Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well i'm looking into getting one of the many morphs of this snake and i just wanted to ask a few questions before i do anything. First off i plan to buy this snake as a baby and i know that this snake can get quite large but i really wanted to know that when this snake gets big will it be aggressive? Cause i don't want a snake that is gonne make me fear for my life because of how big and strong it will be. I just want one of these giants to be rather nice and passive. Is there such a thing with the Burms or should i be looking into getting another type of snakes. Please don't take me as a beginner because i have been around snakes my entire life and the job i currently have is with these huge snakes. I just wanted to hear everyones opinion on will i have to worry about this snake being very mean and aggressive? Thanks.

"Cause i don't want a snake that is gonne make me fear for my life because of how big and strong it will be. I just want one of these giants to be rather nice and passive."

Aside from my suspicion that you are fairly young, I think the above statement is exactly the reason why you're not ready for a large boid.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW DOCILE OR "TAME" IT IS -THE FACT IS THAT A LARGE BOID CAN AND WILL KILL YOU UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. Period. ONE wrong move and you can be dead, and the rest of the hobbyists have to endure the media frenzy that will follow.

When dealing with a large snake, you must ALWAYS consider that they can and sometimes will do unexpected things that could be potentially life-threatening. When you get complacent, you put yourself in danger. I did that one time - went to feed a 13' Burmese that was in a temporary cage (6x2x3), top opening, etc. I used 4' tongs to lower the rabbit towards her, but she missed the rabbit and went after me instead. If I hadn't had my mega-sized python hook in the other hand, and the presence of mind to drop the rabbit and use both hands to hook her away from me, I'd be dead right now. What was the simple mistake I made?? Simple - I was ALONE and feeding what was otherwise the most docile burmese you could find. I got lazy and complacent, and forgot that I was still dealing with a potentially deadly animal.

:::big breath:::

OK, I'll be quiet now...

See my post on this below (use the link)....

One more reason to reconsider a large boid

-----
Bonnie Keller
VA Reptile Rescue
www.vareptilerescue.org

Everything Bonnie says here is very true. These things can and do happen, unfortunately. I personally have been wrapped a number of times over the last 28 years and a few of them came very close to ending up with me being dead. But there are risks in everything we do every day in life, so I don't think this is reason to NOT get a pet burmese, but I DO think it is very good reason for having a very deep respect for the animal and for never letting your guard down. Like Bonnie said, don't become complacent. Just like you don't cross a street without looking both ways, always look for potential danger when handling large pythons. And experience and years involved do not amount to less danger. Some of my closest calls from some of my stupidest mistakes were after a point in my herping (career?) where I considered myself to be a pro and I began to get careless. Well no more on that and I hope my words are not lost on you here. No matter how much a person knows about an animal, things can and will happen. Always be careful. But do have your pet.
By the way Bonnie, I respect you and what you do immensely. And I understand why you do not advocate more burmese/retic ownership, and I am a little on the fence with that whole subject,.... But seriously, I don't think we should paste a blanket "do not get one!" statement to everyone that inquires about a burm for a pet. You never know who is the next Steve Irwin in the group. Look at what he and his wife have done for public awareness and respect for reptiles in general. What young herpers need is more encouragement, not harsh dissuasion. And face it, unfortunately there are always going to be a bunch of less than insightful people looking to turn a quick buck by breeding their normal burms. Sad but true. So maybe it's better to help build and shape more good homes for them to go to than to elliminate the buyers. Then where do they go? I really don't know if there IS an answer to the dilemma. It's one of those complex things that seems paradoxical and that there is no cookie cutter solution to. But for now,... while there are burmese available,. I think it makes more sense to help place them in good care. Don't you?

