Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My burm is getting big, but what age is she able to breed? And can I get her a friend to live with? All my other snakes curl up with their buddies and I worry that she will get lonely by herself, as my fiance and I both work a lot. We take her out as often as possible, but it's still not enough. I may be postin a lot of messages, but I have seen the best advice from this forum. Thanks for any help.

In order to breed Burms must be at least two years of age and have a good, healthy body weight. Especially a female.

Your snake will never get "lonely" as snakes, domestic or otherwise, don't have emotions. Snakes are solitary creatures except during breeding season. As soon as mating is over the pair go their seperate ways. So unless you want to breed her there is no NEED for it to have a cage mate.
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Christine
Tails With Scales Reptiles
Looks, brains, and venom . . . . how do I stay single?

I would have to disagree with you. I believe me snakes do have emotions, they let me know when they want to come out, they all have different personalities, they're all different in their own little way. My ball pythons have been together for 5 months now in the same situation and Jade and Scar are the 2 who cuddle together and stay close to eachother, and Raji is off by himself, and trys to be friends by scooting in with my other two. They never fight or anything but the two really are close, and either have ever been bred or have even been sexed. They are also two different ages. So if they don't like eachother. with their emotionless lives, why don't they all act exactly alike.

"I would have to disagree with you. I believe me snakes do have emotions, they let me know when they want to come out, they all have different personalities, they're all different in their own little way. My ball pythons have been together for 5 months now in the same situation and Jade and Scar are the 2 who cuddle together and stay close to eachother, and Raji is off by himself, and trys to be friends by scooting in with my other two. They never fight or anything but the two really are close, and either have ever been bred or have even been sexed. They are also two different ages. So if they don't like eachother. with their emotionless lives, why don't they all act exactly alike."

There is zero scientific data to show and /or prove that they do have emotions. Different personalities I agree with but not a pure emotional state.
I have been keeping and breeding reptiles for almost 16 years and every reptile I've owned has lived a solitary excistance execpt during breeding season. They have never one time shown any signs of loneliness, being upset or depressed and in NEED of a companion.

Out of curiosity .................. do your ball pythons have hide boxes?

One thing I will say is that if you want to put security, aggression, and defense into the "emotions" realm then I guess that is fine. But please show me scientific facts that snakes (of any species) feel loneliness, sadness, happiness, depression, or any other emotional state. I would like to see it.
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Christine
Tails With Scales Reptiles
Looks, brains, and venom . . . . how do I stay single?

Fielding questions in open forums sometimes has it's downsides, ey Christine? lol
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David Beauchemin
High End Herps.Inc
http://HighEndHerps.com

A lot of people who keep animals of many different kinds have a tendency to attribute human emotions to their pets. As you probably know its called Anthropomorphism and or Humanization. No matter how much you argue they will tell you otherwise and will provide no subjective scientific data to validate their "opinion". These opinions are not based on science. If one sees birds in cartoons with hearts fluttering around their heads, they may grow up to have an opinion that these birds are in "love" . When actually they just want to pass on their genes to the next genre. Yes even Love Birds are not in love, this I am certain of. Also Reticulated Pythons are not "smarter" than Burmese Pythons, but due to differences in their behavior many folks think they are.
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Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

I realize I anthropomorphise. But it is what I believe. Not that I am seriously caring that its not scientific. Human love isn't either. But I don't really want to hear about how dumb I am to think Beyla might "want" a friend. So spare me. Just let me know if it is SAFE and you can think what you want.

I agree with certain animals not having emotions, or intelligence, but I do believe the retic is a smart animal. Some are smarter than others, like dogs and like humans, but there seems to be a level of intelligence that isnt there in other snakes. It's like having a huge dog with no legs.