considering a retic

[kuester]

I've never had anything larger than an adult red tail but i really love retics and have wanted one for a long time. I understand they're hungry and very intelligent snakes. I also understand hook training and that these giants demand the utmost respect due to size. I'm not afraid of them. And questions, comments, advice or concerns please don't hesitate to comment!

[amousley1]

Get a baby. You won't be overwhelmed by size and it won't be old enough to have any "baggage" from previous owners/handlers. Give it a couple days to settle in before really embarking on bonding time. It's less stressful for the snake. Watching the baby grow into a personality is the best thing ever.

[bcr229]

Obviously thanks to retics recently being added to the Lacey list you are stuck with in-state sellers. Fortunately you have three reputable breeders in Wisconsin: Vital Exotics, Gavin Bowe, and Salvador Veleta. Vital Exotics breeds dwarfs and SD's if you want a retic but not one that can get insanely big like a mainland or some of the other localities can.

[SnoopySnake]

If you've never had anything bigger than a redtail I'd definitely start with something super dwarf or dwarf. I know Vital Exotics works with SD/D, not sure about Gavin Bowe.

[Ballchris]

retics are very rewarding I made the jump very quickly do not have any regrets, my retic came from prehistoric pets, but as bcr already stated as of right now u are going to have to look into local breeders, i have spoken with the guy that owns vital exotics before the ban, heres to hoping may 7th goes well for us giant lovers and that injunction goes into effect so everything can go back to normal till usark can get this mess overturned, but back to the matter at hand, make sure you are ready for that size, food bill,ect they are great iv only had mine for couple of months now but like i said no regrets, if you think ur ready do it, and do tons of homework on them there is plenty of help here at ssnakess that will help you millertime is a great guy has helped me on more than one occasion and there are others good luck.

[kuester]

I know a person that has a 2 y/o 9ft male mainland retic thats very sweet and was cage aggressive but he worked the snake out of that and hes already hooked trained. Think thatd be a good start or no?

[millertime89]

You could definitely start with an SD or dwarf but you can go straight to a normal sized one and grow in your knowledge and abilities as a keeper as the snake grows. SDs can be flighty, but honestly I don't think they do a good job preparing you for the larger localities. A dwarf or dwarf cross is better, but they (in my experience) typically have the strongest feeding response and are the most cage defensive.

[kuester]

I have a 300g tank would that be big enough for an adult mainland? I really want one but i want to have the space too! I'd line to use the snake for modeling, would a retic or burmese be a better choice?

[millertime89]

I have a 300g tank would that be big enough for an adult mainland? I really want one but i want to have the space too! I'd line to use the snake for modeling, would a retic or burmese be a better choice?

Yes, but I would sell it and buy a cage made specifically for snakes and pocket the difference. Those tanks aren't cheap and you would probably still have money left over. Fish tanks of that size suck to heat and honestly, a big retic can easily destroy the glass. For modeling a burm is the better choice as they generally are more likely to sit still and move more slowly.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Yes, but I would sell it and buy a cage made specifically for snakes and pocket the difference. Those tanks aren't cheap and you would probably still have money left over. Fish tanks of that size suck to heat and honestly, a big retic can easily destroy the glass. For modeling a burm is the better choice as they generally are more likely to sit still and move more slowly.

This. I've heard of retics either shattering the glass hitting it in a feeding response or pushing against the glass and breaking it. The aquariums you buy in pet stores are made from fragile glass, I can hear my garter's 20 gallon tank grinding just by squeezing it, I'm sure I could shatter it with enough force. Just don't want the cut up hands.

Also retics grow rather fast, I don't think even getting a baby will allow you to necessarily "grow with it." My girl has put on 30 grams in about 4 weeks even with just one meal due to a delayed shipment arrival and a tiny snack, whereas my BRB only put on 40 grams after 7 months. She's probably going to be 4'-5' at least by the time she turns 1, and my BCI was only 2.5' at a year old. So they have an insane growth rate. I just suggest getting help when it's full grown, like 1-3 people to help you with any task you may do with your giant for a safety measure. Feeding, watering, handling. Also because these guys can be difficult to handle alone.

