i think im going to get a burm

dreamache · 07-23-03, 04:23 PM

so as some of you know already i am a newbie. i was at a local pet shop today and was looking around for snakes. they only had 3 there. a pretty big ball python, but i've read those are very picky eaters... a corn snake which was very tiny, and a burmese python for $300.

the lady said the burmese python eats pretty well, and is pretty active, but it gets to 20 feet. the process however obviously takes years.

from what the lady told me, it seems as though caring for the burmese wouldn't be hard (as in requiring a ton of moderating skills), but being able to accomidate it might be harder as it will grow to be very large.

but i think i'm up for it, i'm a patient guy, and the snake would be in my room with me (im a programmer/designer so im in here a lot), so i wouldn't be neglectful..

what do you guys think? thanks.

CDN-Cresties · 07-23-03, 04:43 PM

dreamache,
I dont own a burm but i have read some threads and here is what im conerned about.

1) Is this your first snake? Is so, why a burm? Why not a more suitable snake for a start.

2)Burms grow 200% in their first year

3)Pet Shop clerks arent always knowledgble, nor pet shops are not always clean (parasites)

4)Burms eat like monsters, which means they defecade like monsters. Buyng food can cost you a lot of $$$

5)You may wish to do more research into it.

Chances are that you are a patient guy but im not sure if you fully understand the work involved. Im sure more people on the forum will help you out here, this is just what i can gather from previous threads such as this.
Good Luck!

-Steve-

Matt_K · 07-23-03, 04:49 PM

don't buy it from the petstore either. Chances are you're not hearing the full story on the snake in question. Anything to make a sale right?? Look around the classifieds, there are a few people selling young burms right now. This snake will not take long to reach 6-9+ feet, as Crestie has stated. Will you have someone around when you need to take your burm out for whatever reason??? A snake of this size will require more then one person for handling and cage cleaning. Do your research, and when you think you know everything you can possibly know, read some more!! Good Luck with whatever decision you make!

Bryce Masuk · 07-23-03, 04:50 PM

300 is insane for a burm you can get one for 50 bucks or so it will probley end up being 8 ft in the first year do not get a burm get a corn/king and leave it at that

Tim and Julie B · 07-23-03, 04:50 PM

Burms are NOT beginner snakes. Second, buy from a breeder not a pet store. Third, start with a corn snake, ball python or kingsnakes. Balls can be hard to feed, but as adults they have no potential to hurt you. Burms grow fast, big and without the proper experience you'll just end up giving it away down the road. Just something to think about.
Julie

Colonel SB · 07-23-03, 05:02 PM

I am in agreeance with everyone else here burms get huge fast! Plus thier care isn't as easy as most ppl think...Plus are you willing to feed goats to it when it gets bigger?

lilyskip · 07-23-03, 05:07 PM

If you thought the ball python was pretty big, wait til you see a 1-year old burm! Don't get a snake just cuz it was 33% of the snake population at a store. Check out breeders of other kinds of snakes, and like Bryce said, $300 sounds astronomical, unless it's a special morph and you plan on breeding, which I doubt.

V.hb · 07-23-03, 05:14 PM

Our burmese went from a hatchling to 6 feet in a year.. they grow quite rapidly... this was a male as well, the female is 6+.

Yve · 07-23-03, 05:42 PM

yep....grow fast......real fast.....real real fast

......i have a 10 month old burm and she's 7 ft long.

fanmaninacan · 07-23-03, 05:52 PM

YA man LISTEN

The do grow fast in less then 2 yers ull have a 10 feet bur,..
N 300 is crazy.....U can find 1 for 50$ man!

Get a CB ball man......Those r great starter snakes!....Corns/milks/rats/kings are good to but im not into em..

If its ur first DUN get a burm!!!
T.P

matrix1829 · 07-23-03, 06:16 PM

were do you live, that they would sell a burm for 300$. there nuts man.cb burms do not get to be big enough to eat goats, that is if you don't power feed your snake. my buddy has an adult female burm and she is 17 feet and 160lbs and she still eat huge rabbits and he will never need more than that.
think about it and get more info. pat

tHeGiNo · 07-23-03, 06:37 PM

Actually I am should that burm could take a larger prey item.

Lisa · 07-23-03, 07:23 PM

An adult burm is a 2 person snake. heck at 2 years it's a 2 person snake, and you will need to dedicate a fair amount of space to it (like a cage 6X3X2). Then there's the cost to feed issue. katey and I got our burm we did alot of soul searching as to whether we were up to the commitment before getting our burms, and when we bought them we got them from people that didn't want them any more.

burmer · 07-23-03, 07:50 PM

First off $300 is crazy for a burm. Second don't do it, atleast not for your first snake. Start off with something that doesn't attain such huge size so fast. My first snake was a corn and the first python I owned was a ball. But if you do decide to purchase a burm don't get it at the pet store. And lastly again if you decide to get one just do lots of research before hand.

RaVeNo888o · 07-23-03, 08:09 PM

i agree with the others.. a burm should be like a 'goal' snake for serious herpers to get down the road as a triumph of their knowledge ect...

i also agree not to buy it at the pet store..prices are way to much...I paid $150 for an 8 month old cali king, which you could get for $50-80 from a good breeder who sells alot. As mentioned, there are a few up for sale in the classifieds and the people selling will be extremely helpful with the whole process. If you find a breeder close enough to you they would probably be willing to let you come see the snakes and make a dicision