Albino Burmese Python? Pros and Cons? Need Help from Experts

Hello fellow snake hobbyists! My friend wants to give me an albino burmese python hatchling for:snake: my birthday. Is it a good pet for me? Are there pros and cons?

I am a junior highschool student from the Philippines. I started buying exotic pets just last year and I did'nt regret wasting a lot of money. I started with the insect world with tarantulas, scorpions and centipedes but then it went to turtles then to birds until I discovered the hobby of snakes. I purchased a normal ball python just to test it first. It was going good until it passed away. But that does'nt stop me at all.

I really appretiate you for taking your time for answering my questions!

- Gerry

The cons are is that it will get huge and eventually eat large rabbits LOL. The pros are it's probably one of the best large snakes as far as temperament and moving pretty slow, unlike a reticulated python which tends to run a bit more. You'll eventually need a very large secure enclosure, a regular supply of large prey items, and typically one or two helpers to help you handle and move the snake when it gets bigger. You can't really handle a snake like that alone once it gets big.

Like how big do they actually grow and how heavy do they weigh in a full grown size. Do you have any idea in how big do their enclosure be? Can an alburm possibly eat a small dog?

I don't have one, but a pet shop I go to has an albino Burmese on display. The enclosure is at least 8 feet long. I forget how long the snake is ( I want to say 14 ft), but they told me it weighs 130 lbs and eats 11 lb rabbits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a granite burm. I've had her for a year (she was about idk a year or two when we got her from a pet shop) and she was three feet long when we got her. Now she's nearly 7 foot long. They grow quick! She had her first rabbit on new year's.
We are now in the process of buying an 8ft vivarium, as she is growing out of her 4ft, which is going to cost about £300.
Male burns are often a lot smaller than females, I've recently seen one on Facebook that is about 16ft long

Even though my burm is only 7ft long, she has already tried to strike out at the dog when I was holding her. If she were bigger I wouldn't be surprised if she could eat one. I mean, there are videos on YouTube of burmeses eating crocs and stuff

As you have only had one snake, and have little experience I would say no to getting one. Only because they are big and powerful animals and setting them up and feeding can be a expensive.

But I can't make this decision for you, do research and you decide if it's a good snake for you

I think the ball python is the perfect size for me to keep. Haha taking care of a snake that could grow that big could make me lose money or something's life (like my dog) but I am willing to take risk. I just need research and money. xD btw Thank you so much for your answer.

I would also agree, a burm is not a good beginners snake. You have to know what you are getting into. They get big which means they need big caging and big food. I wouldn't keep a burm in anything short of an 8x4 cage and you will need a helper when it comes to handling. You shouldn't handle a 10'+ snake alone as accidents can and have happened.

To Junior013 - you mentioned your first bp died. What happened to the snake??

I agree with the others - that large of snake would be a bit much for a newbie. The caging expense and food bill alone would be enough to deter me. Plus, as mentioned, one person can not safely handle that large of snake by themselves. Doesn't sound like a good plan to me. Stick with the smaller snakes.

Keep in mind - if you get it and determine down the road that it isn't working out - you have the responsibility of finding a proper home for that snake which may prove to be very difficult. Always think of the animals best interest over your own "wants".

Forgot to add, if you are looking for something that gets good size but is still manageable, I say either a boa or a super dwarf retic. Have to say I was kind of hesitant about getting a retic but Caesar is awesome. Only other snakes that is as laid back as him are my big BCI Rosey and Luna my dumerils.

If you want to go bigger than for you I'd get a Brazilian rainbow boa.

Well, it is bad to reject a gift from a good friend thought. But I will just try to think about it. It is not normal that everyday, someone is going to give you an albino burmese python, right? Highly appreciate your replies. I

To L.West, I am still not sure what could be the possible cause for his death. He puked his meal which was a mice perfect for his body. I followed everything by the book including the temps and the humidity. Basically everything! But I still can't figure out the cause of his death. Thank you for your reply. :)

Have they already got you the snake, or are they only thinking of getting to one?
If it is the latter, you can just tell them you can't have one because you are somewhat inexperienced snake keeper and it would be better for you to get one in the future when you are more ready for it.


Keep us posted with what you decide to do

Well is your bud giving you an albino burm hatchling? If so, I almost say take the plunge and go for it. Just be full aware of what you are getting into and how much it is going to cost. I mean my list of kids costs me about $100 a month for food plus substrate, cleaners and disinfectants. Not to mention vet bills. Caesar eats anywhere from 2-3 chicks, quails or rats a week alone and he's only 4'. That burm at 11' is going to eat adult rabbits, gpigs and I wouldn't be surprised if it also ate little goats and pigs. But I mean an albino burm would be awesome and if I had a buddy offering me one from his own clutch, I would be on that faster than a fat kid on a twinkie.

