Some good Burm books

[Fionnan]

Hi All,
I'm looking into getting a burm in the new year. I've spent the last few months helping a local reptile dealer with his large snakes, basically doing the donkey work like cleaning out but I'm learning about them at the same time. I'm actually having a 5x2x2 built for him this weekend. Its very early but I'm building new cages for my boa's so I figured I should build the burms one now and know everything is set up perfectly before I bring him home. I also know that this won't last him his whole life but it'll do for a while. Anyway, I'd like to know if anybody could recomend some good books to buy on burms? I trust very little of the info I get online.

[dhonaker]

ggod fo you on doing it the right way as far as books im not sure of any

[boaterr]

I have never read a book that had come anywhere close to giving me the information that hands on experience did. A book might say "molurus bivittatus are known to be aggressive eaters" but when you actually take on the task of feeding a large hungry burm that is moving rather fast for such a large animal it helps to have the hands on knowledge to fall back on.

[jbt123]

Maybe someone with good hands-on experience should write a good book on Burms??

I dunno about any currently on the market. There really aren't very many GOOD informative reptile care books at all. It's kinda sad, actually.

[Fionnan]

Originally Posted by boaterr

I have never read a book that had come anywhere close to giving me the information opinions on it. that hands on experience did. A book might say "molurus bivittatus are known to be aggressive eaters" but when you actually take on the task of feeding a large hungry burm that is moving rather fast for such a large animal it helps to have the hands on knowledge to fall back on.

Thanks for the info, when feeding your big snakes. Do you let them strike at the prey or do you just just drop food in and let them take it themselves? Does it make a difference? I have read online (so I'm aware that its probably untrue) that just dropping the prey & letting the snake take it makes them a bit easier to handle. I find it very hard to believe but do you have any opinions on it?

[dhonaker]

i try to just drop it in there and let them take i . its rather hard to pick up a 10 lb bunnie and shake it from tongs

[louise]

the only book that would have prepared me for little max would be 'the exorcist' lol. i am just kidding. he is a great snake. maybe you could find someone you know with a burm and get some hands on experience. that is what i did.

[Fionnan]

Originally Posted by louise

the only book that would have prepared me for little max would be 'the exorcist' lol. i am just kidding. he is a great snake. maybe you could find someone you know with a burm and get some hands on experience. that is what i did.

Thanks Louise, Max is gorgeous! I have been spending time with the local reptile dealers big snakes. He has 3 big burms, 1 retic and a green anaconda. I'm mainly just cleaning them out but I still get to interact with them and I'm definitely getting a feel for their strenght when trying to remove them from the vivs. Does everyone hook train their snakes? I've read that a few people rub the snakes head with a hook to show them its not feeding time?

[louise]

i always touch max with the hook before i get him out.
if you have the funds and space for a big snake....a burm is the best thing in the world, at least in my eyes