Small burm????????

Um in not upset...so i dont think i need to calm down...i get type happy and ramble on....and my cousin just had a baby so burm isnt the best pet for him right now...and where thsi guy is moving it is a no large constrictor area whatsoever unless your a zoo..no permit etc

shelby gave me her opnion which in no way whatsoever was i mad about, all i was trying to say is that this isnt an ignornant impulse grab, and i know how many people are doing that...and listenting to myself i sound like another person all excited about a big pretty burm...i was not yelling at shelby , i value her opinion very much

i wasnt saying that since i live on my own and yada yada that should be prepared to own one...i was simply stating that im not a bratty lil kid who thinks snakes are just pretty so i shoudl get another one.....ive worked very hard and had to overcome alots things i wont ramble on about this becasue it is pointless, obviously you had an easy upbringing and i envy you

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Originally Posted by Lucifers_Mommy

ive worked very hard and had to overcome alots things i wont ramble on about this becasue it is pointless, obviously you had an easy upbringing and i envy you

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lets keep it on track please...

He wasn't going into upbringing, just the fact that the care of a burm isn't something to be taken lightly no matter how responsible one is, its all about experience with large snake husbandry.

I'm glad to see a little constructive criticism, it can keep people from making decisions they may later regret. I think its a great thing that you are thinking about doing for this gentleman, too many burms get "thrown out" when they get too large because so many don't realize how big, powerful, and expensive snakes of their size can be; but as long as you're willing to put in the hard work and funding in to properly caring for such a snake I say go for it but be cautious around even a "tame" snake of that size.

Good luck with your decision.

Jason

I'd look at this a great opportunity if I were you. I agree with everything Shelby has said, this snake may only be 7ft now, but CAN get much, much larger. However, it COULD stay this size for the rest of its life. (Conditional phrase warning!!) If it has been fed properly, and if it has been well maintained, proper temps and all, it may by a runt or natural dwarf. These things CAN happen.


I also fully agree with Jason's main point, as long as you realize the potential for this snakes growth, and the cost and responsibility that will entail, I don't see any reason not to take it.

It is a gorgeous snake, and if it is a happy, healthy full grown adult at only 7ft, then I'm jealous, I'd love to have a dwarf albino!

if i do decide to take on this snake what kind of precations should i take, he will be in the same tank and everything (10 feet by 3 feet i belive) just a differnet house....how long should i give to settle in etc.....and what are signs of a nervous /stressed snake??? what should i do and what shouldnt i?...and thanks for you input guys :)

I'd say a week to settle in. That's pretty standard. Being in the same enclosure will mitigate some stress, but he'll still need some time. Signs of stress? hissing, defensive posturing, striking, not eating. What should you do? #1 Be Patient #2 Don't Panic #3 Be persistent. Snakes respond to routines, so establish feeding, watering, handling routines and don't deviate.

Do you have any idea how often this guy was handled? If the current owner handled him often, he should make the transition fairly easily.

he was handled about 3-4 times a week and he was trianed so that a tap on the head with a snake stick means handling time, and if the cage is open and no tap its feeding time....hes only strick at a person once in the whoel times hes had him(over 3 years)when his friend just reached in and tryed to grab him with no tap.......he hasnt been handled in the last few weeks because theguy is working massive overtiem to get enogh money for the move so he hasnt had the tiem or energy (another reason why he would liek to get rid of teh snake)

Well, he'll probably be a little squirelly since he hasn't been handled as much as he's used to. But stick with the hook training! that's a good thing!

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Originally Posted by Lucifers_Mommy

all i ever hear is bad about burms and frankly im tired of it...more dogs kill people than snakes so yea

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Nothing I said was meant to be 'bad' about burms. (I have one after all) I just want to be sure you realise entirely what burm ownership means. I don't think you are irresponsible at all, I am glad you posted this thread to get advice and opinions.

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Originally Posted by ballpythonandragon

Shelby is just telling you the truth and she knows what she is doing with almost any snake of this size and she has alot of snakes that get as big if not bigger than a Burm.

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Well I wouldn't go that far. :P I have mostly baby giants, and not the biggest of the giants at that. My biggest is only over 7'.. but I do have a lot of experience around burms sized around 7-10'.

Ok enough of that.. If you decide to take the beauty, definitely invest in a good snake hook! Invaluable.. especially since this one is hook trained. Boids are often more aggressive in their cage than out. With my big, not so nice girls, I like to take the hook (be sure it's a heavy duty python hook) and hook their neck and pull their first third out of the cage before I put my hands on them. Once they realise they are coming out, they often settle down.

Of all the giant snakes, burms are the easiest to tame. Don't let the puppy dog nature catch you off guard though, it's easy to do! I was bitten by an 8' burm by committing a stupid feeding error.. the python was super tame.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

.. the python was super tame.

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Just a thought here, not picking on you Shelby.........

Tame is perhaps NOT the best word when describing a snake. I don't think snakes can be tamed in the manner most people think of, ie, with dogs.

Docile, I feel is closer to the truth. Tolerant would probably be the best word. Because really, a "tame" snake is just one that puts up with OUR crap more than others.

Just my opinion, I'll shut up now.

I agree. Poor word choice I suppose.. most people just lump the words together.

That burm had never done anything remotely aggressive before and didn't seem to care what you did with him. Let's leave it at that.