Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a baby burm last week and when it got here I saw it had no eyes(looks like it hatched this way no cuts or anything).Now he(I think) eats good(2 hopers already)and he seems to be fine when held and everything.I would like to know how much this happens?I'v had burms(and other big snakes)for about 15 years now and have never seen this before, I know it must happen from time to time, so has any of you ever had one like this before?

I do want to keep this guy,and want to make his life as good as it can be,is there anything I can do to make his life better?

The man I bought him from said he was sorry and asked if I wanted my money back, I told him I would like to keep the snake and he said if I wanted I could keep the burm and get my money back if I wasn't happy. I have not e mailed him back yet,my way of thinking is I'm happy with the snake,so why ask for my money back.

What do you all think?

WOAH! So you're saying the snake has NO EYES at all!?! So what is there left of it? Is it just like an empty socket then? I've never heard of a snake with no eyes before! Wow, how does he eat? Assuming that snakes already have poor eyesight, but he still catches food well? Even without seeing for movement?

That is very weird. I have neve heard of it either. I guess it would be using its heat pits and scent to find food. Post some pics.
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Justin

I have seen this several times. A newborn with either one or both eyes missing (usually just one). If I were you...I would freeze it. It sounds bad, but I think that it would become a safety issue for you and anyone else that handles him. It may be noble to try and save a baby, but I can't imagine trying to feed a 12' burm with no eyes. If it smell food and picks up your heat...accidents happen.

Be careful.

Tom

I think your right about the safety issues, and I KNOW how hard a bigger burm can hit ya it aint fun!!

I'm not trying to be noble, not at all. I realy like this guy,I know I won't be able to handle him when he gets big, not like my others anyway.

It's been killing me thinking about what to do with him,and I had thought about how hard it's going to be in time as he gets older and bigger,and yea I could get another one(to tell the truth I'm getting a few more burms anyway)But this guy...man this is hard.

I don't know I guess I'll have to sleep on it.

For those of you who wanted to know how he looks, I'll post some pics here tomarow.

One more thing, I know I can't spell!!! I'm sorry, I'm working on it.I hope it's not too big of a deal.

Thank you.

Man i am very interste in the snake and would realy like to accept the challenge. I sent you an e-mail. I am realy amzed at things like this. I won't have a problem housing it or anything like that. Just let me know by e-mail if you would be willing to part with it. i am pretty experienced with snakes and general and have worked with many pythons in the past. (other peoples) and I know how some aggro ones are and all, but I used to most respect with them. If you would rather talk to me in person, send me your # and I will call you and come to an agreement. I know I will probably get jumped by someone on the forum or something because of my age. I have all my plans for all y animals when I go to college and will have no problems with anything liek that so please don't bring it up anyone. I ahve more responsibility and respect for animals than most out there.
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Justin

That sounds like the find of a lifetime! You sound like you've made up your mind to keep it but are looking for someone to convince you otherwise. I'd keep it. Don't power feed it so it doesn't get as big. When you lose a sense, the others fine tune and kick in to pick up the slack. I'll bet that snake would not survive in the wild but you have a chance to be a part of something most have never seen.

My guess is you may get bit initially, maybe not if real careful, but as time goes on, just like with any other snake, e'll get used to you. Your call obviously but I'm way jealous!

DZ

I'v been thinking about this since last Thursday and I'v tried to think about every thing. I know you can never think of every thing but I'v tried.I must go with my heart, so I'm going to keep him.Like I said I'v had burms and retics for the last 15 years, I know how to handle big snakes, this will be a little difernt for sure but I know I can handle it.

Now one thing I want to say It's a little off topic so I'm sorry.

Last night I got an e-mail from one of the members here. After reading it and and the one from him today, I just want to say I got my first snake at the age of 15. It was a burm. Not the best first snake for sure.Everyone I knew said I was too young for a burm(exp. the guy at the petstore you all know how that goes) and to just get a corn snake. I got the burm, not a baby but a nice 3 footer. whell not nice at all to tell the truth he bit the [bleep] out of me for the first month or so.But I keep working with him and he tamed down.At the age of 17 I got into retics,now this was almost 13 years ago and I didn't know better so I'm sure it was WC.That snake was a butt head too at first, but again with work he tamed down.What I'm trying to say here is, just cause someone is young does not meen they don't know what to do with a bigger snake.I just wanted to say that.

As I type this I'm waiting for the battiers charge so I can take a few pics. of him. why I wait could some one go over how to post pics here?

Thanks!

I'm glad your not getting rid of Stevie. Real interested what you'll name him.

