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  #1  
Old 01/05/2008, 04:04 PM
MarkS MarkS is offline
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Question So, let's just say I lost my mind and decided to get back into the reptile hobby...

I've been wanting to get a male and female Burmese Python for some time now. I used to keep snakes, including Burmese and Ball pythons and even a red-tail boa, in my late teens, but have been out of the hobby for well over a decade.

I have a huge plywood box that was going to be a plywood aquarium, but the size was just too big for me to finish. It measures 8' long x 3' deep x 2' high. It can easily be converted to the task of snake cage and would be big enough for a pair of Burmese for quite some time.

I am very much aware of the dangers of keeping these snakes and their requirements, but does anyone know how to get in touch with reliable local breeders? I've tried kingsnake.com, but I keep being directed to the rescue link. I want to stay away from pet stores when I make my purchase. If you abhors pet stores for fish, you probably haven't been in the reptile sections.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?
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  #2  
Old 01/05/2008, 04:29 PM
Sk8r Sk8r is offline
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Just be careful if you have kids around. Padlocked lid/door. They never believe how subtly and fast they can get looped-around.

I used to keep skinks [best little escape artists in the universe, especially the babies, who used to terrorize my office person] in a terrarium---with crickets. In the case of the boas, you know for their own sake what the requirements are to keep them safe, and what the legal liabilities are. Power to you: they're beautiful.
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  #3  
Old 01/05/2008, 04:52 PM
MarkS MarkS is offline
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Yes, kids are around.

Here is what the box looks like, minus the front glass and overflow:



The top opening will be covered with 3/4" plywood and bolted down. The top plate will have a feeding door cut into it and this door will be attached with heavy duty hinges and pad locked. The front will consist of two sliding 1/2" thick plate glass doors with a lock holding them shut. The door tracks will be made out of laminated plywood and will be bolted to the cage. Vents will be cut into both sides and screened in with heavy weight mesh.
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I drank some fish food but is OK cause it tasted GOOD ~ vr697getta

The little men that live behind my eyes and scream into my brain told me to tell you hi.
  #4  
Old 01/05/2008, 04:56 PM
Sk8r Sk8r is offline
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Sounds very good. You could almost hold a baby skink.
Key to that padlock on YOUR key ring...and I think you've got it secure.

I had my skinks in a hex 50. It was nice for a terrarium for these guys--they like water and didn't mind getting soaked so long as there's a warm rock handy and the general atmosphere is Amazon rainforest. Your guys are more branch oriented, aren't they, high and dry, warm in the sun?
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  #5  
Old 01/05/2008, 05:09 PM
dwd5813 dwd5813 is offline
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ooh cool! an old friend of mine had a somewhat similar enclosure for his albino burmese, although that one was oriented vertically with branches secured inside for climbing and such. i don't recall the humidity inside, but it sounds like you have the requirements already worked out from your previous experience. good luck with finding a quality breeder. i hope you get the animals you're looking for.
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  #6  
Old 01/05/2008, 05:17 PM
Jaqux Jaqux is offline
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http://thereptileroom.org

and faunaclassifieds.com

The guy who owns/runs the reptile room usually has some burms in for sale. His username is Gary, his brothers is BigDogg. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. Proherps.com is his website I think.

On Faunaclassifieds, they have the BOI (Board of Inquiry) where you can read/post asking about breeders and read feed back on them. I would do a search there before you buy from anyone. Hope this helps some.
  #7  
Old 01/05/2008, 05:22 PM
english83 english83 is offline
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I'm getting out of the hobby. Can I interest you in Blue Tounge Skinks, Bearded Dragons, or leopard geckos?
  #8  
Old 01/06/2008, 12:06 AM
MarkS MarkS is offline
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What humidity level should they be kept at? I know they are native to the tropics, so a moderate to high humidity level would seem correct, but I can find no reference to it online.
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I drank some fish food but is OK cause it tasted GOOD ~ vr697getta

The little men that live behind my eyes and scream into my brain told me to tell you hi.
  #9  
Old 01/06/2008, 12:38 AM
dwd5813 dwd5813 is offline
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"To provide your snake with a humidity level of 50% - 60%, you have a couple of options."

from this page:http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBurm.html
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"well here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why."
  #10  
Old 01/06/2008, 03:10 PM
english83 english83 is offline
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When we still had a Ball Python, we kept the water dish full and she would soak when she wanted too.
  #11  
Old 01/06/2008, 04:34 PM
J. Montgomery J. Montgomery is offline
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I found a good breeder of chameleons a few years ago by doing Google searches. You can also check Reptile magazine, they have classifieds in the back as well as listings of local herp shows where you may be able to come across a breeder.
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  #12  
Old 01/06/2008, 06:30 PM
Jeffrey Porter Jeffrey Porter is offline
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go down to florida and trek through the glades, i'm sure you'll find more than enough burmese to satisfy your cravings.
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  #13  
Old 01/06/2008, 08:39 PM
MarkS MarkS is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jeffrey Porter
go down to florida and trek through the glades, i'm sure you'll find more than enough burmese to satisfy your cravings.
No, thank you. Besides, I'm not getting this on a whim or to have a "cool" pet. I actually now what I'm doing.


Debi's gonna have a fit with that last comment.
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I drank some fish food but is OK cause it tasted GOOD ~ vr697getta

The little men that live behind my eyes and scream into my brain told me to tell you hi.
  #14  
Old 01/07/2008, 02:46 AM
UH_OH_5_OH UH_OH_5_OH is offline
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Mark......Look for a Burm guidebook by Phillipe de Vosjoli....he's an Uber Stud when it comes to reptiles !!! And as for the wooden crate/box/whatever...unless that wood is sealed...your likely to cause alot of mold....and then your looking at URI or Aspergillosis infections !

IMHO
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  #15  
Old 01/07/2008, 10:33 AM
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Maybe going through a rescue organization would be a good idea. There always seem to be people unloading burms and nobody to take them.
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  #16  
Old 01/07/2008, 01:45 PM
MarkS MarkS is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by UH_OH_5_OH
Mark......Look for a Burm guidebook by Phillipe de Vosjoli....he's an Uber Stud when it comes to reptiles !!! And as for the wooden crate/box/whatever...unless that wood is sealed...your likely to cause alot of mold....and then your looking at URI or Aspergillosis infections !

IMHO
It will be thoroughly coated in epoxy inside and out. Thanks for the tip on the guide book.
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I drank some fish food but is OK cause it tasted GOOD ~ vr697getta

The little men that live behind my eyes and scream into my brain told me to tell you hi.
  #17  
Old 01/07/2008, 03:11 PM
rogers259 rogers259 is offline
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on Kingsnake.com click on the classified tab at the top of the screen then look at the middle of the page under US for a link to Pythons, boas, etc. that takes you to the forsale section. I'm sure you could put a post up lookin to buy in your area and find a good breeder. Also at the top of the page on the tab next to the classifieds is a forum tab. You'll find a forum specific to what your after under that.

HTH.
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