And also remember, never let a large constrictor wrap itself around your neck/shoulders. You always want them over top of 1 shoulder and down under the other shoulder. Even a puppy dog tame snake can get spooked and tense up and then as your choking to death and people are trying to pull the snake off, it is going to be tightening because it is now scared even more and doesn't realize its killing its owner.

:snake:May I see a picture of your burmese pythons? Just for the sake of some beginners here to let them know how big they get and what they are dealing with if they are planning on purchasing one. Thanks! :)

Since you're in high school, I assume you live with your parents. What are their thoughts on you getting a Burmese?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

She was about to give me an alburm hatchling but I'm not sure if it was a joke or not. She said she has a lot of hatchlings there at her home so it would'nt if you give one away. I'll just not expect anything. For me, I would take the risk and get the snake since its a blessing given to you from a friend. With my parents, they are just scared about the security because they do get big and they are thinking about the dangers of it. I'll update you guys as soon as possible. Thanks for the replies! :)

Im a recovering drug addict, i got my first snake just over a year ago. A few months ago i had 47 total. Due to the 600$ + food bill per month i have down sized. Currently my burm is my second favorite snake. He is at 8 ft right now, puppy dog tame but i made a mistake once and let my cat into the same room as him. If i wsnt paying attention it could have been bad as he went for the kitty. They didnt touch fyi. I now ensure to securely lock the room i let him roam around in to avoid any trouble.

Being your in high school i would suggest not to get the berm. It takes alot of time and dedication to take care of these amazing animals. And although i said he was puppy dog tame that doesnt mean he is always in a good mood. If i didnt have the experience with smaller snaoes and reading them im sure i would have been bit by my burm by now.

Dont think of it as oooh cool a big snake all my classmates will be impressed. You could easily have a bad situation on your hands if you got careless or werent paying attention.

I would say go for it if your parents know 100% what they are getting into aswell as you, but then i also want to say pass on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Junior013

For me, I would take the risk and get the snake since its a blessing given to you from a friend.

---

please realize this is a living being with very special needs not suited for an average herper, especially a newbie. your friend will not be upset at you taking a pass on their "blessing." i'm making assumptions, but understand you do not have your own space, and most likely you don't have your own stable income suited for an animal that will eventually eat very large prey; this decision will not just affect you alone. remember you (hopefully) will not live with your parents forever, and transportation of the snake alone is probably a big ordeal, aside from its equipment, housing, etc. i would wait quite a few years when you have more experience and stability.

You seem to be stuck on that by not accepting it you'll insult your friend. Perhaps this is a Filipino culture thing? In the US, if someone offers you a Burmese Python, a response like, "sorry, dude, my parents won't let me have a snake that big" or "dude are you insane, I've only owned a ball python. I'm not ready for a snake that big" would suffice and no one would be insulted. It seems like your mind set is, I'll try it and if it doesn't work out I can just get rid of it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I understand that there seems to be a culture clash here, but I really think it's a poor idea to take on a responsibility as big as this just because it's being offered as a gift and would therefore be rude or bad luck to refuse. (And honestly, from where I'm sitting it's just as rude to offer a 'gift' that requires massive responsibility on the part of the recipient without being willing to gracefully accept "no thank you" as an answer.)

You are a student living in your parents' home, and it sounds like your parents are not enthusiastically on board. Do you have your own income, that you'll be able to support this animal in the coming years as it starts needing large prey items to eat? What will you do if your parents refuse to help you pay for the burm's food? Can you afford to buy or build and 8-foot-long cage to house it when it grows up in a few years? Are your parents or family members willing to help you handle the snake when it reaches full size? Will you be able to rehome the snake if you aren't able to care for it, or if your parents demand you turn it out?

You know your situation better than a stranger on the internet, of course. If you have rock-solid answers to all of these questions and feel confident that you can support the animal no matter what, then by all means accept the gift. But if you can't answer these questions with confidence, please resist the cultural pressure to accept the gift just because it's a gift, and don't take the snake.

So what became of this? Don't let people scare you off of it. If you really want it, do your research on it and know what you are getting into. It isn't going to grow to 11ft overnight so you will have a few years. And from what I have heard, burms usually are pretty mellow. I would advise getting a male though as males tend to stay smaller and thinner. And if it is your only snake, an after school job can easily pay for the food bill of just 1 burm and can save up for a cage. I mean if your friend is giving this too you and she breeds them, then she should have first knowledge about caging etc so you would be a good resource for you too. Think of it this way, once you have raised a 11ft snake, anything smaller is going to be childs play more or less haha. And honestly, it isn't really the length that gets intimidating, its the girth. Anyways, let us know what happens.

