Hey there. There is a lot of leeway in the "right ways to feed" a snake. I start my burms and other large python species on rabbits asap. By the time they are usually 4 or 5 feet they are taking 1 to 3 pound rabbits every 5 to 7 days. I prefer to give my snakes "max meals" as I call it, which involve a prey item that is about as large as they can get down. My logic is that it involves less lives wasted to sustain my snakes, the cost is invariably less, and the protien to roughage ratio is greater. (geometrically less skin and fur area the larger the prey animal is). The last equates to more optimal growth. But this is not by any stretch of the imagination "the right way" to feed. Nor is it the wrong way. It is just my way. Half what I feed would still fall into a correct feeding regimen. Half as frequently, even. So you can give your burm rats or rabbits in decent or generous quantities and it would be adequate.
As far as trusting your snake or allowing it to "go to the limit" and risking someone being bitten,... no, I wouldn't advise it. For the snake's sake above all else. She doesn't need the stress. Take her slowly, she will get the hang of it all. But never ever trust her completely. I don't think 100% trust is possible with animals of lesser intelligence like pythons. When I see people with 25 foot snakes allowing small children to walk freely around them for pictures or whatever, I think it is just a matter of time before someone gets hurt. I personally will never do this and even now I only allow experienced adults handle any of my animals that exceed 10 feet. As much for the snakes' safety as the person. Because lack of experience is a danger to all.
I don't think the prices on the granites will drop too much. You will always find someone selling theirs for really cheap, but they may not come with the same guarantees or quality that those from a reputable breeder might come with. (though I'm not entirely sure what that even means any more). Then again, those from big breeders may just be from other smaller breeders that they in turn are brokering. Just try to know what you are getting before you buy it. Ask to see the adults too. I will be advertising my own granites and albino granites in the Kinsnake classifieds in roughly 5 months. When you see my ad, if you haven't already gotten a baby, respond to it.
>>Hello everyone, well Sway (my little green burm) is doing great. She is about 6 feet now, and eats every three days like clock work. I walk in the room and she has a great feeding response now. comes out of her hiding spot everytime I walk in. She now is eating large rats I guess 300 to 400 grams. Is it ok now to go to small rabbits. She gets a small lump when she eats the large rat, so I am thinking time to go to rabbits. What do you all think. Again many thanks to those who stayed with me to get her eating frozen.
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>>2) I still am a little nervous with her out. I mean with me she is fine we will sit there and do nothing, I put her on the groud she moves I pull her back, somtimes I get the hiss but have not in awhile, but when I sit there with her and my girl friend walks by she snaps back, with her head. Will this ever stop. I want to be able to bring her out if people are around and not worry but she gets like that I am afraid she will snap out. Do, I push her to the limit and see how far I can go with her before she snaps. Meaning with people around or walk by me and wait to get nailed and work on her or do I just leave it as is me and her chillin.
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>>3) I am going to get another snake soon. Either a granite burm, or a dwarf tiger retic, and its going to be a male. My whole house is full of females. My three snakes my dog and my girlfriend. The guy that I would get the burm from sells them for 500. That is the cheapest I seen them for. Do you think the price will go down on either one of those snakes by next year or will they go up.
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Pebbles create ripples.
Ripples can become tidal waves.
Tidal waves sink ships.
The largest ships sink the fastest.
