Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I am new to posting questions in general, so if I offend the etiquette please forgive me. I have recently moved into the Burm world and love the one that I secured, the shop stated it was four months old, and it measures in at 52+ inches. Good thick body with what I have gathered from reading the posts of the past is in the “green phase”. Questions are; is four months the right age for this size, and he (sexed) has eaten two medium rats (in two weeks) but no bowel movement. When I have a Ball Python that fails to have a bowel movement, I swim them, and quickly they have a movement. Does this system work with Burms? He is soaked once a week for 45 to 60 minutes while I complete cage cleaning, and misted every morning as his day light come on. The shop did not like to handle him due to he hisses and puffs up when you try to remove him from his environment, when I went to get him I brought in my travel cage and only one employee stayed with me as I removed him. It was funny one of the owners handed me a claw system and hook, to which I answered if I cannot get him out then I do not deserve him. After six handlings per day, his hissing is starting to subside and he uses me as his climbing gym once out of his cage. Sorry for the long post, next time I will “KISS” my questions.
Great Danes x 3
Breaded Dragon x 2
Rainbow Boa x 1
Burm x 1
Ball x 1

Greywolf G. Grimes
(My Real Name)

Congrats. It sounds like you are doing everything right with your burm (feeding, daily misting, weekly soaks, etc.). We try to give our burms are heavy misting once a day and, as you do, a good soak once a week. Our 19' burm is too big to soak but we really soak her down and she always has good, regular bowel movements. These animals don't defecate often, much like your ball python, so I wouldn't worry too much about impaction as long as you keep your burm at the proper temps (temps should range from 80-82 deg F on cool end to the mid to upper 80's on the warm end with a basking area that reaches 90-92 deg F.), humidity levels (I like 60-75%), and a feeding schedule of one to two appropriately sized prey animals every two weeks (for adults).

One word of advice.....learn how to use a hook and shield when maintaining a burm. When your burm reaches 8' or more, simply reaching in and taking out your beloved pet could turn into a disastrous situation. It only takes one innocent mistake to put your life in real danger. I always use hooks to keep the burms head between the hook and my hand that is reaching in at midbody to pull the snake towards the front of the cage. Shields are invaluable when dealing with touchy animals (or when your burm is having a bad scale day)....particularly when changing water, taking out feces, etc.

Good luck with your new pet.

Rob

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery center at Elawa Farm
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

Thank you Rob for the information, I understand the implications to the animal’s size, and I do have hooks. I guess it was the cavalier thought that many get before they make a very dreadful mistake. Could you post a picture of the “shield” you discuss? In addition was the shop lying to me about the age, I think it should be older than 4 months to be 52 inches in size?

Greywolf Grimes

Not necessarily; burms are capable of growing at alarming rates...I know of one personally that grew from a hatcling to 16' in one year!

I'm glad to hear someone using a hook for a large burm. A few jokes have acted like I'm an idiot for trying to use a hook with a burm. Maybe they haven't figure out how they work yet.

Do you have any pics of your 19 footer? I love pics of the big ones.

DZ

I know if you scroll down to "Big Bertha pics" you see the big girl. Otherwise, if you email me I will be happy to email a pic to you.