First (and only) burm

Well I've finally taken the plunge. I've always known that if I want to really grow my fledgling side business doing reptile presentations for various groups, that someday I'd need a burm. So far our biggest snake is Carlos, who is a 7' BCI male.

My friend in Florida needs to rehome his burm, as he can no longer afford the permit fee. Shesmu is just what I'd want if I were to rescue a burm-- very nice, mild temperament, feeds well, and has been handled a lot since Robbie bought him. He is quite tame and doesn't seem unduly aggressive. He is about 5' long at this point.

So I agreed to take him. We're picking him up when we head down to Daytona. I am, I believe, as prepared as I can be for owning a burm. He will be housed in a locking cage that I will be ordering from Animal Plastics.

Do you all think sliding glass doors are the way to go? AP also does the swing out plexiglass doors. Not sure if those would hold up to a burm, though.

If anyone has any hints, tips or suggestions for someone who is experienced in snake keeping but just beginning to embark on burm keeping, please share. Like I said, I am as prepared as I can be. I think. ;)

Here's a few photos... first is our BCI at a local summer camp last Friday. That's me in the pic. Second is the BCI with a couple of camp kids. Last is a not too recent pic of Shesmu. We are going to change his name to Malakai.

http://www.masondixonreptiles.com/si...38-317x411.jpg

http://www.masondixonreptiles.com/si...22-359x365.jpg

http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/90173/4...Ks2OrvOgkc.jpg

Feel free to hit me up with questions anytime....I have several burms and large boas. :)

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Originally Posted by MissDixie

Feel free to hit me up with questions anytime....I have several burms and large boas. :)

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Thanks Angie!

Mostly I just need to make sure that he stays nice. I know that snakes have personalities (Lord knows the Hog Island we sold last year HATED all humans) and he seems to be great so far. He is according to Robbie about two years old. I am assuming if I keep up regular, gentle handling, he will probably continue to be a pretty nice boy.

How much are permit fees in Florida????

Not a clue, but my friend is also a full time student in the latter parts of a pre-vet degree. As I recall when I was a full time student, there were semesters where I had so much school work, I could barely work and would practically have to dig under the car seats for change to eat.

So even if it's reasonable, I can see how a student might have a tough time.

he sure is purdy:gj:

Thanks everyone. I am cautiously excited. I've thought about a burm for a long time, but the timing never felt right. I just couldn't let this boy go to some random person, though! I've loved him ever since Robbie bought him.

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

Thanks Angie!

Mostly I just need to make sure that he stays nice. I know that snakes have personalities (Lord knows the Hog Island we sold last year HATED all humans) and he seems to be great so far. He is according to Robbie about two years old. I am assuming if I keep up regular, gentle handling, he will probably continue to be a pretty nice boy.

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With mine, I've found that hook training is a must, they all tend to be vocal when they're in their enclosures so it helps them distinguish between feeding time and non-feeding time activities (cleaning, going outside to soak up the sun, etc...). Keep their appetites satisfied and give them baths (they love the water) and with regular handling you will build up a mutual trust/respect.

Wow, what do you bathe them in?! Can't imagine a tub big enough for a full grown burm. Maybe a really big horse trough!

We plan on hook training him. I think I am going to need a more substantial hook, though. Ours works fine for our boas, but I don't know that it would stand up to a burm.

Are the "tongs" useful at all, or just mainly for hots?

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

Wow, what do you bathe them in?! Can't imagine a tub big enough for a full grown burm. Maybe a really big horse trough!

We plan on hook training him. I think I am going to need a more substantial hook, though. Ours works fine for our boas, but I don't know that it would stand up to a burm.

Are the "tongs" useful at all, or just mainly for hots?

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tongs as in feeding tongs? if so then yeah its kinda helpfull. Forceps or a good set of locking chanel locks work good too. You dont want a large burm aiming a little high and taking your hand instead of the rat.

my friend bathes his giant in his bathtub or his pool. a big burm will usually fit in a bathtub even if you dont think it might. His 17 ft retics goes in his bath and his 16 ft burm goes in his pool lol

congrats on the soon to be addition, i love my burms

The one important piece of information that I saw...HOOK TRAINING IS A MUST!!! in my humble opinion...

We've never had to use tongs, but we built an enclosure that has an opening on each end, I get his attention at one end and the meal goes into the other end of the cage :). As for baths, I have a huge garden tub, that's probably the only thing other than a swimming pool that he'd fit in.

When you say hook training, what specifically do you mean?

We use a hook when we pull Carlos the boa out. We rub it along his head and back a bit and then use it to lift his head before reaching for him.

Is that the same thing as "hook training?" If so, Robbie has been doing that with this male burm since he was a hatchling.

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

When you say hook training, what specifically do you mean?

We use a hook when we pull Carlos the boa out. We rub it along his head and back a bit and then use it to lift his head before reaching for him.

Is that the same thing as "hook training?" If so, Robbie has been doing that with this male burm since he was a hatchling.

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sounds like hook training to me :gj:

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Originally Posted by JLuck13

sounds like hook training to me :gj:

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Excellent! We are already very used to that, then! I didn't know there was a technical term for it. :)