Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am not so sure of his motives as he has never really taken an interest in any of my snakes...Anyway I know nothing about burmese except that they are BIG,can someone point me to a good care/factsheet.

How fast do they grow?
Are males smaller then females?
Are most burmese good tempered?

Im thinking he might drop his interest once I can feed him some facts..
-----
.........
)

I am not sure if you are asking whether you feel that your 17 year old son is ready for a burm but having rescued literally 100's of burms over the years, many from young folks like your son, most are not ready for the long term commitment of keeping a large burm as a pet. They are at an age where their life stage can change suddenly (college, armed forces, unemployment, etc.) and it isn't fair for a snake to have to become an abandoned pet. But, just so that I am not generalizing all 17 year olds, there are some that exhibit a high level of maturity, physical ability, and dedication who also have parents/caregivers who are very supportive and have the expertise to mentor their children, who may be able to care for a burm....they are, however, few and far between.

In terms of care sheets, there are MANY but here's a few important notes:

Temps: 78-80 deg F on the cool end with a basking area that reaches 88-92 deg F. Night temps shouldn't drop below 80. I prefer Pro Product Radiant Heat Panels.

Humidity: I prefer something around 65-80%...don't sacrifice fresh air exchange with high humidity; burms need fresh air but avoid drafts. A misting sytem works great but even hand misting once or twice a day can suffice.

Light: I like to provide full spectrum light for my burms and have noticed an increase in activity, alertness, etc than those kept in traditional dark cages.

Cage: Don't skimp on caging. A full grown adult will need a cage that is at least 8' wide x 3' deep x 2' high. Cages should be securely locked and kept in a locked room. I prefer simple substrates like newspaper, aspen, carefresh, etc. Youngsters need hide areas while adults don't seem to mind lying out in the open as long as they feel secure. Make sure the burm always has fresh water; they don't need to fit their entire body in it!...just a sturdy drinking dish.

Feeding: DON'T OVERFEED. Most captive burms that I have seen are absolutely OBESE which will result in a very short lived animal. An adult doesn't need to be fed more than once or twice a month (rabbits making the idea diet). Youngsters can be fed every other week. A lot depends on activity levels, whether or not the snake is being used for breeding, seasonal feeding response fluctuations, etc. Always use tongs when introducing DEAD prey (avoid live if at all possible).

Safety: Always practice safe management techniques....don't let a classic "stupid feeding error" put your son's life in danger

There is MUCH, MUCH more so ask questions and make sure your son is ready for this immense responsibility.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>I am not so sure of his motives as he has never really taken an interest in any of my snakes...Anyway I know nothing about burmese except that they are BIG,can someone point me to a good care/factsheet.
>>
>>How fast do they grow?
>>Are males smaller then females?
>>Are most burmese good tempered?
>>
>>Im thinking he might drop his interest once I can feed him some facts..
>>-----
>>.........
>>
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL