For all the "Kids" who want a Burmese Python!!!

[Linds]

Chondro,
The more space the better for any animal. In the wild (as well as given the chance in captivity), burms are highly arboreal and spend quite a bit of time up in the trees (they don't find parrots on the ground ). They are excellent climbers. If someone can give a burm alot of vertical space, then that's excellent! However if they can't afford the space, then there is no reason the snake still won't thrive. There are no 3' tall ceilings in the wild......

Originally posted by ZoeStevens

I actually thought that was a pic of where they found it something.

Me too Looks like a rescue pic with all those wires, etc

[RachelS.]

Poor snake... probably had quite a bumpy ride

[The_Snake_King]

Look at a burm. The pattern suggest a ground dwelling snake. It looks lke the leaf litter on the ground on which it dwells. They are ambush predators. They hide in the bush and leaf litter and wait for prey to wander by.

Large adult burmese pythons would have a hard time getting into trees. With their large girth and heavy body weight, it would be difficult for them to get up a tree.

In captivity they are known to climb anything in their way. But that is more for trying to escape than anything else.

[ReptiZone]

you are right snake king they hide in the trees when they are babys and almost all snakes are good climbersthere is 6 difrent types of snake structures 1 for burowing 1 for ground dwellers 2 for climbing 1 for swiming and one not yet known it is like a triangle the burm falls in the ground dwelling snakes you dont go loking it trees for adult burms it is just not safe fore them up there if a branch should break down comes the snake. you don't think it is self conciouse of it's own weight it hase to cary it every where.

[kelly]

(faze)just for reference all the wires in the trunk where dead atm i took all my stereo equipment out a week or two prior

[boa]

hello i think that it is great young kids have reptiles it teaches them education on the aniamals ect.and it 'does'nt matter on age and for a rescue i would have not let you take it like you did even if the weather is hot that looks like crap in the back of your trunk you need to learn some more lessons yourself.

[ReptiZone]

I wont say any more bad things regarding this thread since you are new and you are probably a smart person that just made a bad decision but I will keep reading to see what kind of advice you have on animals.

[The_Snake_King]

ok, this is from an article in Reptile USA 2003 Annual edition...

TIPS FOR THE RESPONSIBLE SALE AND
OWNERSHIP OF GIANT SNAKES

1. Giant snakes should not be sold to minors or owned by minors.
2. Giant snakes should not be sold without first informing the buyer of their eventual requirements and the problems and risks involved.
3. Sellers should require the purchase or proof of purchase of a secure, lockable, escape-proof cage from buyers. This is a requirement for ownership of giant snakes in San Diego County, CA
4. Buyers must learn responsible feeding and handling procedures and schedules.
5. Realize that adolescent giant snakes, usually in the 8 to 11 foot range in the case of bums, are probably the most damgerous. A contributing factor may be that owners fail to feed these growing "adolescent" snakes adequate amounts of food. Because of their size, owners also may handle them less regularly, which can condition a snake to expect food the second the cage is opened.
6. Never display giant snakes in public outside of a proper forum for such displays, such as educational and reptile shows.
7. Put in place a procedure for dealing with a life-threatening constriction incident. POuring alcohol in the mouth of the snake, using a cattle prod type device (doing so will also shock the victim), and using large cutters to decapitate a snake are all possible considerations. In a life-threatening situation, don't worry about the welfare of the snake. Above all, free the vistim from its grasp as soon as possible.


In addition to these TIPS, the author of the story dedicated a good portion of the article, entitled "Guidelines for Responsible Herptile Ownership", to giant snakes.

Another good point made by the author which I believe to be what I, and others have been trying to point out (all be it not too gracefully), is collector frenzy!

THe author writes the following:

many hobbyists start off with one animal or one species and then get hooked on the novelty rush and, like addicts, add new animals to provide the next neurotransmitter rush of the month. If you set on that course, you may end up with such a large collection that all your time will be spent maintaining it, leaving little time to actually observe and enjoy the animals you own.
A side effect of this addiction is that you will likely find yourself providing minimal standards of maintenance. You'll be spending so much of your income and time buying more animals, cleaning and feeding them that you will no longer have the money or time for the little luxuries that make a difference in their quality of life. I can talk about this from personal experience. (Me too!) Don't rationalize the reasons why you need more animals. Set limits. Keep less and strive to do the very best job you can with hwat you have.