>>
>>IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW DOCILE OR "TAME" IT IS -THE FACT IS THAT A LARGE BOID CAN AND WILL KILL YOU UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. Period. ONE wrong move and you can be dead, and the rest of the hobbyists have to endure the media frenzy that will follow.
>>
>>When dealing with a large snake, you must ALWAYS consider that they can and sometimes will do unexpected things that could be potentially life-threatening. When you get complacent, you put yourself in danger. I did that one time - went to feed a 13' Burmese that was in a temporary cage (6x2x3), top opening, etc. I used 4' tongs to lower the rabbit towards her, but she missed the rabbit and went after me instead. If I hadn't had my mega-sized python hook in the other hand, and the presence of mind to drop the rabbit and use both hands to hook her away from me, I'd be dead right now. What was the simple mistake I made?? Simple - I was ALONE and feeding what was otherwise the most docile burmese you could find. I got lazy and complacent, and forgot that I was still dealing with a potentially deadly animal.
>>
>>:::big breath:::
>>
>>OK, I'll be quiet now...
>>
>>See my post on this below (use the link)....
>>
>>
>>One more reason to reconsider a large boid
>>
>>-----
>>Bonnie Keller
>>VA Reptile Rescue
>>www.vareptilerescue.org
-----
The fastest way to achieve great wealth is by living more poorly for much longer.

I will be the next steve irwin. It wil take a few years from now but just wait and see. Some day you will turn o animal plane and here Justin Sticklin. The night it airs I will come to this very forum and tell you about. Guarranteed.
Justin

Dude,.. I don't doubt it for a second. Just believe in your dreams, believe in yourself and above all else don't ever give up on accomplishing your goals. I happen to know personally that one can accomplish anything one sets their mind to accomplishing even if it is sometimes hard work. Don't ever think there is a short cut or a quick and easy way to achieve huge goals. The larger the goal, the harder the work to get there, period. But it's worth it when all is said and done.

>>I will be the next steve irwin. It wil take a few years from now but just wait and see. Some day you will turn o animal plane and here Justin Sticklin. The night it airs I will come to this very forum and tell you about. Guarranteed.
>>Justin
-----
The fastest way to achieve great wealth is by living more poorly for much longer.

How old are you and where do you live? And how much reptile experience do you currently have?

>>I will be the next steve irwin. It wil take a few years from now but just wait and see. Some day you will turn o animal plane and here Justin Sticklin. The night it airs I will come to this very forum and tell you about. Guarranteed.
>>Justin
-----
The fastest way to achieve great wealth is by living more poorly for much longer.

I'm 15. Live in north west Albama. I have been working with reptiles for 15 years. no kidding either. My parents say that I wa chasing frogs and litltle lizards and stuff before I could walk.

Brian, thanks for the clear, calm response.

I guess I really should clarify MY position on Burmese, as I think most of my posts have made it seem that I am anti-Burmese. That's not really the case.

Some background first:

1) I'm a high school science teacher. I love working with young people, and went back to teaching after a 1 year hiatus, which proved to me how much I needed to be working with adolescents. Last year I shaved my head to help one of my students in her fight against brain cancer. She lost her fight in January, but I didn't regret for a second what I'd done, and I'd do it again. I *love* working with this age group (I teach mostly 9th graders), and I know the wide range of maturity levels found amongst teens. Further, I love encouraging youngsters to get into herping- which I frequently do. (I recently gave away my very first leopard gecko hatchling to one of my students - this is a kid most teachers "write off" because he looks different (he's a Goth). I didn't do that, and now have a young person who thinks of me as a friend and role model. I'm flattered.

2) I've been doing rescue for 6 years now, in two different states. I've seen the best of care and the worst of care, and everything in between. I've seen well-meaning folks and people who were intentially evil. Most folks are on the better end of that scale.

3) I've been handling reptiles since I was old enough to walk, and have been keeping them since I was 16..

Now, my position on Burmese and other large boidae: 99% of the human population should NOT have these snakes, period, because they can't/won't give them appropriate husbandry (caging, atmospheric variables, handling, cleaning, etc.) Unfortunately, most of the large boids I take in come from people who INTENDED to do the right thing, wanted a large snake, and thought they could handle it. (Then there are the fewer (fortunately) idiots who got one just because it was "cool" to have a big snake so they could scare people with it.) These well-meaning folks found that their circumstances changed beyond their control, for various reasons (baby being born, new spouse/partner, living arrangements changed, etc.) Some are very concerned that they find themselves unable to live up to the committment they made when they bought the animal. Others just see that "it's just an animal", and they plan to get another one when their circumstances change again. :::sigh:::

The bottom line is that life circumstances do change unexpectedly sometimes. Other times, interests fade, money becomes an issue, etc. This is the same for other hobbies, but the difference is that the result is a LARGE, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS animal now needs a new home because of it. It's one thing when I have to rehome a ball python or colubrid - it's quite another to find a home for an animal that I know has the potential to kill someone else. The weight of this possibility is one I feel every day - it's a responsibility to the person as much as it is to the animal. If I fail to turn someone away from owning a large snake, and they ultimately pay the price for it, I have failed three communities: 1) The herping community, 2) The family/friends of that person and 3) the animals involved.

