when do you know you're ready for a Burm?

ErikBush97 · 10-20-13, 08:42 PM

Hi. I'm super into Burmese Pythons, and I was wondering when you know you're ready to keep one? If I were to get one, I'd have a cage ready for her (I have someone willing to make a 10' x 4' x 4' enclosure, and 3-4 of the 10 feet would be a hole with a removable pool in it)
I'd have that enclosure and a few months worth of food available before I bought the Burm.
I have someone to help handle the snake once it grows a bit. Thanks for any feedback

slowhite03 · 10-20-13, 09:12 PM

There really isn't proper way to know. If you've done your research and are confident you can handle it when it gets bigger then that's all you can really do. That goes for any snake really, but Burms are on the more I better make sure before I get this kind of snake.

ErikBush97 · 10-20-13, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhite03

There really isn't proper way to know. If you've done your research and are confident you can handle it when it gets bigger then that's all you can really do. That goes for any snake really, but Burms are on the more I better make sure before I get this kind of snake.

Well the breeder who sold me my Pastel Salmon BCI let me see all his snakes, and his facility. All of them are taken GREAT care of and I'm confident that the one I get from him (in the future) will be healthy, and happy. I am also confident that I can care for one, and handle one (with a few people there for safety, of course). I would need to do research on them first, but I just wanted to know when people here decided they were ready for one. I have five, going on six snakes, and I've handled Burms from baby to adult before so I think I'll be good on handling. Thank you very much for the advice.

dave himself · 10-20-13, 09:32 PM

As said mate there's no real way of knowing when your ready for a burm. But it sounds to me that apart from doing your research you've covered all the bases. One thing I will say is get a baby that way you can grow in confidence in your handling as our burm grows

exwizard · 10-20-13, 09:46 PM

That last point is soo important. I got Medusa as a yearling last year as my first Burm. She was only 3' long then and not very sociable. However since then her temperament has mellowed out a lot as her size has grown so much. I handled her a lot while she was still small. Now that she's much bigger, she also is a lot friendlier and much more handleable. Poseidon, my current yearling, I got last year as a hatchling and he has always been as chill as can be. Venus, my April hatchling has also always been chill but with Mars, my July hatchling, he was bitey and feisty when I first got him but he's totally chill now. The last thing you want is an angry "bring it on!" adult Burm. That's why regular handling when they are little is so important.

ErikBush97 · 10-20-13, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

That last point is soo important. I got Medusa as a yearling last year as my first Burm. She was only 3' long then and not very sociable. However since then her temperament has mellowed out a lot as her size has grown so much. I handled her a lot while she was still small. Now that she's much bigger, she also is a lot friendlier and much more handleable. Poseidon, my current yearling, I got last year as a hatchling and he has always been as chill as can be. Venus, my April hatchling has also always been chill but with Mars, my July hatchling, he was bitey and feisty when I first got him but he's totally chill now. The last thing you want is an angry "bring it on!" adult Burm. That's why regular handling when they are little is so important.

Thanks, man. I appreciate it a lot. There's still a lot to think about before I decide to get one or not. I'm probably going to spend a few months studying, deciding whether or not to get one, and then i'll PERFECT the setup, and then contact the breeder I know.

Starbuck · 10-20-13, 10:38 PM

Im not sure how old op is, but you really need to be planning years ahead for a giant like a burm. If uou could possibly be moving out of state in the next 15+ years (for college, job, family etc), you'll need to have someone willing to take an adult burm, since they cannot be legally transported across state lines. Maybe the breeder would take it back for you? Not trying tonbe discouraging, just trying to play devils advocate...
Tbh I wouldn't recommend a giant like that for most keepers, especially with laws limiting where you live, whether you can get insurance, etc etc.

Also, a 3-4 foot tub full of water is going to be extremely heavy and messy, you might consider a drain in the bottom that would empty into a bucket for easier cleaning.

ErikBush97 · 10-20-13, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Im not sure how old op is, but you really need to be planning years ahead for a giant like a burm. If uou could possibly be moving out of state in the next 15+ years (for college, job, family etc), you'll need to have someone willing to take an adult burm, since they cannot be legally transported across state lines. Maybe the breeder would take it back for you? Not trying tonbe discouraging, just trying to play devils advocate...
Tbh I wouldn't recommend a giant like that for most keepers, especially with laws limiting where you live, whether you can get insurance, etc etc.

Also, a 3-4 foot tub full of water is going to be extremely heavy and messy, you might consider a drain in the bottom that would empty into a bucket for easier cleaning.