Assuming you are in the lowlands (as opposed to Baguio, Sagada, etc) and do not house it in an air-con room your temperatures & humidity levels are ideal. Heating will cost you nothing, as opposed to nearly anywhere else Burms are kept in captivity.

As I recall, Burms (and Retics too) are relatively inexpensive in Philippines, as compared to Ball Pythons. I remember seeing a Ball Python Normal in Manila for PHP10,000 (>$200 USD) a few years back, though I expect that price has since decreased. The humidity in the lowlands most of the year is actually too high for Ball Pythons but ideal for Burms. Remember, Burms are natives of Southeast Asia, which Philippines is in fact a part of.

Re your dog: basta the cage is constructed in such a way that your dog cannot enter then you're good, and one can be constructed relatively inexpensively. See this enclosure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqFBhVj2u64

Re cost of feeding: small live livestock such as chickens, small pigs, baby goats, etc. are super cheap at palengke (sorry I don't think there's an English word for palengke) and available just about 24/7.

To the people who offered alternative snake species: Philippines is not North America, selection is much more limited.

If/when it grows large enough (get a female) you can actually charge people to come see it. I know this 1st hand cause my friends and me have paid. You can actually charge people to bring you free livestock to feed it cause they want to see it eat. Not only will you make pesos on it but its food would be free. There's even a danger that it will be fed to death. I think that was the unfortunate case with the snake in the video link I provided above. And that's how Lolong died. I'm sure you know that story di ba?

If/when you decide you no longer want it there are at least 20 theme parks that would gladly take a tame albino. Just be sure you spend time with it as a hatchling so that it grows up tame.

Ingat :)

Salamat! ( Thanks! ) Taga-Pinas kadin ba? ( Are you also from the Philippines? ) Happy Keeping to you!

No matter what people say that could actually stop me from getting an alburm. I would still get one and it is still a hatchling. Who knows? Maybe I could learn more lessons with an alburm. Maybe when the alburm grows, my knowledge and my passion to snakes would actually grow. And besides, why would I regret a FREE alburm and size would'nt actually matter. It will still take time to grow big and I am sure that I have the idea on how to take care of it. Btw thank you again for your replies. :)

If you want to show off your bp pictures, look for the thread: Show Off your Pythons Here! The whole WORLD wants to see them!

And if you want to help me pick another ball python with my chosen morphs, please feel free to put your insights here : Need Help in Choosing these Common yet Beautiful Morphs!

I will be posting threads every week so you can check it out and feel free to drop anything if you want . Happy Keeping! :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Junior013

I think the ball python is the perfect size for me to keep. Haha taking care of a snake that could grow that big could make me lose money or something's life (like my dog) but I am willing to take risk. I just need research and money. xD btw Thank you so much for your answer.

---

The Ball Python is the perfect introduction to keeping pythons. They are small in size, 4-6' and very docile. You'll be very happy with your BP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Go big or go home!!! Once you have mastered anacondas, retics and burms, everything else is like owning a cockroach!! Then you can move on to owning King Cobras. Then once you master those, you can move on to the ultimate challenge which no man has mastered yet.....figuring out women!!! :bow: J/k btw for the most part, get what you like and feel comfortable with.

Sounds like you have a lot of animals and your fairly young. Think about your future and the future of your animals: go to college, move , get a job, girlfriend, ect. IF you want to do this go for it, but price out everything and have it setup before you get your snake. Watch a lot of youtube videos about burms.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Go big or go home!!! Once you have mastered anacondas, retics and burms, everything else is like owning a cockroach!! Then you can move on to owning King Cobras. Then once you master those, you can move on to the ultimate challenge which no man has mastered yet.....figuring out women!!! :bow: J/k btw for the most part, get what you like and feel comfortable with.

---

lol I just read this out loud to my girlfriend and she said "YOU ARE NOT GETTING A COBRA".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cletus

lol I just read this out loud to my girlfriend and she said "YOU ARE NOT GETTING A COBRA".

---

LOL out of all that junk I rambled about, the cobra part got her :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

LOL out of all that junk I rambled about, the cobra part got her :D

---

Yeah I always make little comments about wanting a cobra so it's a thing with her. lol She was deathly afraid of snakes until she met me. She is a trooper. She is used to the ball pythons now and I'll be getting another boa soon. The cobra thing is just ball busting but she actually likes snakes now. I just had to ease her into it. lol This morning she said "so I guess I'm going to have to learn to feed them".. She's a keeper!!!!