I am taking a class to become a registered "Big Snake Owner"

That being said I am going at this very slow so feel free to chime in whenever I am currently assembling an 8'x3'x2' enclosure with plexi window and hinged door I have a few questions... should I go with heat tape for the belly? should I get a RHP? can i put flexwatt only on the ceiling acting as a RHP? and can i wrap Flexwatt 360 degrees around the heated end to make belly and my own RHP? those are all the ways i can think of making my future baby happy when he/she grows up... I already bought one and sold it because I wasn't licensed and the future home wasn't even designed in my head yet... it was real childish of me at that point i was just so excited OH AND ONE MORE QUESTION! Should I go with Albino/green burm, green burm, albino burm...ect..

Albino granite!!!! Ok I'm biased lol

http://tapatalk.com/mu/463f17ca-d17d-87a6.jpg

http://tapatalk.com/mu/463f17ca-d196-7ede.jpg

I love the granite burms.

My fav is albino greens :)

I plan on eventually getting one in the distant future when i am out of college and have a life going and things lined up, but if i were you, I would get either a green, or a hypo, or if i could afford to drop the money a hypo green (i love those things but $3500 is the lowest ive seen them :( ) Good luck with the set up and the class! I think a class for the big snakes is a brilliant Idea!

i love granite burms. every time i see them at shows i stare at them for awhile.

What exactly is involved in a "class to become a registered big snake owner"?

Hands on? Is this a 2 year course where you start with a hatchling and raise it? I don't get it...

Chris

i imagine by "registered" you'll be in some some system for if your snake ever escapes they'll know who it belongs to...not saying your caging will be inadequate but i cant think of any other reason why they'd wanna register big snake owners.
the class is a good idea if ya'll are being taught proper handling, feeding & husbandry of those awesomely & intimidatingly large snakes. hopefully the class will wake some people up to the care requirements of those snakes & they'll realize they in over their heads.
NOT saying you are, just saying...in general, ya always hear about the impulse buys & the mistakes & the resulting accidents.
ok ramble over.
good luck with your class & the future enclosure your building. whichever snake you end up with be sure to post lots of pics here to show it off. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Atherosdragon

That being said I am going at this very slow so feel free to chime in whenever I am currently assembling an 8'x3'x2' enclosure with plexi window and hinged door I have a few questions... should I go with heat tape for the belly? should I get a RHP? can i put flexwatt only on the ceiling acting as a RHP? and can i wrap Flexwatt 360 degrees around the heated end to make belly and my own RHP? those are all the ways i can think of making my future baby happy when he/she grows up... I already bought one and sold it because I wasn't licensed and the future home wasn't even designed in my head yet... it was real childish of me at that point i was just so excited OH AND ONE MORE QUESTION! Should I go with Albino/green burm, green burm, albino burm...ect..

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This doesn't pertain to the topic but I live in Urbandale as well. :gj:

well then howdy neighbor...lol Now pertaining to the class it is required that everyone with a snake of any kind over 6 foot take a Herp Care Class is is a continuing education class at Des Moines Area Community College. Then after you have the class you are given a certificate and then you go buy a license like the same one you need for dogs It's going to try and scare people away obviously but I already did the impulse buy and sold it before it became a problem hope that answered any ?? if not let me know

I almost went to take this class but I knew I wouldn't be getting any snakes capable of getting that large any time soon lol just gonna focus on balls for now :P

I'm confused... is it a state law that you take a class on big snake care to own particular species in iowa???

The city of Des Moines and most surrounding areas have a law making it illegal to own a constricting snake over the length of 6 feet. Which brings me to my question. Do I just have to contact Dmacc about this class? Then take my paperwork to the court house and apply for a permit? I don't plan on a burm, but I am interested in a BCI boa. There's a good possibility that a male could get a little past that limit.

I live in Des Moines by the way.

I took the class because they said they wont offer it again because up until the last week the # of people needed for the class was 12 and the # signed up was 9 then my "rat lady" found a few more so we could all have at least one last chance... I got my paper work in the mail from DMACC and when I get a large snake (need my own place in my opinion because large snakes in an apartment doesn't sound smart) the class was to educate us on all types of herps and of course the major day was with the veterinarian from ISU who shared her horror stories and had a slide projector set full of dead or dying or at least VERY sick herps the class was called "Herpetology care 101" but the main reason for the class was the certificate to own snakes over 6 foot in Des Moines area

Never heard of such a thing, how much may I ask is this class?

I think it is great idea to curb impulse buys of giant snakes. More places should look in to it.

The class was $125