Burm or BC

Hi all,
I`ve had my bp for 2years now and thinking adding a burm or rtb in my collection.
Which would you guys recommend, thanks.

They're both good snakes. What are you using for criteria?

Definitely a boa.. NOT a burm. Way too much snake for someone with two years experience with a small boid IMO.

A colombian BCI will reach 7-9' in length normally. A good step up from a BP. Females are not unknown to reach 10' in length and well over 30lbs.

A burm on the other hand can reach 20' and 200lbs. Even a male will be 10-15' and over 100lbs. They have very strong feeding responses as well. Not a snake to take lightly. After you have kept a BCI for awhile, then you can carefully consider a burm.. again this is my opinion.

[QUOTE=Shelby]Definitely a boa.. NOT a burm. Way too much snake for someone with two years experience with a small boid IMO.

I wouldn't judge a persons experience on just the amount of years he or she has had a snake. I don't know, maybe you happen to know this individual, but I hear allot of people saying things like that, but you never know. This person may have a large amount of experience handleing or working with large snakes.
Sorry I just read this, and I'm not trying to attack you in any way but sometimes we never know. Maybe someone does have enough experience and maybe able to handle such a snake.
Anyhow Either choice just make sure you are fully prepared and check your local government on the laws regarding either animals.
Let us know what you choose.
I personally have a thing for burms over boas, but that is just my personal choice.
If you do not have too much experience with larger snakes, then I tend to agree with Shelby, start out with the boa and work your way up.
Rusty

Yeah I did assume they did not have any experience with larger boids since they didn't mention it. I would never recommend a person go out and buy a burm if all their snake experience is with ball pythons.. I just don't think it's a good idea. Maybe it'd be ok.. but burms are just so much more responsibility than a BP.

Hey Doc, Take a look at this thread, http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...0&page=1&pp=10

someone asked the exact same question a couple months ago, some interesting suggestions were given.

Thanks for all the replies.
I missed that thread but that pic was in the local newspapers here as well.

My bp Vale is the first and only snake i have so far, so experience wise, yes there`s a hell of a long way to go for me.
I`m just so fascinated with giant boids. I think i`ve read everything there is to read about them and i`m fully aware of their feeding/caging requirements and i know they`ll grow to 15'+ no problem, but i`m also fully aware that nothing compares to hands on experience.

I thought burms would be just like bps but x100 in size, carpet pythons are pretty but i`m not really into them, most bloods i`ve seen here are mean and i think they`re likely to be wc. I thought it would be a good step up with BCs or Burms, and i prefer burms. I saw a very nice albino hatchling and the colour is almost like a corn morph with the bright orange pattern.
But i`ll consider all the expert advice before coming to a decision.

Many thanks to everyone for all your time and advice.

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Originally Posted by TheDoctor

most bloods i`ve seen here are mean and i think they`re likely to be wc.

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There are thousands of CBB blood pythons born every year. I have two and they are not mean at all. Babies can be nippy, but they usually tame quite easily. Baby burmese pythons can be nippy too for that matter.

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Originally Posted by TheDoctor

I saw a very nice albino hatchling and the colour is almost like a corn morph with the bright orange pattern.
But i`ll consider all the expert advice before coming to a decision.

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Yeah, baby albino burms can be blinding. The color does fade, though it's still quite nice. Just remember even an adult male burm is going to need an 8' long cage most likely, and will be eating rabbits.. females grow large enough to eat pigs. If you won't have anyone with you to help when you care for it when it's full grown, you may not want to get one. It's not the safest thing handling a 100lb snake by yourself.

yeah, i`m leaning more towards BCs now.
i`m abit mixed up, colombians are BCIs right?

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Originally Posted by TheDoctor

yeah, i`m leaning more towards BCs now.
i`m abit mixed up, colombians are BCIs right?

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You are correct, colombians are the BCI. Your locales like the Suriname and Guyanas are true constrictors aka BCC.

Go BCI!

Maybe you should take another look at Blood's. I think they are really cool snake's they tame down like any other .I like them cause size isn't an issue an they get nice and strong and chubby.

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Originally Posted by emilio

Maybe you should take another look at Blood's. I think they are really cool snake's they tame down like any other .I like them cause size isn't an issue an they get nice and strong and chubby.

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There's actually a blood for sale at the local pet store...right across the street! (Thank God for that. It's a lot easier to walk across the street when I need to feed them instead of drivng twenty minutes away...)

Anyways...They've got beautiful coloring and I've seen quite a few of the larger ones. They seem to be really great snakes. If I wasn't so hell-bent on getting another ball, I'd buy one.

Why have one or the other when you could have one of each. :)

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Originally Posted by viron

Why have one or the other when you could have one of each. :)

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Yeah your right , but if you are planning on breeding morph's feeding bill's add up. To many mouth's to feed.

get a nice bci morph... they have some interesting color variations out there and if you want to breed later, there's always demand.

speaking of feeding, anyone ever see the price on some dog foods?? itty-bitty bags for like $69?

Should I be worried about IBD with BCs? I heard that most CB BCs are likely to have it.

IBD (inclusion body disease) is nearly always fatal, and is extrememly contagious. It ALWAYS kills pythons that get it from a boa. Only boids can get it (so colubrids can not get it)

A boa from a reputable breeder is not likely to have it, however it is always very important to quarantine new animals that you get.

How long should this quarantine period be , Should a new Bp still be quarantined just to be safe? How far do they have to be from the collection?

Typical quarantine ranges from 1-6 months. I typically do 3 months for new boids, and one month for new colubrids.. sometimes more depending on the source.

ALL new snakes should be quarantined.

The quarantines should be as far from the established collection as possible. In a separate building is best, but many people don't have this luxury. Separate room will do. Always handle/feed/clean cages of established animals first, then quarantines. Handwashing etc is very important.

i would go with a bci or bcc. mine are so tame they are like dogs. it will coil up on my lap and just lay there for ever. i would actually go as far as to say bci's are sweet. mine is 8ft and a toatal sweet heart.

fish