Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I am 15 years old and I don't know if i want a burm or 1 of these. I have some questions.
1. How big do they get?
2. Cage requirements at all sizes?
3. Feeding from hatchling to adult
4. How fast they grow
5.Are hide boxes nesessary?

Thanks for all the help,
Mike

1. How big do they get?
I have a female that is just shy of 8' and my largest male is a few inches longer than 6'. My point is, that is about average for boht sexes. Although there are bigger of each sex, this is more common.

2. Cage requirements at all sizes?
Allot of breeders keep there boas (adults) in 4' cages. I keep my largest female (the above mentioned one) in a 6' cage I have. I built a few myself and when I parted with my retics, I was going to move them as well, but decided to keep them for two larger females.

3. Feeding from hatchling to adult
I start all my boas on hopper rats unless it is a smaller than average one that can only take mice. No matter the size I feed my snakes something that does not 'gorge' them and create a huge lump. I am one that believes more smaller meals vs. fewer larger ones.

4. How fast they grow
Growth depends on the person raising it. I have heard some swear they have yearlings at 6' and others have 2 year olds at 3 1/2-4'. I think both are an extreme, but that is just my opinion. I have two- 2 year old het albinos that are 4 1/2' (Male) and approx. 5 1/4' (female). I think you will find, if more people answer this question, that this is more common. It also depends on what type of boa you are talking about (BCC, BCI, etc.). The above examples are of BCI's.

5.Are hide boxes nesessary?
Matter of preference, I do not use them myself.

Now a couple questions for you. What have you owned in the past OR currently have? MY opinion is a burm is anot a snake to 'learn' on. Although they can become great pets, they are still large and potentialy dangerous snakes.

If indeed this would be your first snake, I would go with a corn, ball, or good old columbian boa.

Good luck!~
-----
Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@cox.net

I have owned a ball python, a red tailed boa( but its my dads who deosnt live with me) a corn snake, and a blood python over the past 6 years

Obviously this is a boa forum, and we are slightly partial here. But Brian answered your questions well. A Columbian boa constrictor (boa constrictor imperator) is a better bet than a burmese python, especially a female burm. Burms require huge enclosures as adults and can reach 8'-10' in a couple years. Burms also gave much greater girth than a BCI. Also, Columbians are known for having great dispositions. Any large boid should be treated with some caution, but a big burm has the potential for much more harm than a BCI. A burm is definitely not a snake for the inexperienced, and in case you have caught on, I recommend a "good old Columbian".

Phil Goss

They are telling you, that you are not ready for a burm. For those of you who don't know our young friend here has been posting for weeks in burm forum, and as you can see from his questions does not do his howework. Everyone keeps telling him to get a smaller snake but he persists on a burm. As I can see he wont even do his howework on a boa either.