Hi Jake, I'm afraid I'm going to get on the bandwagon here and advise against another burm. But I'm going to list some drop jaw gorgeous large and easier to handle snakes in case any appeal to you. (a nice bonus to any of these species is, when fully grown they won't be able to eat you out of house and home)



1. Jungle Carpet python. Get one from a good breeder, and you'll have an active, alert animal with vivid bright black and yellow coloration. Really graceful animal, grows between approximately 5-7 feet. The babies are really nippy, but they settle with gentle consistent handling. Price is probably under $250



2. Red Tail Boa. Usually calm, docile animals, I'm sure you know how they look. They're big boids, but the safety factor is a bonus, as one lone person (if competent) can safely handle a hefty female. Rough size range, males from 6-8 ft, females 8-10 but that's only a rough guess. As a bonus, you may be able to adopt one.



3. Black Rat snake. There's a form of this called leucistic, I've seen them for $200. Imagine a docile, hardy animal that is pure, patternless white with grey or black eyes that reaches 8 or so feet! And of course, the other more common morphs are just as mellow, big and hardy.



4. Florida and eastern kings. 7 feet long or so, thick bodied and powerful, relatively docile, (sorry I'm not too sure of the locality sizes and specific patterns), but everything from what looks like near black with narrow yellow bands, to what looks like yellow overlaid with delicate black lace.



Hope those recommendations help and/or inspire you. (I highly recommend the leucistic black rat snake, but of couse I'm biased. )



I don't know quite what to say about giving your burm away. I really do think you did the right thing, giving him up when the little guy is still little so the new owner can get used to all his quirks and watch him grow up.



But I think you did it for the wrong reason. A simple trip to the vet and some medication could have taken care of parasites.

You know those old wedding vows, "for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, till death do you part"? Well, the thought of marrying a snake is either silly or icky, but the level of dedication is similar when you're talking about an animal who can see you through both college and your mid-life crisis.

Whatever you get for your new animal, don't bail out on it! If it gets parasites, take it to the vet. If it has mites, learn how to treat it. If it has a bad shed, learn how to treat it. If it chomps you, learn why it did, and avoid that situation. If it gets a respiratory infection, take it to the vet. If (heaven forbid) it contracts IBD(which is incurable and lethal), take it to the vet to euthanize it.

Animals, no matter how wonderfully they're cared for, get sick and need treatment. It's a pain in the a** but it's their nature.

Hoo boy, I'm afraid this turned into another lecture. Well, hope this helps.

P.S. Glad you're planning on using f/t for your new critter.
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0.2 chickens (Falcon & Condor)

0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave, Lucy & Amy)

0.1 Halflinger horse (Crissy)

0.0 Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (coming soon)

1.1 parents

Still searching for 1.0 WC human

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