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Burmese Temperament

S

snakewrangler

Project Python LLC
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I consider myself an experienced snake owner. I maintain a good size collection of about 30 animals, which include a couple of difficult specimens such as a yellow anaconda and a WC coachwhip, as well as a couple rescued animals with less than desirable attitudes.

My question is in regards to the Burmese pythons. I have read a few articles, books, and forum sites which indicate that these snakes are gentle giants.

Maybe I'm not doing something correctly, but these are by far the most aggressive snakes I have ever owned. I have a male who I would estimate to be between 2-3 years old and a female who is four months old. I also used to own a pair of albino labyrinths that I sold because every time I had to clean the tub or change the water bowl, they would draw blood. They strike hard and it hurts! I do not underfeed any of my snakes, and I have always tried to keep the proper temps, humidity, etc.

Is there something that I don't know about here? do they get to an age when they all of a sudden just chill out? My anaconda is easier to work with than this baby burm....help!
 
Take your medicine...lol

Hey,
I have kept about 18 Burms. over the last 16yrs and they have all had just about the same temperament. Maybe not at first but with some handling I would say Burms. are in fact gentle giants. Not many people want to hold them in the "mean time." It must be done in order to tame them though, and it is a lot easier with a 2' snake than a 10' one.
I was fortunate enough to get most of mine as hatchlings, but a few were between 5'-10' and unhandled when I acquired them.
When I first get a Burm. I leave it alone as much as possible for two weeks. Other than necessary cleaning I do not bother it at all, even to feed. During this time I use a hook.
After two weeks I feed two decent size prey items in a feeding tub, not the snakes enclosure. Then return the snake to its enclosure, still using a hook.
Two days later I start handling the snake about 2-4 hours per day. If they are cage aggressive I may use a hook to remove them from the enclosure for a little while longer. I hold them for 30-45 minute sessions, and return them to their enclosure for about 30min, Then handle again, and repeat. This minimizes their stress, gets them used to being taken in and out of the enclosure. It also allows me time to clean my wounds and stop bleeding between sessions...lol. Usually after a week or two they are pretty well tamed(not even cage aggressive,) and 4-6 weeks later they are puppy dogs!
 
You really do need to put in the time taming them while they are young. Once they get older and have not be handled they might not ever calm down. I have never had a burm bite me in fear, every time I have been bitten it was do to the snakes feeding response (my lack of reading it...). Perhaps try a hook or gloves for the baby and transfer to your hand once out of the enclosure?
 
It has been years since I had a Burm, but one of the things I did was to use a towel to cover my female's head before getting her out of the enclosure. That seemed to settle her down. After I started that, I cannot recall her striking again.
 
As most people know, I am not a proponent of excessive handling as a means of taming snakes...some people like to go that route, though :shrug01: . Burmese pythons go through a few "difficult" phases. The biting baby phase is relatively mild, and most people expect it. Many also go through something akin to the "terrible twos". It largely corresponds to (what should be) a heavy growth period for them. I'll call it from 5-8 ft, but understand that those are not firm numbers. Bolstering the feeding plan for a bit is an easy way to help speed that phase along (don't "over"feed, though, obesity is not their friend...even if it does curtail the nastiness). Once they sexually mature, you often see a reduction of attitude.
 
I am also a big supporter of less handling. Most of my snakes only get handled when I have to. If they dont go to the bathroom for three weeks they only see me do water changes, they dont get touched. My NERD female retic has never been handled more than 10 minutes in a month, and is perfectly fine. My rocks never get handled(expect for my little girl that comes out everytime and sits in my lap, but I dont take her out, she does it whether you want her to or not) and they are pretty decent too.

All in all it might just be you. I would look at if they are doing to everyone or just you. Sometimes its the way you approach them that may be doing it. I have a friend that has been bitten by every single snake he has ever handled. I had snakes for years that have never bitten, and they go after him everytime. It's sad because he loves them, but his approach just bothers them, so he puts up with the blood loss. His anaconda used to wail the :censored: out of him and she was like 8+ feet. God bless him. Better him than me. After biting him or before I could pick her right up throw her on my shoulder and walk around all day, no problem. She was tame with every other person but him. Heck one day I took her out with me for a walk and even had to grab something at petco and she was on my shoulder the whole time(I know this was stupid.....but it happened, and they allow pets in there). She has been in my lap in the car and everything. He also had a bullsnake that was the same way. He used to sit in my lap and all my friend had to do was walk by and the thing would launch at him, but i could rub its chin or head lol. It was quite funny. Anyways I would look to see your approach, and also how others fair handling them and see if that may be the issue. Good luck, Dan M.
 
SethsExotics said:
I consider myself an experienced snake owner. I maintain a good size collection of about 30 animals, which include a couple of difficult specimens such as a yellow anaconda and a WC coachwhip, as well as a couple rescued animals with less than desirable attitudes.

My question is in regards to the Burmese pythons. I have read a few articles, books, and forum sites which indicate that these snakes are gentle giants.

Maybe I'm not doing something correctly, but these are by far the most aggressive snakes I have ever owned. I have a male who I would estimate to be between 2-3 years old and a female who is four months old. I also used to own a pair of albino labyrinths that I sold because every time I had to clean the tub or change the water bowl, they would draw blood. They strike hard and it hurts! I do not underfeed any of my snakes, and I have always tried to keep the proper temps, humidity, etc.

Is there something that I don't know about here? do they get to an age when they all of a sudden just chill out? My anaconda is easier to work with than this baby burm....help!
Click to expand...
...........in general a burmese can be a very docile snake. this is not always the case. i have seen a couple of burmese that would put an afrock to shame. not to say that afrocks are mean, but are generally not as friendly as burms, agian this varies. it all depends on the snake. in most cases with a lot of handling and good husbandry a burm makes a remarkable pet. all in all i would be more concerned with a very agressive feeding response, which 99 percent of burms have. a feeding response is by far more dangerous than a defensive attack. good luck. and if you get bit, keep taking that baby out he or she will come around.
 
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