This is what we are tryiong to say when we debate back and forth about a adolescent getting a giant snake. Sure, they may have had a snake or two for a few months, but there is no need to keep buying a new herp every month. I have seen several people in this forum and others, who come in and say " I just got this snake ot that snake, then a week later are asking question about buying a new snake or lizard.

OK, i'm done for now.

[BWSmith]

for a rescue i would have not let you take it like you did even if the weather is hot that looks like crap in the back of your trunk you need to learn some more lessons yourself.

WOW!! I have never seen anyone catch so much crap for doing a rescue. Forgive me, but crap happens. And chastizing a rescuer gets under my skin. Things do NOT always go perfect. Sometimes you do what you have to do to get the job done. The lady already said she would turn it loose. I would not risk it by leaving her alone with the snake. Rule number one of rescues: Get the animal out fast. If someone calls, you go then. You never know what is happenning or will happen. Thye may try to get it ready for you, it strikes and they chop off its head. You never know. Of everyone so appalled at the means of transportation, how many of you have had to rescue a giant snake on short notice? You tend to get very inventive when situations arrise. I believe he said that it would not fit in his rubbermade. That tells me he came prepared. But hey, this woman was freaking out and wanted it gone, now! Anyone who has been on a snake call knows that the caller rarely knows anything and can't judge size to save their life. I went out on a 4 foot copperhead call and caught the 16" water snake culprit.

People are defending irresponsible people getting burms and condeming those that have to rescue them years later. I admire Faze for doing what he had to to get the job done and it disgusts me that people would critisize him for it. Situations were not ideal, noone is arguing that. But hey, it's life, situations are not always ideal.

I posed the question to the ones critisizing if you have ever had to do rescues such as this. If the answer is yes, great. If the answer is no, try rescuing burms, earn your stripes, and then you can critisize. Until that time, respect those that do what they can unwanted and abbandoned herps.

[herm]

Amen BW!!

[Xetox]

Originally posted by BWSmith
WOW!! I have never seen anyone catch so much crap for doing a rescue. Forgive me, but crap happens. And chastizing a rescuer gets under my skin. Things do NOT always go perfect. Sometimes you do what you have to do to get the job done. The lady already said she would turn it loose. I would not risk it by leaving her alone with the snake. Rule number one of rescues: Get the animal out fast. If someone calls, you go then. You never know what is happenning or will happen. Thye may try to get it ready for you, it strikes and they chop off its head. You never know. Of everyone so appalled at the means of transportation, how many of you have had to rescue a giant snake on short notice? You tend to get very inventive when situations arrise. I believe he said that it would not fit in his rubbermade. That tells me he came prepared. But hey, this woman was freaking out and wanted it gone, now! Anyone who has been on a snake call knows that the caller rarely knows anything and can't judge size to save their life. I went out on a 4 foot copperhead call and caught the 16" water snake culprit.

People are defending irresponsible people getting burms and condeming those that have to rescue them years later. I admire Faze for doing what he had to to get the job done and it disgusts me that people would critisize him for it. Situations were not ideal, noone is arguing that. But hey, it's life, situations are not always ideal.

I posed the question to the ones critisizing if you have ever had to do rescues such as this. If the answer is yes, great. If the answer is no, try rescuing burms, earn your stripes, and then you can critisize. Until that time, respect those that do what they can unwanted and abbandoned herps.

Preach it.....I agree totaly, you do what you can with what you have.....there is no going back to get something bigger, you deal with the fact at hand on do the best you can!

[Ritus_Reptile]

I agree 100% with zoe. Education is the key. Great job getting your point across zoe i always enjoy your posts and information

[BurmBaroness]

Great post, BW.......if the life, health, or well-being of the snake is in jeopardy, just GET IT OUT.

[BWSmith]

I am also suprised that those that tried to chastize him have not offered an oppology. I think it is in order.

[Burm_Crazy]

I'm beginning to regret starting this thread.

This man did a good job getting this snake out of an enviroment that would have ended in the death of the snake. How many of you are in FLorida? How many snakes that are this big do you think are in Canada. I can bet just a small fraction of wht is in AMerica. The Canadian reptile market is nothing compared to what is being bought and sold here in America. It is a billion dollar a year industry. That is why we are so adamant about the burmese python debate. Shelters and rescues in Canada do not see the numbers of brum being turned over, because there are not the same numbers of burms sold in Canada as in the US.

Thsi man did what it took to save the life of this snake. I would have done the same! And so would have a lot of other people.