Posted by:
HappyHillbilly
at Tue Oct 9 19:26:41 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by HappyHillbilly ]
Hey there!
The preparation I had in mind is getting yourself acquainted, as much as possible, with large-bodied snakes; seeing them, handling them, even just being around them when someone else is holding them.
Is it really necessary? No, I don't feel that it's absolutely necessary, but, it will be very beneficial. It will be beneficial in helping you to decide whether or not to get one & beneficial in the even that you do get one. Not including the fun of it, too.
I don't know how well you know the breeder or if your boyfriend is going to go with you, but just be careful. If he's a good guy maybe you can arrange for you to go over there a few times and help him clean cages or something so you can be around big burms a little. Go to every reptile show you can and hang out around the booths with big snakes. You can even post here in this forum: "Looking for mentor in BC area." or something like that. With the right person, you might could be ready for one after only a few sessions. You, and the mentor, should know at least by the end of the 2nd session whether you've got what it takes or not.
In all honesty, that's a bit of an extreme suggestion, for most snakes. Heh, that's basically what they say should be done to prepare one for keeping venomous snakes, except most people will say you need years of it and not just a few sessions. I'll not get off on my rant about that here. (Whew! That was close.)
Anyway, where was I........, Oh, yeah. The reason I don't think it's too overboard is because I'm assuming that you're looking at getting a normal burmese python. While they cost more than a dime, they're still practically a dime a dozen; quite abundant, which also makes them hard to get rid of. That may not be so in your area, I don't know. But like Laura said earlier, the person she got her's from had trouble getting rid of it & a few others.
A lady just called me yesterday wanting to know if I'll take in an 8-footer. I don't need it, I don't want it, but I'm gonna take it in & try to find a good home for it. Rob Carmichael has said that he has trouble giving the ones he rescues away. I don't want anyone to get stuck with something they don't want. It won't be good for them or the snake. That's probably why Laura's burm passes water like it does. It could have damaged kidneys from being dehydrated for too long (not taken care of because it was no longer wanted).
I'm sorry! I know you're already aware of most of that and I know you're not just jumping into the water without knowing how deep or shallow it is. I just got going & kept rambling on. Sorry! 
To build a simple cage, a standard box-type with glass front, you're looking to spend at least $350 - $400 (US currency). At least that much, and that's if you already have the tools to do it. Tack on another $100-plus for tools.
Feeding costs: If you have one that's hard to switch over to rabbits, like both of mine have been, for a 9 - 10ft burm, you're looking at aproximately 8 large rats every two weeks. In my neck of the woods, if you bought them at a pet store they'd cost $6 each, for a total of nearly $50 every two weeks. But if you raise your own rats they'll only cost you a buck or two each, at most. However, raising rats takes time away from other things. If you can get them to eat rabbits your cost would be substantially less.
Your electric bill will increase a bit, too, from having to keep them & the room they're in, warm. I've got a lot of reptiles with high heat requirements and my power bill runs about $200 higher per month, on average. That's for about 13 snakes and 7 lizards. Somewhere around there. Yours may only increase $30 - $60 per month (wild guess), but I don't know for sure. It shouldn't be near as much as mine, though. 
Well, once again, I failed at trying to keep it short. Heh, I've been that way for 46 years, I don't know what made me think I'd be any different this time. Ha! Ha!
Hope this helps!
Hang in there!
HH
Plus the time factor. The time to clean & feed snakes, clean & feed rats, etc...
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
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RE: Seriously Considering a Burm - HappyHillbilly, Tue Oct 9 19:26:41 2007