Adult Male Burm Size?

Hey all.

I'm looking to see some pictures from anyone who has adult male burms. I'm not too likely to get one myself as I think they're just too big for me (right now, if not forever), but I'd love to see how big they actually are; particularly males. Almost everywhere I look online, I see pics of small juveniles, adult females, or very large wild caught fenale Florida burms in the news.

I have a hard time translating numerical length to the size, especially since girth varies a lot by species, so I'm hoping pictures help out.

Can anyone share some pics of adult males?
And what size enclosures you prefer for them?

Thanks!
Looking forward to learning some more about these beautiful snakes.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Well - in truth is it all depends on how you feed it (overfed, moderate fed, or slow grow), and which subspecies.

The mainland (Python bivittatus bivittatus) male - is sexual mature at about 7 feet. Now it is possible to feed it so the male reachs that size in 2 to 5 years. And all could be considered to be healthy indviduals. On the other hand - I heard of slow grown male that are 10 years old, and only about 9-10 feet long. But I have also heard of males which are 9-10 feet long and about 3 years old. Ultimately - It is possible for a 20-25 year old male to be anywhere between 11-16 feet - it all really depends on how it is cared for it and feed it.

By comparison - the Dwarf Burmese Python(Python bivittatus progschai) males reach sexual maturity at about 4.5 feet in length. Adult males will tend to average about 5-5.5 feet. And they max out at about 6.5 feet. However the Dwarfs are very rare here in the United States, and those that are found tend to be very temperamental (as they are usually on 1 or 2 generations from wild caught).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Krj2501

Well - in truth is it all depends on how you feed it (overfed, moderate fed, or slow grow), and which subspecies.

The mainland (Python bivittatus bivittatus) male - is sexual mature at about 7 feet. Now it is possible to feed it so the male reachs that size in 2 to 5 years. And all could be considered to be healthy indviduals. On the other hand - I heard of slow grown male that are 10 years old, and only about 9-10 feet long. But I have also heard of males which are 9-10 feet long and about 3 years old. Ultimately - It is possible for a 20-25 year old male to be anywhere between 11-16 feet - it all really depends on how it is cared for it and feed it.

By comparison - the Dwarf Burmese Python(Python bivittatus progschai) males reach sexual maturity at about 4.5 feet in length. Adult males will tend to average about 5-5.5 feet. And they max out at about 6.5 feet. However the Dwarfs are very rare here in the United States, and those that are found tend to be very temperamental (as they are usually on 1 or 2 generations from wild caught).

---

Thanks for the reply! That's kind of what I figured; I know retics are similar in that feeding is a high determining factor in size. I was just hoping someone could show some pictures with what the size of the snake was. I can't really picture what 11 foot vs 16 foot would look like compared to a person... I've not had the pleasure to see any in person except a large female (18-20' & 200+ lbs according to the presentation they gave).

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I had a pair of breeders years ago. When talking size, I think if length with my retic I had, but what comes to mind with those burns was their weight. Very heavy bodied snakes. The male was probably 65 pounds, the female nearly twice that. Outweighed my late wife. Let me say...there is a lot of cleanup for snakes of that size. A lot.

My almost 3 year old male is right at 10' and I think about 60lbs (haven't weighed him recently). I went with a moderate feeding schedule and still haven't switched him to rabbits or over sized meals. I prefer slow and steady growth for my snakes. He usually gets the few rats my BPs didn't want or a guinea pig or 2 depending on their size. Even at roughly 60lbs, that much dead weight feels heavier than you'd think and I really encourage anyone interested in a large snake to handle someone's and feel heavy it can be to get them out of an enclosure and into a box to clean a cat size dump up.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hannahshissyfix

My almost 3 year old male is right at 10' and I think about 60lbs (haven't weighed him recently). I went with a moderate feeding schedule and still haven't switched him to rabbits or over sized meals. I prefer slow and steady growth for my snakes. He usually gets the few rats my BPs didn't want or a guinea pig or 2 depending on their size. Even at roughly 60lbs, that much dead weight feels heavier than you'd think and I really encourage anyone interested in a large snake to handle someone's and feel heavy it can be to get them out of an enclosure and into a box to clean a cat size dump up.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

---

Really, I'm not actually looking to get one. I'm pretty sure they are too big for me as-is.

