Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. Im 15 i'v owned 3 snakes Milk Snake Ball python and a redtail. What would be better for me a Redtail or a Burmese. Which has the best temperment and such. I'v heard Red's are harder to read than burms.? If I did get a Burm it would be a Male.

Thanks,

To me, the main difference between a RTB and a Burm is their size. All-in-all, I think this should be your #1 consideration.

> Do you have room for at least an 8ft x 3ft x 2ft cage?
> Do you have the money to buy such a large cage or are you able to build one?
> Can you physically handle a 16ft-plus snake?
> Can you afford to feed such a large snake?

I feel that burms are gentler, more docile, in general. However, most boas, if handled often & properly, can be just as nice.

The odds are, regardless of what species you decide to keep, their temperament will ultimately fall back on you, the way you handle & care for it.

For most people, though, a boa is the better choice, mostly due to the fact that they don't get huge like a burm does.

I've got an 8ft male & a 10ft female burm. The female is sitting on about 20 eggs with just over a month to go before they hatch. Both the male & female are het for albino. I wouldn't take anything for either one of my burms. Love 'em to death!

Best wishes!
HH
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Thanks!. I have a summer job I make a few thousand each summer. I have a 10X12 Insulated shed to house the snake in. I prefer the one that is generally more docile.

Definitely consider all the things I mentioned, with an open mind. Ultimately, you have to be happy with your choice. If you're happy with your choice then your snake will most likely be happy because you'll take good care of it.

It's been several years since I've had a boa but I did enjoy them. However, there's something about a burm that a boa just can't match, other than size, of course (LOL!).

Hopefully a few boa keepers will post some good points for choosing a boa over a burm so you can take everything into consideration.

I didn't post links to photos of my burms in my first reply to make sure I didn't entice you. I think it's safe to post links now so here's a few.

These first photos were taken about a year ago: Burmese Photos

These photos were taken about a month ago: More Burmese Photos

Have a good one!
HH
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

>However, there's something about a burm that a boa just can't match, other than size, of course (LOL!).

I've had both Burms and Colombian boas, and I feel just the reverse. I like the boa coloration/pattern better than the Burm's. Disposition is excellent in both, and I don't see any difference in ease of taming. Both are great snakes, but I just like the boa better. I guess this is a YMMV situation.

On the other hand, the original poster might be ready to try one of the Pituophis (bull/pine/gopher snakes). They are among the largest and heaviest North American colubrids, excellent feeders, quite easy to read, and sweethearts if properly tamed. They can also be a real handful if not properly handled and tamed.

Paul Hollander

Thanks, guys. Nice snakes hillbilly!

I can't dispute a word of what you said, Paul.

There's a dandy lil' RTB at my local pet store that I drool over every time I go in there. Beautiful tail coloration, light colored skin, and its saddles are so narrow, almost non-existent.

Ohh, I've come so close to getting it so many times. If I knew my wife wouldn't divorce me over it, I'd get it.

My very first non-native snake was a 5ft. Boa & it hadn't been handled in awhile before I got it. He bit me a few times the first few times I handled him but quickly settled down, becoming the perfect specimen.

I'm glad you posted an argument for a Boa, and a good one, too.

Take care!
HH
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

The red-tail....I had one for 14 years and she was a doll...they also don't get incredibly large (which WILL become an issue with a properly cared for Burm). Redtails will get into the 10-12 foot range, but they aren't nearly as bulky as a comparably long Burm.

A few things to consider if you go with the Burm:

While they are docile as a rule, even the most docile snakes will have "bad days"....and a 16 foot Burm having a "bad day" is flat out scary....

As staed previously, housing such a large animal is a concern. These animals get INCREDIBLY large and they grow like weeds...a hatchling can reach 6 feet in length in the first year if fed well....While as adults these animals are not terribly arboreal, any enclosure MUST be escape proof, because an escaped 16-18 foot Burm running loose in the neighborhood will cause panic and likely future legislation regarding keeping such animals.

Any large (10 ft) python or boid should only be handled within earshot of another person....this is doubly true for an animal as large as a large Burm...Again, even as docile as they are, many of them have incredible feeding responses...these animals can be dangerous, and must be respected for the damage that they can do. An adult Burm is an incredibly powerful animal, and they do strike with remarkable quickness....Be careful with this animal no matter how "dog tame" it appears to be.

Again...I'd go for the redtail....but it's up to you. As long as you're able to care for the animal properly and take all necessary safety precautions I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever animal you choose.

-AzAtrox

Generally how big will the Colombian get in its first year 3-5 foot?

if it eats well it can grow that fast. i think you can do a great service by ADOPTING a boa or burm. these poor snakes are flooding herp rescues because people buy babys and can't keep them when they grow up. if your heart is set on a baby, wait a while, they show up quite a bit too! adoption fees are (at the most) $40, and i never saw a burm or boa for sale at that price. the choice is yours, but i suggest saving a couple bucks and a snakes life! dont forget these snakes live OVER 20 years, you'll get your money's worth. thanks muffinman, keep herpin'!