[millertime89]

Also retics grow rather fast, I don't think even getting a baby will allow you to necessarily "grow with it." My girl has put on 30 grams in about 4 weeks even with just one meal due to a delayed shipment arrival and a tiny snack, whereas my BRB only put on 40 grams after 7 months. She's probably going to be 4'-5' at least by the time she turns 1, and my BCI was only 2.5' at a year old. So they have an insane growth rate. I just suggest getting help when it's full grown, like 1-3 people to help you with any task you may do with your giant for a safety measure. Feeding, watering, handling. Also because these guys can be difficult to handle alone.

If you're not power feeding it you can definitely grow with your snake.

[bigsnakegirl785]

If you're not power feeding it you can definitely grow with your snake.

I've seen people get rid of a snake that was 4'-5' because it was too big, and I believe a yearling retic will reach that size even conservatively fed. I guess it just depends on where people draw the line at where a snake starts getting "too big?"

[millertime89]

I guess it just depends on where people draw the line at where a snake starts getting "too big?"

This. If you think a 4 ft snake is "too big" then you're not ready for even a corn snake...

[dave himself]

I'm no expert and would never claim to be and can only talk from my personal experience. I've only had my retic for almost 2 years (this July). But people really need to think especially if they are getting a mainland just what they are bringing into their lives. My girl has not been power feed by any means and she's although she's not 2 years old until the end of this month she is already pushing the tape at 10+ foot and is at the minute in another growth spurt :). When I first got her I could have fed her with my bare hands she was so gentle,but over a couple of months this was to quickly change. Her feeding response went off the charts to the point were most times I'm lucky to get the food into the viv before it's hit and wrapped off the end of the tongs, plus she seems to stay in what I call feed mode for longer than any other snake I've ever owned roughly around 24 hours. Another thing is how active she is she's always exploring trying to climbing up on things and the bigger she gets the higher she can reach. Now all this may sound like I'm complaining right ?. Wrong I love her and wouldn't be without her in fact if I could start over again I wouldn't have any burms I would just have retics, there is just something so special about these snakes the way they move and size they get to that fascinates me. Sorry for the long post but I just hope this helps some one :sorry:

[kuester]

Wow thanks for all the responses! So for a first time giant snake would you recommend a burmese or retic?

[kuester]

Also do burmese grow as quickly as retics? Also have a strong feeding response?

[dave himself]

I've kept 5 burms, raised 2 to adults and 3 to sub adults and none of them grew as quickly as my retic. Now this could be down to my retic being a fast growing retic if you see what I mean as she's all I have to judge the growth rate off, I'm sure someone of the more experienced retic keepers will be able to give you a better answer to this question. As for the feeding response each snake is different as I'm sure your aware :). Also if you can try and get some hands on experience, I was lucky enough to be in a position were I got to work with some adults even if it was for a short periods of time to give me an idea of just what I was letting myself in for. One more thing people will tell you that burms are big puppy dogs and for the most part that's true, but even burms can have their off days. Our big female burm who is usually very calm and really well behaved has kicked off a couple of times on us so we never drop our guard or trust her 100% to do so would just be insane and inviting trouble. Our retic is the calmest snake we own but I will never trust her or drop my guard around her. Once again sorry for the long post :(

[kuester]

It seems most mainland retics are around 10 ft by 2 years so im assuming theyre just very fast growing snakes. I just know majority of retics have a very high feeding response and because of this can become cage aggressive... just was wondering if its the same with burms. Also do burms enjoy the occasional climb? I know theyre mostly ground dwellers but id like to spiff up the enclosure. I would never 100% drop my guard on anything 10ft or more haha. Your retic is calmer than your burm? No problem with the long post i like information! :)

[millertime89]

Mainland retics typically hit 8-10ft in their first two years. They don't become cage aggressive because of a feeding response. They're two completely different things. Snakes don't get cage aggressive either, they get cage defensive. Burms will climb sometimes if given the opportunity to do so, just like most snakes will.

[dave himself]

With our burms we found that once they got around 10 foot they climbed very little, in fact we had our females viv reduced from 3 foot high to 2 foot because she just wasn't using the space. Even when we have her out she stays mostly at floor level and very rarely climbs apart from the stairs she seems to have a weird fascination with those :). And with the burms and retics I wouldn't call it cage aggression they're just very food orientated, it's only a simple matter of tap training with most of them to switch of feeding mode before you handle or do any viv maintenance. And yes mate it maybe goes against the grain slightly but our retic is way better behaved than our female burm :D

[kuester]

Ugh i dont know if id rather have a retic or burm... burms seem a lot more chill and dont get as big, from what ive read

[millertime89]

Ugh i dont know if id rather have a retic or burm... burms seem a lot more chill and dont get as big, from what ive read

They weigh a lot more at the same length. They're pretty heavy bodied snakes. A retic is a very slender, semi-arboreal species until they get quite large.