Just wanted to see if anyone could share pics for scale of an adult male.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal

Really, I'm not actually looking to get one. I'm pretty sure they are too big for me as-is.

Just wanted to see if anyone could share pics for scale of an adult male.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

---

Psh....that's what they all say :rolleyes::D.....(that's what I said too before getting my male albino, 100% granite). He's about six months though right now so I'm sure that's not what you're looking for.

Personally I like Youtube videos better...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asdqc3A4iIo&t=262s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50UpsPQepEs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VheDIHfdgc4

Picture a 10ft long pool noodle that weight 50lbs, and that's on the light side. lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KevinK

Psh....that's what they all say :rolleyes::D.....(that's what I said too before getting my male albino, 100% granite). He's about six months though right now so I'm sure that's not what you're looking for.

Personally I like Youtube videos better...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asdqc3A4iIo&t=262s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50UpsPQepEs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VheDIHfdgc4

Picture a 10ft long pool noodle that weight 50lbs, and that's on the light side. lol

---

Hahaha, thanks for the links! I'll have to check them out when I'm off work. Videos are sometimes tough to get a feel for scale due to odd camera angles, but most of what I had turned up when I looked were females or young snakes, lol.

Right now, I'm working on growing out my coastal carpet and boa, so once they're full grown and I get a feel for the larger non-giant snakes, I might reconsider... but we don't actually have space for 8' or larger cages, so it's probably off the table anyway, ha.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal

Really, I'm not actually looking to get one. I'm pretty sure they are too big for me as-is.

Just wanted to see if anyone could share pics for scale of an adult male.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

---

Here's a quality picture my 7 year old took for human comparison. We're all sick so try not to be distracted by my sexy outfit.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b51e0831d5.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

^ and again, he's less than 3 on a moderate feeding schedule so not full grown. He did slow down significantly the last few months but remember they technically keep growing their whole lives.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hannahshissyfix

Here's a quality picture my 7 year old took for human comparison. We're all sick so try not to be distracted by my sexy outfit.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b51e0831d5.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

---

Wow, very nice!
He certainly is bulky!


Hope you get to feeling better soon!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Just barely 10'. He has about a foot of tail wrapped behind my leg. I feel this is a good representation of his size but like you mentioned of videos, the can look different depending on the angles. Like this was just at Christmas and he looks much smaller in these imo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal

Wow, very nice! And how long is he?
He certainly is bulky!


Hope you get to feeling better soon!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

---

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fa72ec0b26.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hannahshissyfix

Just barely 10'. He has about a foot of tail wrapped behind my leg. I feel this is a good representation of his size but like you mentioned of videos, the can look different depending on the angles. Like this was just at Christmas and he looks much smaller in these imo.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fa72ec0b26.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

---

What has been his feeding schedule since you’ve had him?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KevinK

What has been his feeding schedule since you’ve had him?

---

I don't keep a to the day schedule but it's been about every 7-10 days depending how big a meal. He always skips when he's getting ready to shed like he currently is. I haven't updated in forever but I had a post here sharing his growth when I got him as a hatchling. I think the post is just "new leucistic baby".

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

A buddy of mine used to have a large breeder male Burmese. At around 15 years old the snake weighed 250 pounds and was around 8 inches in diameter at midbody. Length was uncertain; my buddy said 20 feet, but I thought it was closer to 18. I must look around and see if I have any pictures.

If he had a 20ft, 250lb male he should submit it to the record books because thats an absolute HOG, the largest male Ive heard of was 15ft, 160lbs.Not saying it's impossible though, anything can happen with enough food.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by paulh

A buddy of mine used to have a large breeder male Burmese. At around 15 years old the snake weighed 250 pounds and was around 8 inches in diameter at midbody. Length was uncertain; my buddy said 20 feet, but I thought it was closer to 18. I must look around and see if I have any pictures.

---

Must have been a Female and he never had it properly Sexed because that would be a Guinness world record for a male.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice but too big for me

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

Still if a 10' male burm is too big - you may want to try something like a male half (50%) dwarf Burm. Yes they are much harder to find - but usually their temperament is more similar to a mainland burm. And they will usually grow to about 6-7.5 feet long.

