• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Burmese Temperament

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!
...........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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