Wow Judy, thanks. You just made my year. This post alone has made it all worthwhile alone. I say this not only because of how good it makes me feel, or even how appreciated I am or whatnot,.. but also because it is just plain good to know that my time here is not spent in vain. To make a difference to just one person makes it all purposeful. I must admit, I have had moments where I had serious doubts as to whether or not my words here really mattered and have seriously considered "leaving", but then a sudden thought or post shakes me out of it. I'm glad of that. And I'm grateful for your post here. It is especially interesting that there are folks that never post that read what I write. It makes me wonder just how many there might be. You have really opened a part of my mind that was not open before.
And as much as I throw my little childish tantrums and threaten to leave because it's dull,.. I can't see me doing that. I need this place. It is really my only intellectual outlet in the subject of snakes. Sure, I have friends, but none of my friends are really in to snakes,. so to discuss this would bore them. And my wife hears all my theories and thoughts firsthand, but she'll tell me they are great just because she loves me, lol. So I need to post them here to get an unbiased view on them.
That's really unfortunate that your husband has an apprehension with big snakes. There is really just nothing like big burmese. Even other big snake species that are tame do not compare. I mean,. I love them all,. but there is just nothing even close to the burmese when it comes to a big, fat, laid back, easy going (mostly) slow moving reptile. Like the big dopey, football player sized kid that doesn't know his own strength and is slow and gentle in his movements. The other giants are more troublesome in my view and I would really only reccomend them to someone with lots of giant python experience. The retics are usually very willful and assertive. If they want to do something or go somewhere they will push you out of the way with a powerful bump and will just "fight you" in their quest to do what they wat to do. Anacondas (green) can be very tempermental and should only be kept by the pros. Thr African rock pythons are almost always confrontational and try to be intimidating. it's just their way,.. to be loud and scary looking. It's 99% bluff, but it's still for the more experienced to deal with when they are giant. But the burms,... they are often just easygoing "land slugs" as I call them. Once tame they remain this way for life if interacted with regularly. You can just drag them around and pet their giant heads and they don't mind like a big dumb dog. I think they are just great. There are a few things that one must learn about them before one should own one, and those things are simply knowing how to "read" them. Once you have this down there is little room for error. But if you don't know how to read them then a simple mistake can lead to a traumatic feeding response accident. One needs to be able to read the signs and to know how to diffuse it. When I see it I invariably slide my hand down slowly to the area under their chin. I either do this low and out of sight or I may wave my other hand up high in a faster motion to get the snakes attention. The bottom line is this,.. the next time the snake's tongue comes out it hits my hand. In an instant the would be feeding response is gone. The snake visibly "relaxes" and 9 times out of 10 he or she will come forward in a curious, non-threatening manner investigating me. This is when I generally give a hearty rub and a pat. I like to keep them all accustomed to my touch. It's good for both me and them. To be able to feel "closer" with one another. The retics and the rocks aren't as accepting of this touch therapy but I do it anyway. More actually.
Anyhow,. sorry for the long and dreary post. I always get carried away. I hope it somehow helps you guys to one day get a pet burm. I promise you won't ever regret it if you do. I am in the process of designing and building a prototype collapsable/portable giant python cage. Maybe this would be just the thing for your frequent moves. Take care, and thanks again for making my year.
>>I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all that you do on this forum. I never post here because I don't own or have any experience with Burmese, except having held one a couple of times. But I love them and wish very much that I could own one or two. (But my hubby is very distrustful of snakes, especially the big ones, and we have to move too frequently to make owning big snakes practical.)
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>>Anyhow...I'm sure I'm not the only person that frequently lurks on this forum for the sheer love of the animal and thirst to learn more. I LOVED the stories you posted below, and all the stories that followed. Your stories and all the wonderful information you offer to anyone who asks are what keep me coming back here day after day. So...no matter how "dead" the forum may seem from time to time...or how annoying it may get from occassional bickering or idiotic posts...please know that there are some of us always lurking in the background, hungry for both the information and the great personality you bring to the forum!
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>>Just felt like I needed to say that...
>>Judy
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>>1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)
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"I must have some terrible, deadly disease. It seems that everyone that has screwed me in the past always dies mysteriously a few years later." *Lou Cypher*
