Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HELP! My Burmese python almost killled me today! Some members at this forum told me that my 2 1/2 long Burm is too small for mice, and should switch to a jumbo mouse or small rat. I found the smallest rat i could find and put it in the smake's cage. Now, i was expecting a smooth transition, but something went quite wrong. It seemed like my snake was EXTREMELY defensive against the rat and started to flatten himself out like crazy, and hissing. Whenever the rat touched the snake, my Burm aggresively pushed him away with his body. It was no ordinary push from what i've been used to. This was so hard that the poor rat literally flew across the cage. The rat then found a little hiding place under a bark.

My first intentions was, "OMG!I better get the rat out of the cage!!" This was also the next problem. My Burm was soo tempermental that he started strikiing the glass whenever i came close. I knew that if i left the rat alone, either something bad might happen, or it just might enrage my snake some more. Getting the rat out was going to be a problem. Well,to make a long story short, i got the rat out and returnded it back to the store.

Now, should i be worried? What i thought was an extremely kind, gentle burm turned into this ferocious snake that was all flattend out, hissing, and striking eratically. Is my Snake no longer holdable and gentle? This is the first time my snake has turned on my for the year that i've owned him now. Could the transition of mouse to rat be a the cause? Was he terrified of the new smell if rats even smell different? Or was it the larger than normal size of the rat that scared him? He tipped over his water bowl during his act, and now i am scared $hitless trying to refill it back. When i came to open the lid to put water in, he struck it. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT"S GOING ON! Thanks ~colby =O

It sounds like your baby was just very threatened by the rat. It was probably the size, and he must not have thought he could eat it. I want to make a quick suggestion, that you switch him over to F/T and do it quick. The younger the better. But he most likely just was threatened by the rat though, and was being very defensive. I would guess he will calm down, and im sure hes not totally ruined as far as handling goes. You might give him a day or two to settle down.

And if he does bite you, just dont pull back. I know its hard to do because you have to overcome your reflexes. But it will be much worse for you and your snake if you pull your hand back, rather than just taking the hit.

Luckily for you hes only a few feet. I have one that is 11 feet that is like that most all of the time.

Good Luck

Dustin
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1.0 Albino Green Burm
0.2 Normal Burm
1.1 Java Retic

Colby I have to call you out here. You are asking all these silly questions (can a burm swim,) and then you come and ask about your burm being agressive or defensive. What I am doubting you is the fact that you jsut stated that you have had this getnle burm for a year now. There is absolutley no way possible that you have a yearling burm that is only 2 1/2 feet long. A burm that is fed just enough to stay alive will grow more than that. I mean come on they are born between 18"-24" so you are saying that in the last year it has only grown one foot at max. I want to finish this by saying that everyone here is more than willing to offer great advice but you can not glamorize things to make it sound like you know more than you do and have more experience than you do. Todd

he is not ruined. he will return back to his sweet self soon you need to pre kill the rat. that way, the rat cant hurt the snake, and you dont have to worry about it. todd is right. your burm is undersized. but get him on a better feeding schudle. get him a rat once a week.

do you have pics? i would love to see some

Predators are very aggressive when they are in the mood to eat! I don't think that your snake is tempremental, I think it's a normal response for a snake to move aggressively towards it's prey and those who are supplying it. Perhaps it was knocking the rat to the side so that it could get it in striking range. Snakes are more aggressive towards live rats than dead ones. Try feeding it pre killed rats for your snake's own safety.

My yearling burm who is a male, is currently pushing 7 foot, close to 9 pounds and pounding down 2 collasule(spelling) rats a week. Some of the questions you are asking, just shouldn't be asked. No one here has problems helping people in fact thats why this forum exist, but it seems as if you bought this burm blind, in terms of knowing anything of snakes in general. If you think a BURM hissing and being defensive is odd, your crazy. I hear my burms hiss in their sleep let alone while in a bad mood. Of course your snake will become defensive to a larger prey item than usual, it's something new, a rat compared to a adult mouse is a huge difference. Than you are asking what to do about to rat being in the cage? Well didn't you throw it in there to be eaten, why are you worried about your snake pushing it, you should be more worried about what a rat will do to your small burm, if you are afraid to take a love tap from your snake dont own one. I'm sorry if I rambled on and hit you in all the wrong spots but you need to thing about things before you jump the gun. First step, find a good caresheet on burms and read it a couple times.