Or you might want to look into the 50% super dwarf retics. Note - that retics are much more slimmer/and lighter than burms in their build, at the same length.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KevinK

If he had a 20ft, 250lb male he should submit it to the record books because thats an absolute HOG, the largest male Ive heard of was 15ft, 160lbs.Not saying it's impossible though, anything can happen with enough food.

---

I won't guarantee the length, but the snake was a breeder male, so the sex is right. Weight is hearsay, but my buddy said the snake was put on scales and weighed 250 pounds. I believe it, because my buddy had me and 3 other guys help move that snake a few times. He was as tame a Burmese as you could ask for, but it was all we could do to handle him.

Snake died over 15 years ago, so there is no way to submit it to the record books now, as far as I know.

Still looking through my photo files for a picture.

No idea how you guys can keep these gimormous snakes?

It's all on how you feed them. My 18 month old male is a healthy 7 ft 13 pounds, and I picked up an 11 year old female yesterday sitting at around 16ft and a little over 120lb. I know someone local who does shows with an 18' Male. I'd guess him to be around 130lb.

I think you boys need to find yourselves a different probe kit or a reliable tape measure lol. I just don't see males pushing those sizes, 18ft is a female in my book. They bottom out at some point and just put on girth. No way past 15 with hemipenes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MR Snakes

No idea how you guys can keep these gimormous snakes?

---

Giant testicles help.....

I'm glad that you identify a snake's sex by size. An 18ft male producing clutches with females is in fact a MALE.

Seems like a lot of size issues going on here. Do you all drive Corvettes?

Burms are sexually dimorphic (heavily actually), so size can certainly be used as a initial factor for determining sex in adults before probing. An 18' male would be the largest on record that Im aware of, and Im not sure how you'd determine the actual length without anesthesia as measuring sheds (if youre lucky to get a full one from a large constrictor) is not even close to being accurate ....they stretch. What Im trying to say is that a Burm in that size range is a female if it is in fact 18 ft or 20 ft. Im not doubting the fact you have a large male.....Im just doubting that they're 20ft, 250lbs and 18ft. Don't take it as an attack, just giving my $0.02. Cheers.

[emoji848]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KevinK

Giant testicles help.....

---

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hannahshissyfix

[emoji848]

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

---

In most cases that is... :D lol

Quote:

---

No way past 15 with hemipenes.

---

15 feet is the upper end of average for a male mainland Burm - NOT the absolute maximum size. Please do more research - and do not just trust one source for your information.

Still a 18 foot male Burm - is basically like a 7+ foot man - in that both are considered exceptionally large individuals for their species. But still very much possible.

It is often reported that as a species Burmese pythons don't exceed 19 to 20 feet in length. Those are based on the known "confirmed" reports of the largest known specimens kept in captivity (usually Zoos). However there are some "unconfirmed" reports of Burms which are about 23+ feet in length, and weighing more than 400 lbs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Krj2501

15 feet is the upper end of average for a male mainland Burm - NOT the absolute maximum size. Please do more research - and do not just trust one source for your information.

Still a 18 foot male Burm - is basically like a 7+ foot man - in that both are considered exceptionally large individuals for their species. But still very much possible.

It is often reported that as a species Burmese pythons don't exceed 19 to 20 feet in length. Those are based on the known "confirmed" reports of the largest known specimens kept in captivity (usually Zoos). However there are some "unconfirmed" reports of Burms which are about 23+ feet in length, and weighing more than 400 lbs.

---

An 18ft male burm is not like a 7ft man, it's like a 9ft cornsnake. Still, Ill wait for pictures as I don't know of one that exists and in my opinion it doesn't (it's like you said; an unconfirmed report). Just calling it like it is. Ive been doing this for a while my friend, I don't have one source. Been working with a well known breeder that handles 500+ retics and burms as of late changing cages for him in exchange for tattoos and he seems to agree when I brought this up last night as well.

