

[joe&beth]

Ok, this is the deal, it appears I wasted time by taking pictures as the 4 mb card will not read. :-( I tested the other card and its fine so.... I'll take more tonite.



Thanks,
Joe

[BurmBaroness]

Was just wondering if you were able to get pics? If this is a burm, then the seller needs to be responsible for either a refund, or making it right with the animal you THOUGHT you were getting. I'd like to not deal with this person/breeder, so if you can, post who you bought the snake from as a warning. I live in the Raleigh area, and attend the shows there.

[joe&beth]

Joe is still working on getting some pics. He forgot to bring the camera home last night and he is at a meeting tonight. I will bug him to get it here tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

I want to thank everyone for their input. As I kept reading the posts I progressively became more angry with myself for not learning this information earlier. I was taking advice from locals who apparently don't know enough about pythons. I started my snake on rats yesterday. It was kinda hard to watch it go down. Man, what a tight fit! But the snake seems content.

As for the seller...I can't give you the name. I kept their card for a couple of months. After concluding that I did not have a sick snake I lost track of the information. I don't remember their name. I can tell you that they were not local to Raleigh. Trust me, I looked for them last weekend and never did find them. I wonder if there is a reason for that! I paid $100 for the snake. I would love to have them right their wrong but a lot of the blame lies on me. I have learned a lot of dos and don'ts in the last couple of days. I'm just thankful that my snake is alive and soon to be much healthier!

A big thanks to all who helped!

Beth

[BurmBaroness]

Hey! I wish I'd know you were at the show. Soem friends and I went down for the weekend. It would have been nice to meet someone from here. Too bad you don't remember who it was, tho. Would have been a good one to post on the BOI.

[Mike177]

ok this is an albino ball python,

this is a normal ball python


an easy way to identify a ball python if you are not used to looking at snakes is by the shape of there head and by their heat receptors.



dont pay attention to the fact that the snake is completely white.

now here are some pics of burms,

here is an albino burm


now here are the heat receptors on a burm, notice they are smaller and there are less of them,


well i hope this helps cuz it took me like 20 min, lol

good luck with your new snake,
MiKe

[Gareth]

interesting

[joe&beth]

Ok, I finally got the damn camera to keep the pics. (apparently I've got a bad card)

Any way here is a attempt to post the first one.


Joe