I have aquestion about a Burmese and I need help !!!!!!!

johninflorida · #1 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 07:54 PM

Hi IM new here and I have a question about a Burmese Python. She is really calm,and about 2 feet long. My brother bought her a few days ago. The problem I have is I know Burms get BIG. I love the snake already but I told him he may not be able to keep her in the long run. My Uncle had one the got to be 14 feet in 3 years then grew to be 18 feet and 200 pounds after a few more years. Is this a normal growth rate for a Burmese? The pet shop where he got it are great people and they gave him the option of returning the Burm if he has to. I told him to get a Red Tail Boa. We have had 2 of them in the past. They get big but not massive. He is still not sure what he wants to do. I am thinking of the snake which a lot of people don't do. My brother makes good money and says he can just have a large enclosure built down the road. It's really his chioce, but I though if I got some advice from other people who have had these snakes it may sway him one way or the other. We are both 23 in case anyone wanted to know.
How big do Burms get in captivity, and how fast? If we fed her once a week is that okay? Will it have a bearing on her growth rate? Thanks for any help.
John
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eddie · #2 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 08:15 PM

Hey John,
Welcome to Redtail!
And you came to a good place to learn.
Burms do get big and heavy, 20 feet plus, and can get over 400 pounds.
The rate of growth depends on how well their care is.
Feeding now ,an appropriate sized item, once a week is fine, but when it gets around 4 feet or so, bring it up to every ten to 14 days in between feedings.
They will still get big quickly and will need not just an enclosure, but almost a whole room, snake proof as to prevent escapes, able to stay warm enough in the summer when most are running air and possibly a heated floor section in case you have any cool snaps.
The other issue is the legality and local/state regs on large consrtrictors, most of the time not too much of a bother, but if you have an escape ....can be a thing that could save your butt and other herpers butts too, in the longrun, by having the paperwork done in advance.
Other things are that when it gets big, it will eat like a horse and poop like one too.
Are very friendly snakes that weigh a LOT! So you got to be cautios around it after a point, especially to prevent a SFE. ( Stupid Feeding Error)
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Karen · #3 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 08:38 PM

Hey there! Welcome to RTB!! Eddie's right about the size of a burmese. lol Maybe try to find someone in your area that has a large Burm and have your brother go visit. The biggest burm I've seen in person was around 19 ft female and she was MASSIVE hahaha . Is this his first snake? If so then I would suggest buying the redtail for some experience first. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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#4 (**permalink**) 04-29-2002, 05:41 PM

Burms do get HUGE ! If there is any questionability as keeping it to the full growth..RETURN THE SNAKE TO THE STORE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED IMMEDIATELY. Last thing we all need is another burm winding up in rescue down the road cuz someone can't/isn't able to keep it once it gets to a certain size thank you.
YES they get HUGE..here's some of mine....

This is MONTY..She's 4 years old..15'+ length..weighs 45 lbs and is actually underweight atm. She was a rescue...

This is L'Emmone...She also is 4 years old..and is 8' in length.....She was an adoption...

Should you decide to keep the snake..Do NOT even think of reducing the feed offered to keep it's size down. ALL you would get is a health problem and a VERY PISSY burm at that.
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#5 (**permalink**) 04-29-2002, 05:43 PM

OH YEAH..BTW..the burmese is a PYTHON..so I moved the thread to the PYTHON forum also.
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