Should I get a burm?

I'm thinking of getting an Albino Burm. I know how big they get and how much they eat and suff. i'm not new to snakes just snakes this big. my neibor has 3 burms 2 redtails My wife and i love his albino burm and we are thinking of getting one. we have two kids a 2year old and a 6 year old that are not afraid of anything. we are familliar with the care and stuff but just not sure with the kids if we should get one right now or wait till the kids are bigger. how are there temperments if raised from a hatchling. we have 17 snakes now and 6 are balls. what would be your info on these beautiful giants.

Thanks

Eric

BIG SNAKE, WITH TONS OF CARE.
its a whole new ball game with giants.
no redtail, or carpet python could compair.
its alot of work, and i wouldnt reccommend it, UNLESS you went to a friends house, and took care of it yourself, for a while.
expect a 20 foot snake, even though the odds are less. never expect a small one.

my friend did that, and his girl is over 20 ft now.

SKETCHY. lol

From the sound of things, you're already well aware of what you're getting into and even more so, you've actually witnessed how big they can get and the amount of work it takes to take care of one.

Personally, I do not own a Burmese python. However, being that your kids are as young as they are, I wouldn't want it to be one of the snakes they handle for a long time, or at least, once it becomes bigger than they currently are.

Obviously, common sense is a factor - it always is - and it definitely sounds like you have plenty of it. I think with constant research and anticipation of what to expect as it continues to grow will help you greatly, not to mention, the input from the limitless source of information that this message-board is composed of.

If you've done your research, and know what to expect (these snakes can get pretty big really fast..), then I would say go for it. These snakes do take a lot of work to care for, rather than a small snake like a Corn or a Ball. To take proper care for this snake, it would be costly when it gets to be over 10 ft. because you will need larger sized food, a large enclosure, and all the items it needs to keep it alive and well. I do know some things about Burms, since I've researched many snakes, and to me it seems like something I couldn't handle even if I was a lot older.

As for your kids, if you do happen to get the snake now make sure the enclosure would be completely secured and the snake is unable to get out. I would start out with a baby Burm, though. When this snake starts to get over 6 feet, make sure your kids don't try to get into the cage or anything. And always be there if the kids wanted to handle the snake. Some of the most unexpected things could happen, even with a really tame snake.

If you have to ask strangers on a forum I would have to say NO!!!!

Thanks to all for your reply. CoolioTiffany the kids are my biggest concern of course. my son is very curious and they are firmly told they cant handle the snakes with out mom or dad around, but the 2 year old mind doesn't care sometimes. my 2 largest ball tanks are actuall screwed shutt. just for that reason and they are only 1300g and 1600g. (small for what we are talking about). if i did get one though i would house it in my reloading shed. very well insulated and heated and cooled year around and the door locks very well. so the room and the kids getting to it by means of insubordination is not a big worry, just how are they are when the snake is out being handled uno.


I'm not asking if you think i should go right out and get one as much as im wanting info on the temperment and such. besides whats the forum for but to ask a bunch of stranger Questions. am I not right?


Thanks
Eric

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BiggBaddWolf

If you have to ask strangers on a forum I would have to say NO!!!!

---

HHHMMM really?
And this is coming from someone who has constant calls on Large Boids.
I have allot of experience with many large boids.. (Burms, Rocks, Retics, Condas, Amethystine.....

If you are a responsible owner then that is what matters..
I know there are all these horrific stories in the press at this point...
But it all comes down to responsible Ownership.

Please do not get my statement wrong, Large boids are not easy and will require a large space and allot of husbandry skills.

If there is a private individual out there who can responsibly care for a large boid then so be it...
Who are you to judge?

I do not know this original poster, I am just trying to have folks see both sides..

All I can contribute is knowledge, I have seen no reason why the poster wouldn't care for said animal only on the basis of asking for help. (Isn't that the reason we are all here?)
Keep an open mind
Rusty

rynpckrd

how is the temperment of your red tail. ive been told they are great and my buddies seem good.

Thanks for your reply also, I appriciate the respectfull reply of someone on these forums such as yours.

Eric

thanks Rusty

That is my thoughts also was just wanting a little help and info. figured I could get it here!!!! didn't think my ? was that outa line.

Eric

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ericswan_1

rynpckrd

how is the temperment of your red tail. ive been told they are great and my buddies seem good.

Thanks for your reply also, I appriciate the respectfull reply of someone on these forums such as yours.

