Tiger Python!! What have I done???

All my life I've had a deep interest for snakes. Finally I have got myself one but I realize that I actually have no idea what I am doing. I went out for a Brazilian Rainbow Boa and came back with a Tiger Python. The seller told me I'd do fine with this one. I wonder... because it was yesturday that I bought it and he's already flown at me once. I'm not scared to be bitten but I'd rather it not happen of course. I guess I just wish I knew more about the 'personality' of this particular snake... I've checked internet about it but I'm having trouble finding information on the snake. Is there anyone who can tell me about a good website for more better information.

It's 8 months old and I'd say about 75cm...

Are you from the United Kingdom or Europe? The Tiger Python is a species of Asian Rock Python. Its known throughout the USA and other area's as the Burmese Python, Burm, or Burmese Rock Python. It's one of the largest snakes in the world, with a record of 27.5' long, and well over 400lbs. Scientific name is Python molurus bivittatus; a subspecies of the Indian Python Python molurus molurus.

If you do some googling for Burmese Python, or Python m. bivittatus, you should bring up a wealth of information.

As for aggressiveness, this species is flighty and nippy as a baby....but they're food for about anything and everything that will predate on them at that size. They do have a rapid growth though, as far as boids go, growing in excess of 6-8' long by their first year. Good luck :)

They bought one of the largest snakes in the world on impulse? If one is very wealthy and will have no problem devoting a room to this animal in the future...well....I won't comment.

I will risk being flamed by saying this, but snakes that large are a huge responsibility and I can see why requiring permits may be a good idea. I hate to think of what happens to many of these animals as they get older. Well we know what happens to them in Florida.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=16

that should help you out alot too

and if you just got em home give it a few days of alone time to get used to its new home b4 you try to hold em

good luck and welcome to a whole new world

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

I will risk being flamed by saying this, but snakes that large are a huge responsibility and I can see why requiring permits may be a good idea. I hate to think of what happens to many of these animals as they get older. Well we know what happens to them in Florida.

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Honestly, permits are no way to go about it by any means....ANY means. As for commenting on the animal and its growth in a keepers care, please do....explain. Explain your experience with the species as well ;) As for the Florida comment; Keep it to yourself. You can blame the USFW, as well as the hurricanes for what happened in Florida...not just "immature/irrisponsible" keepers....

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

Honestly, permits are no way to go about it by any means....ANY means. As for commenting on the animal and its growth in a keepers care, please do....explain.

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I have a background in animal rescue. I do believe that anyone who breeds animals should be thinking about the home the animal will receive, particularly if they may require special care. I have seen far too many breeders sell large breed puppies to owners living in an apartment, with no dog owning experience, and those situations end very badly. And the breeders could care less because it is NOT their problem. A giant snake that will require 2 grown men to lift it, and will require a LOT of space, well they have special needs that should be considered too.

For me it is about the animal, first and foremost. Perhaps this was NOT an impulse buy? Perhaps the person that sold the snake had a long discussion with the purchaser regarding how this snake differs from a rainbow boa and what they should expect 10 years from now? Maybe the OP will explain. I maybe assuming to much, clarification will help. But the original post did not imply that the seller went into detail.

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

I have a background in animal rescue. I do believe that anyone who breeds animals should be thinking about the home the animal will receive, particularly if they may require special care. I have seen far too many breeders sell large breed puppies to owners living in an apartment, with no dog owning experience, and those situations end very badly. And the breeders could care less because it is NOT their problem. A giant snake that will require 2 grown men to lift it, and will require a LOT of space, well they have special needs that should be considered too.

For me it is about the animal, first and foremost.

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That right there says it, clearly defined. It is not up to the breeder to decide if the customer is capable of caring for the animal. It is up to the customer to decide, hands down.

As for special needs, every animal has special/different needs and care requirements from one another. If you want to lecture me on that, of all people...please, I'm all ears....

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

It is not up to the breeder to decide if the customer is capable of caring for the animal. It is up to the customer to decide, hands down.