So, for those folks who have a stable situation in life (not saying that stable people can't have changes, but fewer than others), AND have enough time/space/money/interest to make a possible 40-year committment to a large predatory animal, I say GO FOR IT!! I love these animals, I think they are fantastic examples of the "Great Danes" of the snake world (big, dumb, but generally docile). But, I do not feel that most people SHOULD take on this responsibility - as most folks, especially young people, can't imagine where they'll be in 5 years, 10 years, etc..

As for me, I probably wouldn't have Burmese for these reasons. But, since I have possession of these animals, I accept responsibility for being the 2nd-to-last stop on their path to finding a home for life. While they are here, they will be respected, admired, and lovingly cared for. But they will never be confused as being "pets".

-----
Bonnie Keller
VA Reptile Rescue
www.vareptilerescue.org

You are more than welcome, and thank you too for the same, courteous and mature conveyance of your thoughts and views on this often troubling situation with these amazing animals.

You may be surprised, but my views are almost identical to yours when it comes to burmese (and any other giant) and what is going on with them due to overbreeding and most ridiculous of all, the continuing importation of this wonderful reptile. I personally would NEVER breed a normal and every breeder or potential breeder that I speak to that shows any interest in this absurd notion I immediately work on changing their mind. I usually use the most logical and sensible approach, "You won't make anything!" and then,.. "Here's the huge problem with abandoned burms." It is usually understood and I steer them into a species or morph that is considerably "less expendable". But yes,.. I do care VERY much about this problem and I wish I could do more to help it somehow. And I can't help but feel guilt for feeling somehow partly responsible for producing thousands of them in the 80's. Had I fathomed any inkling of what would be happening now and over the last decade I never would have done it on the scale that I did, but there was a HUGE demand for them and they were easy to breed and I was young and dumb and lacked foresight. I felt justified that I was providing something for the public for 100.00 that pet stores sold for 299.00

But back to now... I am aware that most people that are inclined to get a burmese have no clue what they are in for (not that it's hard or in any way complex to keep one,.. just more than they imagine) and that they should never ever get one. I agree with you 100%! I would probably even agree with your estimated statistics that it is as high as 99% that would not make competant giant python keepers. But this figure I would only place on the general public that wanders into a pet shop to buy a flea collar and sees a cute little burmese and wants one. I would not apply this same percentage to folks that frequent this forum. I would hedge an educated guess that MOST of the people here have a genuine love and interest in reptiles and that they already have marked experience and a huge capacity to learn what they need to learn to properly care for any reptile. It isn't strength or a high IQ or even a certain age that makes one elligible or competant to be the owner of any particular reptile. I think it is desire and dedication. Love and respect. I know a little old lady that has half a dozen huge alligators that she has had for over 50 years. To watch her interact with her gators one would think her crazy, but she knows what she's doing and they are well cared for. And I know young children that have potentially dangerous reptiles that genuinely respect the animals and what they can do and they shape their care and maintainence of these animals around those potential dangers and as a result their reptiles are well cared for. I myself got my first burmese when I was 10 or 11. I got my first huge burmese (12 feet, huge to me at that time) when I was 11 or 12. I had nobody to teach me anything. I was flying by the seat of my pants and learning by trial and error. Not a lot was generally known about them in the 70's (referring to general public, etc). So knowing what I know now I realize how lucky I was that I didn't die at a young age due to a fatal misjudgement or mistake. I made many. I was bitten and wrapped by that large female during the first month or so. Fortunately it was just my left hand and left arm. But nobody was home and I was trapped between her cage and the wall, a small space about 10 or 12 inches wide. (I was very small then). I had no choice but to wait it out. But in that few minutes I learned a lot. I was a fearless kid (equals "stupid" lol) and was very quickly over any fright of the bite, and was soon studying this snake on my arm, trying to ignore the sheer pain. But I remember clearly I was just amazed by what was happening and my face was just inches from her head and eyes. I remember patting her head gently and seeing her eye move in responce to this. I tried to get her attention to "let her know it was me" (I didn't know how stupid they were then) and it did seem that she reccognised at the very least that I was not a rabbit, and it was shortly after that that she began the very painful process of releasing me and "flinching" her teeth out of my skin. I never regretted this first serious burm bite/wrap, and I learned a lot from it, I feel. I used the 'stay still, rub head' method every time after that if both my hands were free during a feeding response grab, and it has almost always worked. If it didn't, just staying still also worked. (you wouldn't believe me if I told you about the time I was grabbed by the face and my head and upper body was wrapped, so I'll save that for another day. But I was alone, and the laying still thing worked and I am alive today because of it)

