How to tell the difference between a Burmese and a Ball Python?

Question

A friend of mine sold me a "Burmese" Python and I've had it for a couple of years now. I'm beginning to think it's a "Ball" Python though because it's only about 5 or 6 feet in length now (it was 3.5 or 4 feet in length when I got it). I was under the impression that a Burmese Python would be much larger than this after a span of 2-3 years. I also know that Ball Pythons only grow to about 6 feet. Is there a definitive way to tell the difference between the two? From what I've read, you can't tell them apart from their markings. Also, I've had the Burmese Python for about 1.5 years now (it was about a year old when I got it) and I've fed it 1 large mouse per week for the first year and 2 large mice per week since then. I would have thought it would be larger than this by now. Any thoughts on this? I really need to be sure because if it's not a Burmese, I plan to sell it and buy an albino Burmese with the money. Thanks in advance!

A friend of mine sold me a "Burmese" Python and I've had it for a couple of years now. I'm beginning to think it's a "Ball" Python though because it's only about 5 or 6 feet in length now (it was 3.5 or 4 feet in length when I got it). I was under the impression that a Burmese Python would be much larger than this after a span of 2-3 years. I also know that Ball Pythons only grow to about 6 feet. Is there a definitive way to tell the difference between the two? From what I've read, you can't tell them apart from their markings. Also, I've had the Burmese Python for about 1.5 years now (it was about a year old when I got it) and I've fed it 1 large mouse per week for the first year and 2 large mice per week since then. I would have thought it would be larger than this by now. Any thoughts on this? Also, I have a pic at the link below in the hopes anyone can id it for me: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=229979018&albumID=0&imageID=5086823

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=229979018&albumID=0&imageID=5086823

is this a burmese or a ball? anyone know?

Answer 1

EDIT: It's definitely a ball python. It should still be eating rats though.


You're starving it, that's why it won't grow!! A MOUSE? For a 5-6 foot snake? That snake needs extra large RATS. Poor thing is malnourished! Newly hatched Burmese takes mice for crying out loud. A snake needs food that is just as wide as the widest part of it's body- maybe a little wider if yours is so small and underfed. And they look nothing alike, it's extremely easy to tell the difference.

Ball:
http://www.ci.manhattan.ks.us/images/pages/N596/ballpython.jpg

Burmese:
http://windsofchange.net/images/SCI_Burmese_Python_lg.jpg

Please feed that poor snake!

Answer 2

From your limited description, this really sounds as if it is a burmese not a ball python. Ball pythons can get as large as 6 ft (females) but it's rare. they tend to average around 4 ft. in general, maybe a little larger for the females. They also grow much slower than a burmese and probably would not have gained a foot or more in a year.
What it sounds like from your description of what you are feeding it, is that you are actually under feeding the snake. You need to move him up to rats. Remember, most snakes can take something up to 1 1/2 times their girth or widest part of their stomach. After they eat, you should always see a slight lump in the belly area. Feed him the larger prey, about every 2 weeks for a few months and I bet you will see a major difference in his growth pattern!
As for the visual differences, I've never heard of anyone confusing a ball with a burmese. They normal snakes will have similar colors but the pattern of spots and saddles along the top and sides should be quite different in both snakes. As well as this, you have the attitude of your snake to consider. Usually these two particular snakes have way different attitudes
I would beleive your friend sold you a burmese.... I find it difficult to beleive that anyone would attempt to sell a ball as a burmese or even make that mistake. As I said, my suggestion is to start feeding a larger prey item/s, as well as take him in to the vet for a checkup.

Answer 3

It is very easy to tell the difference in a burm and a ball. Do a search for pics of both and you will see the difference. It is not growing because you are not feeding it enough. When you got it (3-4 ft) it should have been eatting med rats. At 5-6 ft, it should be on large rats. A burm starts out on mice when they first hatch and are on rats within a few months. The snake is not growing as you expected because it is starved.

Answer 4

you DO know that a burmese python gets to be well over 10ft long right? they're one of those snakes that can't be taken for granted, they need tons of space and can become agressive!!!!

and to get a snake to grow larger, you need to feed it more. a burmese is not a first time snake to get by the way...

Answer 5

Just take a look at these two pictures for comparison...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/919/50490738.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Animals/Reptiles/Snakes-and-Lizards/Snakes/Families/Pythons/Burmese-Python/Burmese-Python-01.html&h=362&w=384&sz=120&hl=en&start=27&um=1&tbnid=yyMAO6Z2vTvRRM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=142&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBurmese%2Bpython%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3Dsrb%26sa%3DN

http://www.scserp.com/images/BallPythonJuvenile001.JPG

Or if you can, post a link to a picture of yours in case these don't look like either as yours may be a morph.

However, with what you have said, it is more then likely a Ball Python as a true Burm would be much, much larger than that.

Answer 6

Contact a local breeder or take it to a knowledgeable reptile vet for identification. I agree, a 6 foot snake needs more than 2 mice. You might want to contact some experts at these forums:

http://www.ballpythonforum.com/forums/index.php?s=592174d57f067613130a119c5216a9f7&

http://www.burmesepythonforums.com/