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Apparently no further discussion is needed, you made your viewpoint very very clear.

Edit -- and if the breeder does NOT explain what to expect, well buyer beware huh?

While I don't advocate the government issuing permits for anything because all that does is put money in government coffers for nothing in return, I definitely think that any responsible breeder of any type of animal would and should make an effort to see that all potential buyers understand what they are getting into and know how to give proper care as well as have the means to give it. Anyone that just considers the ownership of animals that they are selling to be no different than having ownership of a coffee pot really shouldn't be placing animals at all.

Dsirkle you are right of course, the government can not be relied upon to exercise common sense. I guess I thought of it more from the standpoint that any requirement would consider one to THINK before they committed to something as important as a 20 year committment to a 250 lb snake. In an ideal world the breeders would have empathy for the animals they sold, and they would screen/educate buyers.

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

It is not up to the breeder to decide if the customer is capable of caring for the animal. It is up to the customer to decide, hands down.

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Personally, if I don't think a customer is capable of caring for an animal they want to buy from me, I will not sell it to them. I do take some responsibility for deciding whether a customer is capable of caring for the animal, because I ultimately care about the animal and not the customer or the money.

ok we all have good and bad points on who what how and where animals should kept but this post was asking for help on the one that has. we may not agree with what has been done but lets help him out as much as we can and not get off track.

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

If one is very wealthy and will have no problem devoting a room to this animal in the future.

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1. you don't need a whole room deadicated to burm just use a 8 foot monster cage. the demenisions would be 96"X30"X18" in inches. (243.8x76.2x45.7) <-- in centimeters. if you didnt want a monster cage to get shipped in which would be pretty expensive. try to look for a cage that size.

2.your burm is gonna surpass eating rats by a long run. some people continue ot use rats for a burm while others feed rabbits or gp (guinea pigs) ect.

3. Your burm gonna need to be handled or when it gets older it'll be a chainsaw from h3ll.

thier is a fourm for big snakes here and at site i will pm you.

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

Apparently no further discussion is needed, you made your viewpoint very very clear.

Edit -- and if the breeder does NOT explain what to expect, well buyer beware huh?

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Just my opinion but shouldn't the buyer have to be the one responsible for doing the proper research and gather info on what they are getting into. I mean inst that what all of us on this forum have done i know i did. Granted not everything can be taught somethings have to be learned through experience and experience alone.

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Originally Posted by Snikster

All my life I've had a deep interest for snakes. Finally I have got myself one but I realize that I actually have no idea what I am doing. I went out for a Brazilian Rainbow Boa and came back with a Tiger Python. The seller told me I'd do fine with this one. I wonder... because it was yesturday that I bought it and he's already flown at me once. I'm not scared to be bitten but I'd rather it not happen of course. I guess I just wish I knew more about the 'personality' of this particular snake... I've checked internet about it but I'm having trouble finding information on the snake. Is there anyone who can tell me about a good website for more better information.

It's 8 months old and I'd say about 75cm...

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If you don't know what you are doing, maybe you should consider returning it and getting something smaller. Like a boa constrictor or ball python. Hope this helps.

I remember seeing a thread on another forum... a person went to a pet store, with minimal knowledge, interested in BPs. The employee sent her home with baby retics... and very sick retics at that.

As soon as it really hit her what she had done, she tried to return them. It took a ridiculous amount of work for her to get the animals returned and to get her money back. I am not sure it was ever completely resolved. But she understood that she would take a loss, and tempered that with what was best for the animals involved.

I think the breeder acted irresponsibily as did the purchaser. Rather than "how do I deal with this"... perhaps you need to ask yourself is "can I deal with this" and "do I want to deal with this".

It is OK to realize that perhaps this is not the best beginner snake for someone who has never owned a snake before.

You are going to be responsible for this animal for a very long time and need to ensure that you can care for it long term.

Do your research and make some educated choices.

If it ends up working for you, then great, but if it is not going to work, there is nothing wrong with planning an escape route (and earlier is better than later).