I am just over a year into my first burm, a male green albino. At 18 months old he is just over 7 feet and rather svelt. He's got some size to him, but certainly hasn't matured into that big thick burm body yet. I don't know his weight but def in the neighborhood of 10 to 15lb. And i must say, this is my first big snake (BP's as a kid, boas more recently) and at his current size i really just want him to be even bigger :D . Although I'm glad i got a male b/c i see the pics of the giant females and it looks more like moving furniture than handling a pet. But to put things into perspective, thats a 7 foot snake in the pictures, you can see with some effort i've got him in one hand. He started a bit small b/c the breeder had him on mice and it took me 8 weeks of frustration to switch him to rats, since then he was on one rat a week, he progressed from weanlings to sm to med to lg from February to October, then once on xl i stretched out to 10 days.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...03&oe=5CCCE670

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...fd&oe=5CB72D85

Quote:

---

An 18ft male burm is not like a 7ft man, it's like a 9ft cornsnake. Still, Ill wait for pictures as I don't know of one that exists and in my opinion it doesn't (it's like you said; an unconfirmed report). Just calling it like it is. Ive been doing this for a while my friend, I don't have one source. Been working with a well known breeder that handles 500+ retics and burms as of late changing cages for him in exchange for tattoos and he seems to agree when I brought this up last night as well.

---

In all fairness to my previous comment. I was basing my comments - on my childhood/teen memories of the first Burmese python(George) I ever saw in person. George was a wild caught (caught in Vietnam in 1963), by a US Army Green Beret officer, and bought back to Fort Bragg, NC. The officer give George to the Museum of Nature Sciences in Raleigh, NC. Which is where I saw him multiple times, in my childhood and teenage years. I remembered George being stated at ~ 18 feet, by the museum. However at the time of his death in April of 1989, George was officially revealed to be just over 16 feet long, and to be a female.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/lo...136929293.html

And I hadn't re-read some of the older posts in this thread. So that is my fault.

Still my basic point was - that although In Your Personal Experiences, you have never encountered a male burm over 15 feet, doesn't mean that they can't get bigger than that. For example - let say you saw a 15 foot long male that was 15 years old. It would be very possible for that burm to get to be 16-17 feet long - if it lived to be 25-30 years old.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Krj2501

Still my basic point was - that although In Your Personal Experiences, you have never encountered a male burm over 15 feet, doesn't mean that they can't get bigger than that. For example - let say you saw a 15 foot long male that was 15 years old. It would be very possible for that burm to get to be 16-17 feet long - if it lived to be 25-30 years old.

---

That's what I am saying however. Males seem to reach a certain length and then completely stop gaining any more length from that point on. They will continue to gain girth their entire lives. This is why I stated that I've never heard of a male growing past the 15 foot range, I simply do not think it is possible. The original post stated that there was a 20 foot male at 250lbs. It's POSSIBLE but rare for a female at that size, but it's a tall tale for a male. It just doesn't happen, period. At least in the types of mainland Burms that are in the pet trade. The thing to remember is that people love to embellish the length and size of large constrictors for attention/shock value. Very common occurrence. It's why a lot of people also will get to the point where they're feeding pigs/goats to otherwise healthy Burms in order to push size.....in the end an exceptionally large snake gets attention.

Put it this way, there are a lot of people claiming they've held a 40ft Anaconda after holding a boa constrictor at the pet store. There are a lot of keepers claiming that they once had a 300lb Retic/Burm at 25 feet long in their collection....but when the animal final dies. The true length and weight are ALWAYS overstated, OR (like in your case) an exceptionally large animal turns out to be a female. Keep in mind that a 250lb male would not have been bred very much, if ever (as that's an overweight male) - they lose a substantial amount of body fat during the breeding process.

I will agree that often times eyeball estimations in the lengths of snakes can be off by as much 25-33%. Which can be quite huge in large burm/retic/& anacondas. And in some cases may still be happening.

If we consider Baby the Burmese Python, and Colossus the Reticulated Python as being the largest scientifically recorded specimens. That still doesn't mean that there couldn't be captive specimens which are even larger. But it does mean that specimens which are larger would be exceptionally rare (possible 1 in 1,000). But such specimens would need to be very well feed(large meals, on a very regular basis), well beyond what is normal for the species in their natural habitat.

Baby was estimated to be about 25-27 feet long, while alive. At her death - she was officially measured at 18 feet 10 inches (5.74 meters) and said to have weighed 403 lbs (182.8 kg).

Colossus was estimated to be about 27-30 feet long in that last decade of her life. But after her death, her skeleton was measured at 20 feet 10 inches(6.35 meters) in length. With her fresh hide, measured at 23 feet 11 inches(7.29 meters). And she weighed about 320 lbs (145.1 kg).