But yeah, I was lucky many times over and even though I lived through many years of way too many stupid mistakes, I don't ever reccomend a burmese for anyone under an age where they are: Very responsible, listen to elders, of an age where they are not prone to panic, and are of a size where 3 years later when their burmese is a large adult, they too are of a relative "adult human size". So basically about 15 is probably the youngest one should be. But as you pointed out when describing the maturity spectrum amongst same-age groups, this figure is also relative.

But again,.. I DO feel that most people here in this forum are potential good homes for otherwise "to be abandoned" burmese/retics. Not those that duck in real quick and ask a silly question, but the long term members that are genuinely serious about herping for life and love their pets. (And yes, I, unlike you, ALWAYS consider my every reptile to be a pet. It doesn't matter to me if it can kill me or cares if I am alive or not. It just deserves my respect as its keeper to think of it as a wonderful pet and get the best care I can give it.) And I seriously think we should all do everything we can to help shape more potential homes for large constrictor ownership. It seems to make the most sense to do what we can to COUNTER the burmese/retic overpopulation, not to dimminish the options.

And lastly, Bonnie,.. right now I am focusing 99% of my efforts into building a successful reptile morph empire,.. but when it levels off,.. when things smooth out and I am not so busy with the building stages of this endeavor,... and it's more of a low maintainence daily upkeep,... I would like to offer my home for large burmese python adoption. I really love the normals the most, believe it or not, yet I don't have any. For now it is about business and investments, but soon it will also include herps just for pet purposes too. And I really want some normals. Needless to say I would never breed them. I think you know this already. But hopefully I can begin to do my part to help ease the strain of taking in so many rescues. This would likely be after the middle of next year, so we will have plenty of time to work out the details. Let me know what you think of this.

Thanks for taking the time to read my long post.