Bruce

Who would not ever consider anything even close to an African Rock Python...

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Originally Posted by Loft Lizard

Who would not ever consider anything even close to an African Rock Python...

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it wasn't an african rock it was a burm. but i see where your going with this in why you would choose a burm for a first pet. but in his matter the employee or person who sold him the animal probably lead him with out regard to the animal.

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Originally Posted by Royal_Rodents

it wasn't an african rock it was a burm. but i see where your going with this in why you would choose a burm for a first pet. but in his matter the employee or person who sold him the animal probably lead him with out regard to the animal.

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Thanks for the clarification. And I agree. I know in the other case that I mentioned the individual was quite torn in regards to returning an animal that was placed with no concern for its long term care.

She knew that it was possible that the animal would end up in another home that was not equipped for it as well.

I just find the situation to be quite a concern. To push a snake and send it home with someone that has no idea of how to care for it... saddens me. For the keeper and the animal.

Bruce

im not a pro with snakes by any means, but the pet shop i worked in a while back has a 25' albino burmeese. nedless to say she eats rabbits, F/T two at a time. and there is absolutely no doubt it takes two grown men to remove her from her custom made 20' long x 4' wide enclosure. good thing she has been handled since a young age and is extremely docile. We could literally just set her up on a large "parrot tree" and she would just hang out and wait for us to clean her cage. but all in all she is extremely well cared for and is definatley a big reason alot of people visit the pet shop.

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Originally Posted by Loft Lizard

Thanks for the clarification. And I agree. I know in the other case that I mentioned the individual was quite torn in regards to returning an animal that was placed with no concern for its long term care.

She knew that it was possible that the animal would end up in another home that was not equipped for it as well.

I just find the situation to be quite a concern. To push a snake and send it home with someone that has no idea of how to care for it... saddens me. For the keeper and the animal.

Bruce

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agreed sometimes i wish pet-stores would be in the business so that they can see thier animals to suceed and thrive. but now the fact of the matter is that thier only in it for the money:(

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Originally Posted by Royal_Rodents

agreed sometimes i wish pet-stores would be in the business so that they can see thier animals to suceed and thrive. but now the fact of the matter is that thier only in it for the money:(

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I am going to behave myself... I have gotten in trouble in the past.

But yeah. Foresight involves building strong customer relations, good partnerships, and long term snake-owner bonds. Benefits everyone... just seems that most shops have a decided short sightedness.

OOOPS. I went there. DOH!

OP where are you? It's ok to admit that you have bitten (no pun intended) off more than you can chew. Keep us up to date, we can help no matter what you decide to do!!! I'll bet you could find someone to swap your monster for a cute little Ball Python. Then you could use the extra room for more BP's!!!

What ever you decide to do let us know please.

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Originally Posted by Jenn

OP where are you? It's ok to admit that you have bitten (no pun intended) off more than you can chew. Keep us up to date, we can help no matter what you decide to do!!! I'll bet you could find someone to swap your monster for a cute little Ball Python. Then you could use the extra room for more BP's!!!

What ever you decide to do let us know please.

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i completely agree with this gal right here. i say speak up in the classified section and post an ad that says "bit of more python than i could chew :)~" i bet anything you could get a lovely trade out of the deal. post pictures, let this place know what's going on. these people are full of all kinds of the right information, so don't be intimidated by some of the responses you get. just know that ppl are here to help you!

GooOOOooooD luck~!

i do agree with the people above but sadly it says in his location new england or england???

He hasnt replied in a few days.

