Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a baby female burm for $35, she had a kink about 3/4 the way down. The guy told me she would get over her aggressiveness in 2-3 months. She doesn't strike at me any more but she still hisses at me when i get her out. Do I possibly have a mean snake, and or if I do how much time should spend with her. She has grown about 9-12" since I got her 4 months ago. This is my first burm and I don't want to end up in the headlines for getting mauled by a big snake. I get her out about 20 min. every 3 days and see her every 2.
-----
3.2 Normal ball-Alex,Jake,Montey,Siv,Nanna
1.2 Green Anoles-Herman,Penelope,Fresca
1.0 Red-tail Boa-Bulwai
1.0 Flat tailed house gecko
0.1 Burmese-Chelse

Most of the babies from my clutch either hissed, bite, or both but most of them got over it within a couple of months. I don't have a lot of info on babies because my first time breeding was last year and all of my older burms I have I bought when they were 6 months or older. Hope others can help you.

I think your handling routine is about right. You could probably go with handling every other day here & there and then wait 3 days in between. I think 20 minutes is about right, too.

To be perfectly honest, it's not so much "how long or often" you handle it, but "HOW" you handle it during those times.

First priority is to gain their trust. No sudden movements, avoid hectic scenarios/environments, keeping a hand or two near it's face for the first few months or so so it can see & learn that a hand is not a threat, etc...

Basically, you have to trust it before you can get it to trust you. Takes some guts with biters sometimes. Handle with confidence but respect. The snake will detect it and usually react accordingly.

Some Burmese pythons are life-long hissers. I've got a 12ft 4yr old that's hissed all her life but has never struck once. She's very gentle and anyone can handle her. Sometimes it seems as if her hissing is more like she's whistling a happy tune. Even though I trust her, because I'm not 100% sure why she whisltes, I still watch her. I can do anything I want to with her and her hissing tone never changes. She doesn't hiss continuously, but most of the time.

Hissing doesn't mean it's a mean snake, mean snakes bite, strike. By most standards hissing is considered to indicate that they're unsure of something, or possibly displeased with something.

Hope this helps!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Yep, I've got a hisser, too. He's 12ft, 11 years old, and just hisses a lot. But he is pretty tolerant of a lot of different handling. Like HH, I just keep an eye on him and read his body language.

I thought I was hearing things, but HH said that his "sings" him a song. Mine kinda' makes little squeak noises like a baby croc, it's beautiful.
-----
3.2 Normal ball-Alex,Jake,Montey,Siv,Nanna
1.2 Green Anoles-Herman,Penelope,Fresca
1.0 Red-tail Boa-Bulwai
1.0 Flat tailed house gecko
0.1 Burmese-Chelse

Yeah, but HH probably hears little voices, too, HA! Just kidding, HH, but I couldn't resist.

Mine just hisses. I can't compare it to anything else. But what's really funny is if he's feeling rather funky, and a hiss is coming, he gets the air all stored up in his neck. It's like a balloon in there, under his "chin", then like a 30 sec hiss comes out. It's not loud, just long. I'm not quite sure what the long hisses mean. He does those all the time, like a longer, louder exhale than normal with a slow crawl. If he really means something, like after he eats and wants to be left alone, it's a short, louder hiss, sometimes with accompanying coil shoves. The "I'm coming to check you out, why are you in my cage" hiss is a medium hiss with a purposeful crawling motion.

They are so funny to read and figure out. So much character in that long body! My other snakes just aren't quite so interactive.

"Yeah, but HH probably hears little voices, too."

Dog-gone-it! My shrink said he wouldn't discuss my case with other patients.

He says that I'm NOT a Dr. Dolittle, but my animals tell me I am. I'm confused. I don't know who to believe.........

That was a good one, Laura! I laughed out loud when I read it. Thanks for the laugh!

You're absolutely right about reading & interpreting their actions, reactions, body language, etc. That is how they communicate with us.

Take care!
Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

I took your advice on using a hook and built one from some metal similar to the one on your site. This seems to help let her now she is going to be handled. It makes maneuvering her out of her cage easier too. Thanks for all the help you give.
-----
3.2 Normal ball-Alex,Jake,Montey,Siv,Nanna
1.2 Green Anoles-Herman,Penelope,Fresca
1.0 Red-tail Boa-Bulwai
1.0 Flat tailed house gecko
0.1 Burmese-Chelse