Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an 8 month old burmese and he or she (getting probed next week) has had a few problems so far. it caught pnemonia (spelling) and we gave home injections and is now 100% better. while it was sick, it shed, and its shed was flaking so i soaked it in warm water and the rest came off fine but now some scales stick up and i was wondering if that will go away as it grows? also, it will not eat pre killed rats so i have to feed live (heartbreaking) and yesterday the rat bit my snake. snake seems fine i put a little neosporin on the wound. does that happen often? ok sorry for rambling but i have one more question, it has never struck at anyone and is sooo gentle when held but when you firstgrab it, it does a hiss like its pissed. maybe its just its personality. thanks you guys!

My burm is 10 months so we are sort of in the same boat. If when he sheds it comes off flaky you need to raise his humidity. They like about 85% and I can't get mine any higher thta 55%. Just mist him/her a lot when he goes blue. Thats what I do.
Secondly mine doesn't like prekilled either but he takes them reluctantly. Just try to make it seem as alive as posible. Maybe microwave the rat a little to simulate body heat. Try wiggling him around too. Keep trying cause the longer it goes the harder it will be.
They do get bitten sometimes, neosporine is the best you can do. Just monitor it as it heals.
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1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Burmese Python

I would avoid using a mocrowave to heat your frozen rodents. A microwave heats food items from the inside out and it might be difficult to determine just how hot the actual inside of the rodent is. I would strongly recommend simply placing the rodent it hot water to raise its body temperature. Todd

I strongly discourage the feeding of live but I fully understand that on occasions it is required. Having said that I would suggest atleast stun the rat by thumping and rendering it almost unconscious. It will still twitch and stuff wo it should still trigger a feeding response with your burm but more than likely will not have enough coordination to launch a defensive attack against your snake.
As far as the hissing it honastly just might be your burms personality. One of my burms is the hissiest snake I have ever owned. she is a real handfull. Anyway, carefull observation over time will help you determine whether it is just related to its recent incidence with the rat or some other reason. If not and she is a vocal snake just learn to work with it within its parameters. good luck, Todd

ok he is doing ok...just a little water....he is shedding again so thats good...he is about 4 1/2 feet and he weights about 3-4 pounds..i have pics..i should post them...