different retic food

[Ballchris]

Ok guys I am in need of some advise, I want to add some differences into my retics diet like chicks,quail, ect. Should I do this he eats medium rats, every time feeding response is great I just want to add something different into his diet how do i go about it, my thinking is i don't wanna eat the same thing every time i eat so why should my snake.

[millertime89]

I don't think it really make a difference. If they'll eat it, I'll usually feed it. I've fed rats, rabbits, chicken, goats, pigs, turkey, quail, and guinea pigs. I would try other things if they were available to me too.

[Minkness]

You fed goats?!

[millertime89]

You fed goats?!

Sure did, baby goats aren't that big, a few pounds at most. I've got one in the freezer now too that's about 4.5 lbs. She was about 12 foot when she ate her first one...
https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1240371_394908433942102_1703173172_n.jpg?oh=56cf9f 479eceafa84f2b23b19bb78b32&oe=55DD6815

[Minkness]

Where do you get them? How long between feedings when that big?

[prairiepanda]

I suppose feeding a varied diet rather than one prey type would prevent the snake from getting hooked on that particular type of prey(which would cause problems when it came time to switch to something larger), but I've never heard of retics in particular having food addiction issues. Ever. Seems like retics are generally good eaters and transition up easily, from what I've read. But giving him some variety wouldn't do any harm, if that's what you want to do.

[millertime89]

Where do you get them? How long between feedings when that big?

I get them from the guy I get my rabbits from. They raise goats (and a lot of other things too) and if they have one that doesn't survive they'll sell it to me for $1/lb. She was only about 30lbs in that picture so I waited two or three weeks to feed her again. She eats 10 lbs every other week now so that would be a weekly meal for her.

[Ballchris]

Guys I have a question, my retic he's acting funny his husbandry is correct 90 degree hot side 80 to 85 cool side he's pressing his face against the glass and pushing as hard as he can trying to get out I know these guys are strong I know they are smart y would he be doing this he has hides the cage is full of plants for security he eats once a week small rats right now fix get to move him up to bigger prey aka bigger frozen thawed.

[SoPhilly]

What are you measuring those temps with? I'm no retic expert, but that's what they're gonna ask you :)

[KyleKennedy]

@ millertime89 - How big is the retic that is eating baby goats?

[KyleKennedy]

Ballchris -My retic does the same thing. Sometimes they just get bored in their enclosure and try to get out and explore. Retics are curious snakes. Nothing to worry about.

[millertime89]

Guys I have a question, my retic he's acting funny his husbandry is correct 90 degree hot side 80 to 85 cool side he's pressing his face against the glass and pushing as hard as he can trying to get out I know these guys are strong I know they are smart y would he be doing this he has hides the cage is full of plants for security he eats once a week small rats right now fix get to move him up to bigger prey aka bigger frozen thawed.

Too hot. If your hot side is 90 you want the cool side around 85. You want the average to be about 82. He might also be hungry already. When was he last fed?

@ millertime89 - How big is the retic that is eating baby goats?

She was about 12 ft and 40 lbs in that picture (She's 14ft 65 lbs now). I've got another 10ft 25lb one that can eat them now as well.

[Ballchris]

I am taking the temps with a infrared temp gun, I think i may have solved the problem he was a little stressed I covered three sides of his enclosure and he chilled out so I think problem solved hes out growing this enclosure I also read that could cause it so I am upgrading him to the T8 from animal plastics till the fall when he will be getting a custom 8x4x4 from animal plastics and i will be using the t8 for my ball python kahlessi

for the T8 which is 48Lx24Dx12H should I go with radiant heat panel
and for the custom 8x4x4 how many watt radiant heat panel should I go with my house stays 75 year round
and with radiant heat panels do i still need to use belly heat or what, need some direction on this.

[KyleKennedy]

Ballchris - How big is the retic

[millertime89]

For the T8 I would just use a 1ft x 2ft strip of heat tape from reptile basics, same with the 8x4x4 if it's made of plastic (should be from AP). Use the heat tape to provide a hot spot and the RHP for ambient heat. However you may not need the RHP. For my vision 632 the heat tape was enough to keep the ambient temps high enough in the rest of the cage.

Your temps are still too high.

[Ballchris]

For the T8 I would just use a 1ft x 2ft strip of heat tape from reptile basics, same with the 8x4x4 if it's made of plastic (should be from AP). Use the heat tape to provide a hot spot and the RHP for ambient heat. However you may not need the RHP. For my vision 632 the heat tape was enough to keep the ambient temps high enough in the rest of the cage.

Your temps are still too high.

Thanks millertime I got the temps down 90 on hot side and 78to 82 on the cool side I covered his tank on three sides, and fed him hes now is a much much happier boy no more fast movements no jerky movements, back to the calm retic that i got a month ago thank you all for everything.

[millertime89]

Sounds good. As I've said elsewhere, most tropical snakes like to thermoregulate to have an internal body temp of 80-82F so if they can't get cooler than that then they might stress out. This is based on observations and measurements taken by the curator of reptiles at the Reptile Gardens and on discussions I've had with him.

Typically they start to get antsy and push when they're hungry though.

[Ballchris]

Sounds good. As I've said elsewhere, most tropical snakes like to thermoregulate to have an internal body temp of 80-82F so if they can't get cooler than that then they might stress out. This is based on observations and measurements taken by the curator of reptiles at the Reptile Gardens and on discussions I've had with him.

Typically they start to get antsy and push when they're hungry though.

I keep my home at 70 to 73 year round tell me about how to set up the flexwatt heat tape and the heat panel Im going with pro heat they are great talked with the owner today such a great guy.do i put the heat panel on the cool side in the middle or the hot with the flexwatt? do i put the flex what on the bottom of the t8 or inside of the enclosure? and the t8 and 8x4x4 are both coming from AP. the 8x4x4 is a custom build by them. im gonna move the retic in the large cage in the fall and move the ball python in the t8 in after I clean and disinfect the t8.

[millertime89]

I've never used a heat panel so I'm not the one to ask. For my 632 I put two, 1ft x 3ft strips of heat tape side by side on one end, under the cage. So for an 8x4x4 I would put two 1ft x 4 ft strips on one end of the cage. Then set the t-stat to control it to the desired temps. Since the cage is so big I would move them inward 6-12 inches. So you would have something like this:
cage edge - 6" - 2 1 ft strips of heat tape - rest of cage - cage edge

(If that makes sense). That should be enough to keep the ambient in the rest of the cage in the upper 70s, but you'll have to play around with it yourself.