ah man. I asked ANOTHER dumb question?!? Jeez, i can't get these things right. In reply to that rat in the cage question; i was mearly trying to get the rat out since i knew he might bite my snake or something. Then the how long i've had my Burm answer. I really didn't know how i've had my snake, so i just guessed a year. Going back to my calender, i've had him for around ...11 months. And yes, i've feed my snake on a somewhat of a lean diet. About a mouse every two weeks. Well, i didn't want my snake to grow that fast, so i feed him kinda lean.

And about F/T. My local pet store doesnt have any jumbo mice, nor frozen rodents. So, would you guys still consider a small rat for me? Some of you said for me too kill it. Do i just smack it hard against something? Would someone please how to do this effectively? (and no smart answers like "just smack it.?) please.

Well, thanks for the help guys...well, most of you. I'll try and rethink my questions and try and be in a 3rd person view on how people would approach my questions.

This is the correct measurement. The 2 1/2 feet long length i got a few months after i got him.

Why would you get a burm if you did not want it to grow the correct way? And the size still is much to small. Some hatch that big just about it. The best way i have found to kill mice and small rats is something that i haev enver heard of anyoen else doing. You do have some big tweezers don't you? If you don't you are a very unprepared person. Simply grab the rodent around the neck with the tweezers and grab the tail with yuor hand. Make sure you have a tight grip on both ends and simply give it a good yank. That is my preferred way to do it because there is no blood if you do it right and less a mess to clean up. If you don't do it right you can make the mouse suffer so for you just hit the mouse in the back of the head with a metal object or simply thump the back of the head and it will suffice. DO NOT THUMP THE HEAD OF RATS. THEY ARE VERY TOUGH AND IT WON'T KILL THEM UNLES IT IS VERY SMALL. USE A HARD OBJECT OR BASH IT AGAINST A WALL. The snake is still to small. Mine was horribly underfed till I got it and it was 1 1/2 years old and 7' 2"
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Justin

Thanks justin. I'll take your advice into consideration. I'll stick with mice until he's bigger.

Do you have access to baby rabbits? something to consider may be pinky rabbits. I know most people do use mice and such, because they have more babies, and take up a little less room and food than do rabbits. If you have access to them, you might try them.

For killing the prey items, one way is to stick them in a plastic bag, like a grocery bag, and thump them in the wall that way. Make sure you do this one at a time, and dont be afraid to give it a good thunk. This should keep the mess down a bit. Also, make sure you freeze them for at least 48 hrs, and also get the thawed out very well. And 2 weeks is way too long to go for a juvinile. I would go a week at max. I would wait to go 2 weeks until hes eatin rabbits, or multiple large rats.
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1.0 Albino Green Burm
0.2 Normal Burm
1.1 Java Retic

Hey red, I'll e-mail you. I should have some pinky baby rabbits soon, and I plan on getting a baby albino burm if I can't find a big one for a good price that I can pay. Still, I am going to start my retic on baby rabbits f/t. i have heard somewheres that babay rabbits have no nutrition and stuff because they have no fur or good strong bones. aaachew!! Sorry I'm allergic to bull crap ( I saw Will Smith do tht on a preview). I don't see any difference in feeding them that then feeding colubrids pinky mice/rats.
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Justin

I agree with you, i dont see any difference in that. And I think not having all the hair is an advantage. I dont think they can use it anyways. Oh well. Im gonna keep feeding my snakes little fuzzy bunnies. Good luck with ur rabbits. If you have an overage, let me know. Mine dont seem to be producing too well.
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1.0 Albino Green Burm
0.2 Normal Burm
1.1 Java Retic

i am thinking this may not be a burm. but maby a ball python. beacuse if he is only feeding it a mouse every 2 weeks, a burm would still be bigger than 2 1/2 foot.

so coby, would you please post a pic?