Maybe it ate him. :snake:

Maybe he got scared off when people started making assumptions.
I don't think there's any way to determine who is at fault in this case. We don't know enough about the interaction, the buyer, or the seller. For all we know, the seller could have led him astray and told him the snake will not get very large, or that it will be easy to care for. Possibly the buyer said what he had in mind for keeping/caring for the snake and the seller said that it was adequate. If you're at a show, it's harder to do research because once you walk away from the stall, that snake could be sold. Given, they could have waited and found another snake, but some people believe in love at first site. ;) Anyone who cares about the animals they breed and sell will give as much information about the animal as they can, and do their best to ensure the animal well be well cared for rather than just making a sale. Once, when I attempted to purchase a pair of sugar gliders, they gave me a 2 or 3 page form to fill out asking me how I would feed, house and take care of them. I realized I couldn't do it. Good on them, they lost a sale but saved their sugar gliders from a possible bad situation. Despite efforts of good animal breeders, the animals can still end up in bad situation because the sellers have to trust their own judgment on a perfect stranger - which may not always be right.
I am glad this OP is at least trying to find out information to care for his new pet at least. :)

The OP has no reason to be scared of this thread. No one judged them and they were given information that may have been useful.

Where I come from we call that doing research... it may be called other things in other parts of the world. I don't know. *meh*

I expected to see some harsh criticisms that did not come with a post regarding an impulse purchase that may (or may not) have been manageable.

If the OP was eaten by the snake I feel really bad for them. But if the OP is doing research and learning about said snake, that is fantastic.

Either way, I think the mention regarding the outcome is a just and fair request.

The nice thing about updates, is that they allow others to learn from the experience of members REGARDLESS of the outcome, and it lets the OP debrief and get support if they need it.

And sometimes it is just good netiquette.

Bruce

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Originally Posted by stormbourne

Maybe he got scared off when people started making assumptions.
I don't think there's any way to determine who is at fault in this case. We don't know enough about the interaction, the buyer, or the seller. For all we know, the seller could have led him astray and told him the snake will not get very large, or that it will be easy to care for. Possibly the buyer said what he had in mind for keeping/caring for the snake and the seller said that it was adequate. If you're at a show, it's harder to do research because once you walk away from the stall, that snake could be sold. Given, they could have waited and found another snake, but some people believe in love at first site. ;) Anyone who cares about the animals they breed and sell will give as much information about the animal as they can, and do their best to ensure the animal well be well cared for rather than just making a sale. Once, when I attempted to purchase a pair of sugar gliders, they gave me a 2 or 3 page form to fill out asking me how I would feed, house and take care of them. I realized I couldn't do it. Good on them, they lost a sale but saved their sugar gliders from a possible bad situation. Despite efforts of good animal breeders, the animals can still end up in bad situation because the sellers have to trust their own judgment on a perfect stranger - which may not always be right.
I am glad this OP is at least trying to find out information to care for his new pet at least. :)

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I doubt that the OP was eaten by a 30" snake :D

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Originally Posted by TheKingInYellow

I doubt that the OP was eaten by a 30" snake :D

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Haven't you heard, it happens all the time, in the news... LOL I also love when they show pictures of ball pythons, and say that they may reach lengths of 30 ft and swallow small children. lol. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Pythonian

im not a pro with snakes by any means, but the pet shop i worked in a while back has a 25' albino burmeese.

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I dont think burms get that big.

I think the OP is doing the right thing by at least researching now (better late then never). He still has plenty of time to remedy this situation.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

Haven't you heard, it happens all the time, in the news... LOL I also love when they show pictures of ball pythons, and say that they may reach lengths of 30 ft and swallow small children. lol. :rofl:

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Well they can reach 30ft. You just have to slice them lengthwise five or six times and then lay them end to end.

I use the same theory when I tell people that I am 120' tall.

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Originally Posted by N4S

He hasnt replied in a few days.

Maybe it ate him. :snake:

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Buwhahahhahah! *high-fives N4S*

Guys, if you don't see me reply every days, call out the national guard cuz my burm will have eaten me too. ;)

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Originally Posted by TheKingInYellow

I doubt that the OP was eaten by a 30" snake :D

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I wil introduce you to my snow corn - Violaine (AKA Violent). With enough time she could swallow a human. She just likes to go slow... starts with a pinkie, gnaws on it... then sorta inches up... baby steps.

Bruce