>>Brian, thanks for the clear, calm response.
>>
>>I guess I really should clarify MY position on Burmese, as I think most of my posts have made it seem that I am anti-Burmese. That's not really the case.
>>
>>Some background first:
>>
>>1) I'm a high school science teacher. I love working with young people, and went back to teaching after a 1 year hiatus, which proved to me how much I needed to be working with adolescents. Last year I shaved my head to help one of my students in her fight against brain cancer. She lost her fight in January, but I didn't regret for a second what I'd done, and I'd do it again. I *love* working with this age group (I teach mostly 9th graders), and I know the wide range of maturity levels found amongst teens. Further, I love encouraging youngsters to get into herping- which I frequently do. (I recently gave away my very first leopard gecko hatchling to one of my students - this is a kid most teachers "write off" because he looks different (he's a Goth). I didn't do that, and now have a young person who thinks of me as a friend and role model. I'm flattered.
>>
>>2) I've been doing rescue for 6 years now, in two different states. I've seen the best of care and the worst of care, and everything in between. I've seen well-meaning folks and people who were intentially evil. Most folks are on the better end of that scale.
>>
>>3) I've been handling reptiles since I was old enough to walk, and have been keeping them since I was 16..
>>
>>Now, my position on Burmese and other large boidae: 99% of the human population should NOT have these snakes, period, because they can't/won't give them appropriate husbandry (caging, atmospheric variables, handling, cleaning, etc.) Unfortunately, most of the large boids I take in come from people who INTENDED to do the right thing, wanted a large snake, and thought they could handle it. (Then there are the fewer (fortunately) idiots who got one just because it was "cool" to have a big snake so they could scare people with it.) These well-meaning folks found that their circumstances changed beyond their control, for various reasons (baby being born, new spouse/partner, living arrangements changed, etc.) Some are very concerned that they find themselves unable to live up to the committment they made when they bought the animal. Others just see that "it's just an animal", and they plan to get another one when their circumstances change again. :::sigh:::
>>
>>The bottom line is that life circumstances do change unexpectedly sometimes. Other times, interests fade, money becomes an issue, etc. This is the same for other hobbies, but the difference is that the result is a LARGE, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS animal now needs a new home because of it. It's one thing when I have to rehome a ball python or colubrid - it's quite another to find a home for an animal that I know has the potential to kill someone else. The weight of this possibility is one I feel every day - it's a responsibility to the person as much as it is to the animal. If I fail to turn someone away from owning a large snake, and they ultimately pay the price for it, I have failed three communities: 1) The herping community, 2) The family/friends of that person and 3) the animals involved.
>>
>>So, for those folks who have a stable situation in life (not saying that stable people can't have changes, but fewer than others), AND have enough time/space/money/interest to make a possible 40-year committment to a large predatory animal, I say GO FOR IT!! I love these animals, I think they are fantastic examples of the "Great Danes" of the snake world (big, dumb, but generally docile). But, I do not feel that most people SHOULD take on this responsibility - as most folks, especially young people, can't imagine where they'll be in 5 years, 10 years, etc..
>>
>>As for me, I probably wouldn't have Burmese for these reasons. But, since I have possession of these animals, I accept responsibility for being the 2nd-to-last stop on their path to finding a home for life. While they are here, they will be respected, admired, and lovingly cared for. But they will never be confused as being "pets".
>>
>>
>>-----
>>Bonnie Keller
>>VA Reptile Rescue
>>www.vareptilerescue.org
-----
It isn't "Ideas" that fail or succeed,... it is the "Sytstems" which are instilled to launch and sustain the idea that either fail or succeed.>[Me.]

I should have said that they are not "just a pet", rather than saying they aren't considered pets. ALL of my reptiles are my pets, but what I was trying to say is that I realize that these big ones are pets only in the sense that I am their caretaker. To think that they (or any reptile, for that matter) reciprocate my affection for them would be foolish... (I wish they did...) Oddly, people often ask me if my animals "love" me, as they see me cuddle and coo at them, like I do my fur-babies. I regretfully inform them otherwise, but it doesn't stop me from keeping on cooing... <g>

Thanks for the great discussion. When you're ready for some Burms, let me know.
-----
Bonnie Keller
VA Reptile Rescue
www.vareptilerescue.org

Yes,. that's how I view it too,. whether it is in fact an animal that can actually emulate "love" via dependancy related emotions and behavior,.. or a scaly- cold blooded thing that would just as soon have my leg for lunch as a bucket of animal parts,.. I love them all equally and do consider them all equally loved "pets". I was about to post another post stating that we must just have a slightly different definition of the word "pet" that may be causing the confusion, but then I saw this. Way to go,. I'm glad that you feel the same love and dedication for your pets as I do. My respect has deepened. And yes,. I will certainly let you know when I am ready to take on some "pet" (lol) burmese for "pet" purposes. I will want to construct all new and spacious facilities as I am planning to do for my present breeding stock. They currently reside in adequate, but still small (in my opinion) environments at this time (78"x39"X18", due to the fact that I need to move them soon and don't see the need in making elaborate caging and such if it must be torn down and thrown away in a few months, just to rebuild at the permanent facility. I will keep you posted. And I too have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with you. I'm glad we had it. Not only was I able to get to know YOU personally better and to better understand you,. but you certainly brought up valid points that I often overlook. So in a sense you certainly dotted my I's and crossed my T's for me and everyone reading this can truly benefit from it.

>>I should have said that they are not "just a pet", rather than saying they aren't considered pets. ALL of my reptiles are my pets, but what I was trying to say is that I realize that these big ones are pets only in the sense that I am their caretaker. To think that they (or any reptile, for that matter) reciprocate my affection for them would be foolish... (I wish they did...) Oddly, people often ask me if my animals "love" me, as they see me cuddle and coo at them, like I do my fur-babies. I regretfully inform them otherwise, but it doesn't stop me from keeping on cooing... <g>
>>
>>Thanks for the great discussion. When you're ready for some Burms, let me know.
>>-----
>>Bonnie Keller
>>VA Reptile Rescue
>>www.vareptilerescue.org
-----
It isn't "Ideas" that fail or succeed,... it is the "Sytstems" which are instilled to launch and sustain the idea that either fail or succeed.>[Me.]