I do not feel discouraged. I actually really appreciate it, Starbuck. I hadn't thought about going out of state. I do believe that the breeder would hold onto her if I went out of state.
My family also would. (Meaning my Mom or my Brother whom are both very fond of my snakes)

Starbuck · 10-20-13, 10:54 PM

I can't comment on anyone else's experiemce levels (yours included), butni can't imagine ever being in a.place where I could.commitnto a burmese for at least another 10 years, amd that's if I even want one then (I don't particularly want.one.now). I would make sure you have a lenthy conversation with your mom and brother tonmake sure they are ok with potwntially caring for this snake and all of those implications. If you are not prepared to decline a job offer or sacrifice an apartment lease because they won't allow giamts, then I think you should hold off. At that point, you are saddling someone else with the birden of caring for a snake they didn't plan to have, and a burm is NOT the same as a corn or bpor bci. My point is that if you do decide to get a burm, you are making a commitment to that animal for the duration of its life, at your financial expense, freedom to move, etc etc.

Please excuse the terrible typing, my computer is in the shop and I'm on my not so smartphone

ErikBush97 · 10-20-13, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

I can't comment on anyone else's experiemce levels (yours included), butni can't imagine ever being in a.place where I could.commitnto a burmese for at least another 10 years, amd that's if I even want one then (I don't particularly want.one.now). I would make sure you have a lenthy conversation with your mom and brother tonmake sure they are ok with potwntially caring for this snake and all of those implications. If you are not prepared to decline a job offer or sacrifice an apartment lease because they won't allow giamts, then I think you should hold off. At that point, you are saddling someone else with the birden of caring for a snake they didn't plan to have, and a burm is NOT the same as a corn or bpor bci. My point is that if you do decide to get a burm, you are making a commitment to that animal for the duration of its life, at your financial expense, freedom to move, etc etc.

Please excuse the terrible typing, my computer is in the shop and I'm on my not so smartphone

Thanks, again. Like I said.. There's tons that I need to think about and consider before I even think about getting one so it will be quite awhile before my mind is even made.

shaunyboy · 10-21-13, 06:38 AM

if possible you should get another keeper to let you handle larger snakes and see how you feel.....

it's only Carpets i keep and they are a reasonable size,with agressive feeding responses...

it did not stopping me having some fear when my friend gave me his 14ft burm to handle...

it was a large and very powerful snake and to be honest i did not feel comfortable being left on my own with such a powerful snake...

until you actually handle one you don't get a grasp of how much power they possess

my friend was head butted with a closed mouth from his burm in the stomach,it took the wind out him and dropped him to the floor

i'm not trying to scare you,i am merely pointing out these snakes have a lot of power mate

cheers shaun

P.S.Burm hatchlings get big fast

nyx · 10-21-13, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GotsaQuestion

Hi. I'm super into Burmese Pythons, and I was wondering when you know you're ready to keep one?

When you're a legal adult who owns their own home.

marvelfreak · 10-21-13, 07:43 AM

Fine some one with a 12 plus foot Retic, Burmese or Anaconda then try clean it cage with the snake in it or move it to another cage while cleaning. Do this by yourself. Have them there just in case but do it without help. The reason i say do it without help is because if you get one the time will come when no one will be there to help and you'll try doing yourself. And it will end bad or you'll get lucky and it will be ok. Remember if they have a bad day so don't you.

DeesBalls · 10-21-13, 07:45 AM

I've been on this subject alot latley, i mostlly keep ball pythons, so its going to be like night and day for me..... but i have done my research, and thought about it alot, and ive decided to get one... here is why, other than because of how much i like them...

1. i never plan to move out of Ohio
2. i have a wife who is willing to help me when he is bigger, also a daughter i HOPE will share my love for animals, and snakes...
3. my parents can also help me, if my wife is out of town...
4. my family breeds rabbits, so i can get free food
5. Ive done my research, and know what i am up against- you can read all the books you want, but like previously mentioned, until you handle a 15 foot snake or so, you dont know what your dealing with, and i have had the privilege of handling one...

knowledge is power, and experience is key- try and get an opportunity to handle one, so you can see what your going to be dealing with.

hope this helped

exwizard · 10-21-13, 07:57 AM

I agree, being a legal adult is important considering the size they get and yes, owning your own home makes it easier to keep whatever you want without anyone else's restrictions. That said, I rent a room with all my snakes in my room. They are all comfortable and warm including 4 young Burms. I do have enclosure upgrade plans for each of them. All that said, owning your own home is not necessarily a prerequisite to owning Burms. It depends on the individual as well as the circumstances. Yes the OP is young and he has lots of time to think everything through and have a plan of his own. I see him asking serious questions that deserve serious answers as I see them being answered here. He needs to continue asking questions and continue his research and when the time is right, and he has the resources necessary to take care of such powerful animals, he will know.

To the OP. Burms are a challenge to keep and take care of, with the feed bill and enclosure costs to have the potential of being quite expensive. I certainly would not dive into this without those resources and a housing plan for them. Burms can live over 20 years and grow to potentially 16'+ and well over 100 lbs. That's a big responsibility and one that should never be taken lightly.