CHAPTERS

Chapter Two: What Makes Burmese Pythons Ideal as Pets

The real question is, are you also an ideal pet Burmese python keeper? In this chapter, we will delve deeper on what it takes to really become a keeper by learning about its temperament as well as the license or permit needed for keeping them, and also the budget you’ll most probably need to provide all its requirements. These are all important before you purchase a Burmese python snake as your pet. You as a potential keeper need to make sure that your pet snake is safe, secure, and happy.

Tips Before Bringing a Burmese Pet Home

Burmese Pythons are being rumored as a “deadly” snake species because according to some people these snakes have attacked their owners before and hunters are being eaten alive in the wild. Some people say that those stories are only myths, and while it’s true that these snake species are very powerful and can definitely kill a human, it shouldn’t be something that is totally fenced off from those who wanted to keep them as pets especially now that these animals are slowly becoming vulnerable.

Do you have what it takes?

The Burmese Python may not be ideal as pets if you’re a first time snake keeper or python keeper for that matter as they can be quite a lot to handle not to mention their habitat maintenance since they can reach their maximum size in just a few years. Here are some questions to ask yourself before getting a Burmese Python as pets:

• Do you have enough knowledge and experience in handling or keeping snakes?
• Can you provide an adequate living condition for them?
• Can you take the time to learn how to take care of them from hatchlings until they reach adulthood?
• Can you afford to buy everything they need including its diet, cage or enclosures, permits, habitat maintenance materials, veterinary expenses in cases of medical emergencies etc?
• Can you handle the breeding process and breeding maintenance of your snake if ever you decided to breed them?
• Can you handle bites from time to time? All snake keepers even if their pet is docile still get bitten every now and then – it’s part of the job, do you think you can handle that?
• Are your friends and family okay with keeping a snake as pets?

Does Your Housemates Have What It Takes?

Speaking of friends and family, one of the biggest hurdles to getting a pet snake is convincing your housemates. Obviously, the idea of keeping a snake at home is not common, and to one who is not used to snakes, having one at home can be terrifying especially if they have a phobia of snakes.

In this section, we will give you some tips on how to persuade anyone in your house to let you have a pet snake and assure them that it is safe and family – friendly so to speak:

Do’s

• Familiarize your housemates about the snake first. Introduce it to them and tell them about its biological background or tell stories of how pet owners are having fun taking care of them so that they can get used to the idea of it.
• Answer their questions about Burmese pythons like the benefits of taking care of one, how much it will cost, and how big it will get.
• Be honest so that they will be able to assess the risks and costs of living with a pet snake.
• Show them how easy it is to maintain and take care of a Burmese python
• Share stories about how other owners are having fun keeping snakes as pets so your family or friends will know that they do not have to be afraid.
• Assure your relatives or housemates that you are responsible enough to keep your snake, and that they won’t end up having to feed it for you or fight it off, if it escapes and becomes agitated. This can only be done by showing them, not just telling them, that you are a responsible keeper.

Don’ts

• Never tell your family out of nowhere that you already bought or acquired a pet snake without consulting them first (this is a no – brainer).
• Don’t force your family or housemates about keeping a Burmese python if they seriously don’t want to even if you’ve done everything to inform or educate them. The snake might get stressed and/or agitated because they can smell fear from a mile away.
• If they don’t want it, don’t push it! Learn to wait until you can get your own place or until you have their approval. Before you get your own Burmese python, you must make sure the people you live with are okay with it, if you can’t find anyone willing to support you either your roommates or family members, it is better not to take care of one at least in the meantime. Otherwise, you might end up having to relocate it and snakes aren’t easy to put up for adoption or just give to anyone.

Do you have what it takes to keep more than one Burmese Snake?

Just like when considering other pets, the decision of whether you can keep more than one Burmese Python or not depends on your overall capacity to commit to all of them.

Of course, you must also keep in mind that keeping more than one pet means an increase in responsibility and concerns – financially, time wise, and even mentally. Efforts of cleanup and cage maintenance will be doubled, or tripled, if you’re feeling quite up for it. So before committing to buying more than one, you should objectively assess your capacity to provide what your pets will require otherwise you could end up just releasing them into the wild.

Preparation and readiness is key so make sure to make an informed and responsible decision on how many Burmese Pythons you can responsibly and dutifully care for and keep.

Burmese Python Temperament

As one of the friendly python species, Burmese pythons are docile, non – venomous and can adapt with human contact especially if they are being handled at an early age.  Their non – venomous and also non – aggressive nature makes them ideal as family pets even if you have kids.

If you get to handle them, what they usually do is they’ll coil up either on your hand or your body (if they are quite long already) and flicker their tongue to sort of “assess” you. If you have children of course, it’s always good to not left them unsupervised with the snake. Make sure that the snake is also comfortable with being handled before actually handing them out to your kids.

Keep in mind that these snakes are still animals at the end of the day, even if they’re docile and used to interacting with humans it’s still advisable to be cautious all the time especially when handling and feeding them.

Can Burmese Snake Co – Inhabit with Other Household Pets?

Yes and no. That answer depends on how big your shelter or enclosure is since these pets can grow super long over time the issue here won’t be about temperament but rather territoriality.

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