I think several of my snakes have an 'I think you're crazy' facial expression reserved for when I tell them how cute they are. They sort of just roll their eyes. Of course, my dog does the same thing, so go figure.

I especially liked this......."But they will never be confused as being "pets"."

Very good post. And, very true. I enjoyed the time you put into that post.
John
-----
"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."

Hi,
If the snake is docile as a juvenile it will most likely grow up to be a docile adult. Getting one as a baby is the wisest thing you can do as you are able to "grow with" your burmese and learn his or her quirks and sort of shape a relationship of sorts with it. I currently have over 30 large burmese and every single one of them is docile, gentle and just plain great pets. No two are exactly alike. Some have little hissy fits when touched, but it's all bluff and there is no serious threat to it, and as soon as I pick them up they are just excited about being out and are investigating everything around them. I think they make great pets, even when large and in the 2 to 4 years before it becomes quite large you can learn everything you need to learn to properly care for it as a large adult. Just as long as you realize that you will have this pet for 25 to 30 years and you are prepared to make this lifelong commitment. I would NEVER reccomend any boid to any person that wants it just for a few years or sells their pets at a sudden whim. I still have pets I had in the early 70's and I would expect any decent herper to still have their pet python they got now as a baby in the year 2033.

>>Well i'm looking into getting one of the many morphs of this snake and i just wanted to ask a few questions before i do anything. First off i plan to buy this snake as a baby and i know that this snake can get quite large but i really wanted to know that when this snake gets big will it be aggressive? Cause i don't want a snake that is gonne make me fear for my life because of how big and strong it will be. I just want one of these giants to be rather nice and passive. Is there such a thing with the Burms or should i be looking into getting another type of snakes. Please don't take me as a beginner because i have been around snakes my entire life and the job i currently have is with these huge snakes. I just wanted to hear everyones opinion on will i have to worry about this snake being very mean and aggressive? Thanks.
-----
The fastest way to achieve great wealth is by living more poorly for much longer.

Brian hit it right on the head. If you start with a baby you will learn every little nuance of this animal's personality. Even though temperment is never guaranteed, when you start with a baby, both you and the snake will learn each other's personalities. I am always hesitant in recommending a burm as a pet knowing how many become abandoned, but you are asking the right questions and if you are aware of what you are getting yourself into, then just make sure you spend plenty of time with your baby. And, learn proper techniques for managing large constrictors. We have 6 burms and I absolutely love them all; but I always respect what they are capable of doing. Good luck.

Rob Carmichael, Director/Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

Where have you been the last couple weeks Rob? That new project taking up all of your free time? Well I for one have missed your posts immensely and it's really good to see you back around,... even if it may just be temporary until your new facility project is completed and operational. How is that going by the way? Good I hope. And I hope you can make it back soon to be here on a daily basis. Cheers!

>>Brian hit it right on the head. If you start with a baby you will learn every little nuance of this animal's personality. Even though temperment is never guaranteed, when you start with a baby, both you and the snake will learn each other's personalities. I am always hesitant in recommending a burm as a pet knowing how many become abandoned, but you are asking the right questions and if you are aware of what you are getting yourself into, then just make sure you spend plenty of time with your baby. And, learn proper techniques for managing large constrictors. We have 6 burms and I absolutely love them all; but I always respect what they are capable of doing. Good luck.
>>
>>
>>Rob Carmichael, Director/Curator
>>The Wildlife Discovery Center
>>City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)
-----
The fastest way to achieve great wealth is by living more poorly for much longer.