To post pics you have to click onto my account at the top of the Kingsnake page. Click on new accounts/register for free and the process should guide you through. Up load a pic into the burm photo gallery since that what it is. Then when you post a message in the forumn you can choose from whichever pics you have uploaded into pethobbyist. Temp fix, e-mail me your pic and I'll post it. I gotta see this. If you can, take a high res, clear photo. You sure got lucky, in my opinion.

DZ

thanks!!!

I'm still waiting for the damm batteries to charge,and I got to go get some stuff but when I get back they should be charged enough to snap some shots,I should have the pic up in about an hour or so.

As for nameing him not sure yet, but I like the stevie idea a lot you may of just named him for me(if you don't mind)!

till later have a good one.

If you were talking about me, I'm 16. Even though there is ot a big difference in age. just thought I'll let you know. If you ever, eeeever decide to get rid of him I am still more than willing to take it off your hands. Just let me know by e-mail or simply look for me o one of these forums. I do know what I'm doing.
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Justin

Ok lets try this pic thing;

Sorry about the pic as you can tell I suck at taken pics, I'll try to get some clearer ones later. You can see he has no eyes in this one I just wish I could of gotten a better pic.

Yea I was talking about you, I know your 16, what I was trying to say is just cause your young does not meen you don't know what your doing!I was only 15 when I got my first snake(a burm)

Man, that is just so cool!!!! the snake itself also has very nice colors. Bright yellow. I think I can see a small indentation(spelling?) where the eye sockets ma be. You jusr don't know how interested I am in this. i personanly would not power feed it, but feed it like a regular one. Just use more caution. When it gets bigger, more than 7-8 feet I would get some tongs to feed it with just incase of accidenal feding behavior and would certainly use a hook when I plan on getting it out to let it know that it is not time for a feed. I can't imagine what it would loook like in a few years. have you been feeding f/t p/k or live prey?
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Justin

Thanks!!!

I always feed my young burms pre killed till they go to rabbits then they go to live but K/O'd.( I know, I know, I going to start to give F/T )

I NEVER power feed my snakes, if anything I'v been told I under feed them.I look at it like this, I don't have any kids, my pets are my kids, and I treet them as such. I would never do any thing to hurt them or to lessen there life span.In almost 15 years I'v never lost a snake!! Some had to be sold(most of witch I still see every week or two)But none have died(knok on wood).

Thanks

If for any reason you decide to not keep it just let me know. Who did you get it from (website, etc.) I would realy love to see some more pics of it. how many inches is it? If you decide you do not want it anymore lets say in a few months or whatever, I'll pay a littlebit for the snake too to make up for the cost of the food you have given it. I have got to get one of these.

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Justin

Man I got to keep him, My mother has fallen in love with him, and thats good as shes scared to death of snakes.She said I could feed him and care for him, BUT he is HERS!!!

Pluse I talked to the guy I got him from today, and he wants him back very bad, turns out I should of never been given the snake in the first place, it was just a mix up.After I told him about my mom he said I could keep him.I told him any time he wants he can come see him.I don't know about saying who I got him from, I have told them about this post,so if they want they can say,or when I talk to them I'll ask if it's alright.Also would it be ok to say? I meen would that be advertising?

That's no problem, I just mean if you have to get rid of him somehwere down the line or you loose interest in him I'll be more than happy to take him off your hands. Keep us updated on him though.
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Justin

Man I got to keep him, My mother has fallen in love with him, and thats good as shes scared to death of snakes.She said I could feed him and care for him, BUT he is HERS!!!

Pluse I talked to the guy I got him from today, and he wants him back very bad, turns out I should of never been given the snake in the first place, it was just a mix up.After I told him about my mom he said I could keep him.I told him any time he wants he can come see him.I don't know about saying who I got him from, I have told them about this post,so if they want they can say,or when I talk to them I'll ask if it's alright.Also would it be ok to say? I meen would that be advertising?

sorry about the double post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there anyway to remove it?

I have been thinking abou thtis since I first read your post and I have a thought. There is know way without medical help to determine whether your snake actually has eyes and possibly the skin just never developed properly around them. I am thinking that a good vet could possibly tell whether the actually eyeball is there and the nerves are there through either an ultrasound or something like a MRI. If they are there and seem to be developed then there is a strong possibility that a good vet could creat the eye openings and the snake would be "normal" Just a thought , Todd

Ya my vet wants to see him, anyway.

When ever I get a new snake, I take it to my vet. Most the time he'll want me to wait till I'v had it for a mounth or so, unless anything looks to be wrong.He can't wait to see this one, so I'm taking him in next week.