Eric

---

Ok, Now I want to chime in a bit

I am not fully understanding the comment about "buddies".. That can easily change the course of husbandry you may be taking, (IMO).
Please clarify the "buddy" aspect
Rusty

Rusty
I have a freind that has 2 redtails and the temperment on the 2 are good. thats the only thing I was geting at. I guess I should have said My freind's instead. He takes very good care of his snakes and is a great and responsable owner.

Eric

I have never owned a Burm but I did use to work with them at a wildlife rescue years ago. There were 3 there. Out of the three, only one was used for presentations, etc. because the other two were very unpredictable. 'Scooter' was an awesome snake. Very calm. I cried when I found out he passed away a few years ago. That being said, he was 14 feet long and very heavy. There used to have to be 3 of us in the room to get his cage properly cleaned out. This is not a BP that you can hold in one hand while you change the paper in the tub.

So, If I had children that young and that many other snakes, I (personally) would wait. I don't think I would have the amount of time or energy necessary to properly care for a large snake, take the proper safety precautions, etc. However, there are some members on this forum (Denial, for example) that have sizeable collections of large constrictors-and a family- and seem to be doing a great job maintaining their collections.

Definitely ask away. I think that, and researching websites and books (& please do a lot of this before you make your decision) will at least give you a better idea if this is a step that you want to take.

Good luck!

Burms are great snakes. Having children and reptiles is not hard to accomplish. You just have to make sure you are a responsible parent. Locked enclsoures and locked doors. Keep keys with you at all times. I would never forgive myself if one of my snakes harmed one of my children. So I take saftey precautions to make sure that never happens.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ericswan_1

rynpckrd

how is the temperment of your red tail. ive been told they are great and my buddies seem good.

Thanks for your reply also, I appriciate the respectfull reply of someone on these forums such as yours.

Eric

---

I've only had him for a short time (roughly three weeks) but thus far, I have had no problems whatsoever. If anything, his curiosity is the equivalent of a young child; he just wants to be held and wants to look around at everything.

To put it simply, his temperament is wonderful; he hasn't attempted to strike at me or at anyone else that has been around him.

On the subject of kids:

You can have firearms and very small children in the same home, and keep the kids safe from the dangers inherent to bullets and gunpowder.

You keep the guns locked and inaccessable. You can do the same with a large snake.

mainbutter

thats a great way to describe it. we are avid shooters and gun collectors and dont think twice on bringing a new gun home. now i realize the gun doesnt grow, eat and get huge.

Thanks

Eric

Sounds like you know about the dangers and such, and are pretty aware of the care and stuff. Just do a little more researching to make sure that the burm suits you. Don't just jump into something and do it. Also I would make sure you put it under lock & key, I wouldn't recommend the screwing the because a screwdriver can undo it. Unless you screw like a latch, then strip out the screws, and always keep it locked when you aren't in the room.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ericswan_1

Rusty
I have a freind that has 2 redtails and the temperment on the 2 are good. thats the only thing I was geting at. I guess I should have said My freind's instead. He takes very good care of his snakes and is a great and responsable owner.

Eric

---

Hi sorry, was way tired when I read that. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
It all boils down to responsible ownership (I cannot stress that enough).
The weapon analogy is a great way to look at it in my opinion.
Rusty

ya i think thats a great way to look at it also. We Just bought Nice big male Burm for the friend of ours, we found out when we picked it up it was het for albino. his female is albino, and when she gets big enough to breed (might be a year or two) he told us we could have one of the albinos when she lays. so we have a while to make sure its what we want to do. Thank for all the replys and the help once again its greatly appriciated.

Eric

I think you are ready for a burm. Just make sure you do your research, get a proper sized enclosure and everything. I don't have small children(I'm 17) so I dont have to worry about that. I don't think that age has much to do with owning a snake as long as you know what you're in for. Just make sure you have a secure, locking enclosure, I don't have one on my vision as of yet and my burm can't escape, but the fact that you have small children I would definately lock it and keep the keys hidden/out of reach.

I think a lot of people make owning a burm sound like one of the most difficult things in the world, it may be just me, but I don't think it's very difficult. You're married so you'll always have an extra person around to handle/clean cage.

IMO it's best to go in with the mentality that you're going to get bit, I would think that the people who get bit are the ones who don't know the power of the animal/aren't expecting it at all. Don't be paranoid though.