Brian, I have been doing very, very well. Yes, the planning of our new wildlife center has taken up much of my time. I have also been leading a group of junior high students on a field herpetology trip to an island in the middle of Lake Michigan for the past two weeks (and yes, it is LOADED with herps)....to me, this is the best part of my job; providing life changing experiences for young kids and who knows, maybe a few future herpetologists in the making. My own field research (eastern massasaugas and eastern indigos) has kept me busy as well as my own breeding projects (just had a batch of eastern indigos hatch). That, along with maintaining our collection, doing many outreach educational programs, teaching college classes, and spending quality time with my family pretty much takes up all of the time that I have. I don't know if I will ever be able to get back here on a daily basis but hopefully I can check in every now and then....I do miss visiting the forum every day a bit.

Like the others said... Get a burm as a baby, and makre sure it's tame.

I got one of my burms as a baby who was aggressive. With MUCH time and effort invested into the taming of him down, he's much better but still isn't the kind of snake I would trust for a second. Given the chance, he will still try and bite and eat me. He's still slowly coming along.. but I know I will never be able to fully trust this snake.

On average, as burms get larger they get more "lazy" so to speak, and are like big babies when full grown. But not always. And even if they are most of the time a big sluggish "baby" at 20ft, you have to remember to RESPECT the snake, because at any given moment they can forget their sluggish nature and be a sheer mass of muscle that is quicker than you could have ever imagined, a second is all it takes

Anyways.. I say go for getting a burm. Just make sure it's tame and know fully what you're getting yourself into. They live for a very long time, and get VERY big.

Another snake you might consider is a red tailed boa. They can still get fairly large (although nothing compared to a burm).
-----
Randilyn -;,-
Desolate Gray: Reptiles

Everyone in here has very good points and I would consume it all. And I am not say scared of my burm but I do respect her, and the size and strenth, and what it is capiable of even though right now she is a dwarf at 4ft. Never forget that, dont handle it alone when it gets bigger, and never think you know it all or trust it completly. People have made suggestions that I would have loved to have done and that is find somone who has one that is large and take care of it for awhile (if you can). And if you want a big snake that gets some size try a boa (if you decide against a burm but a boa can do damage as well), they can get big but not as big as a burm, but if a burm is what you want and you remeber to respect it and are ready for it then go for it. I had my doubts when I was going to get one as well, it can be overwelming but I did alot of looking into it and wanted one and got it. Things like can poop like a horse, and eats a ton, needs alot of room, are things that I read and you will need to provide, and it came down to I always wanted a big snake so I got one.
Good Luck and I know everyone in here is here to help if you need it.

Hello,

I just want to comment on your question shortly. I think you shouldn't be taking a burm. As you will (should) already know: They are and always will be wild animals. They won't become TRUSTABLE pets. A person handling a burm should always be alert.
My 12' adult labyrinth burm is a very calm animal. I "always" can take her out of her cage without being bitten . Except for that one time last month when she bit me in the arm and would't let go for 20 minutes. No alcohol or cold water made a difference...It really hurt! Am i afraid of her now...not really, but i am very cautious now! My wounts are not even that bad because she bit me over my watch wich i was wearing. So it was a cheap learning experience as we say it in holland!

I agree with most of the replies you've received. A Burmese can cause a fatality if the keeper is not consciencious 100% of the time when around one. In the (imo outdated) Burmese Python Manual by Vosjoli, he states "many people who buy a Burmese probably should not." If you try to understand why a large number of Burmese lose their homes you can see the potential husbandry problems and fear problems through someone else's eyes. Perhaps that will give you the answers you seek. Just about anyone can house, feed, and handle a cute huggable baby. It is when that baby outweighs the handler that problems of fear ocur. IMO, if you start with a baby and handle regularly and provide the best husbandry, you will have a tractable snake- not a domesticated snake- just one that is used to handling and won't go for a tag everytime the cage door is opened. An important point to consider is tractability of the parents. If the parents, as full grown adults, are tractable, chances are the offspring will be also. Consider that as you shop around for a baby. I purchased two baby Burmese 3 1/2 years ago and I've never regretted the decision. They are high maintenance animals but they are wonderful pets that I am proud to care for.
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Marcia Pimentel
Tango River Reptiles
GiantFeeders

I usually think that when people ask questions like these they already know the answer. Really, you know if you're experienced enough to handle the animal, given the husbandry requirements and rewards, drawbacks, and warnings because you know your experience level. I really think not much more can be said because everyone else covered everything so wonderfully. Just remeber that nothing is 100% safe in anything...somethings are more dangerous than others and good luck with your decision.