[kuester]

Which is easier to handle/house in your opinion?

[millertime89]

Both have their challenges. Retics are more active, but a burm is going to be substantially heavier and both you will come across individual animals that don't want any human interaction at all no matter how much you work with them. I prefer retics, but you'll find plenty of people on both sides that say one is easier than the other. I would say there's ultimately they're about the same.

[kuester]

As i mentioned id like to use them for modeling as well is there one thatd be better for that?

[kuester]

Bloods are another consideration, i know they stay a more manageable size even with the girth but from what I've read they have some bad temperaments. Any knowledge of them?

[millertime89]

I still wouldn't trust bloods. There are some good animals out there, but they're not as common as a even tempered retic or burm. For photos I would get a burm.

[kuester]

How large do burms get in the first 2 years?

[millertime89]

About the same.

[kuester]

Are burms more easy to handle alone?

[bcr229]

Burms don't get quite as long but they get thick. They're also known for being more chilled out than retics are.

I do have an SD male retic and two 50% SD females, none are at all cage aggressive but they do have much stronger food responses than my mainland retics do. My biggest mainland female will be a year old this July, she's about eight feet and not fat or power fed at all. They just grow that fast their first year.

[Eryaw]

I say get a baby and work with it all the time. We actually purchased a retic as our second snake, I was very nervous at the time because everyone says they are not for beginners. We worked with him at least once a day and he is an angel, aside from feeding time. We now have 3 retics and want more, just running out of room

[millertime89]

Burms are probably easier to work with but they can arguably do more damage if they bite you. For every upside there's a downside to each species.

[Ballchris]

Are burms more easy to handle alone?

The first thing I learnt from this forum and the research I have done, NEVER handle a snake over 8ft alone to much can go wrong. I haven't dealt with it yet but my wife Will always be there with me when working with Voldemort. I feel that retics would be easier to move when cleaning or just getting them out for human interaction, than a burm would. Don't get me wrong I would love to have a burm just feel that the retic seems a little easier to work with.

[bigsnakegirl785]

The first thing I learnt from this forum and the research I have done, NEVER handle a snake over 8ft alone to much can go wrong. I haven't dealt with it yet but my wife Will always be there with me when working with Voldemort. I feel that retics would be easier to move when cleaning or just getting them out for human interaction, than a burm would. Don't get me wrong I would love to have a burm just feel that the retic seems a little easier to work with.

Actually, I've only ever heard retics were the harder to work with of the two because they get so much longer and are so much more active. Which is why I was debating getting a Burm at first, but I figured, "What if I end up only being able to have one giant?" Then I wasted that experience on a snake that I didn't want as much as another species, so I went straight to retics. That doesn't mean I won't get one some day. haha

[Albert Clark]

Thanks for the great debate thread guys. Very interesting.

[kuester]

Ahh haha so contradicting. Ill take my time and find a retic or burm that i click with

[dave himself]

Ahh haha so contradicting. Ill take my time and find a retic or burm that i click with

It's not that anyone is contradicting each other, we've just had individual experiences with individual snakes. So each of us has different answers :), that's what I love about this hobby your always learning

[David VB]

I'm no expert and would never claim to be and can only talk from my personal experience. I've only had my retic for almost 2 years (this July). But people really need to think especially if they are getting a mainland just what they are bringing into their lives. My girl has not been power feed by any means and she's although she's not 2 years old until the end of this month she is already pushing the tape at 10+ foot and is at the minute in another growth spurt :). When I first got her I could have fed her with my bare hands she was so gentle,but over a couple of months this was to quickly change. Her feeding response went off the charts to the point were most times I'm lucky to get the food into the viv before it's hit and wrapped off the end of the tongs, plus she seems to stay in what I call feed mode for longer than any other snake I've ever owned roughly around 24 hours. Another thing is how active she is she's always exploring trying to climbing up on things and the bigger she gets the higher she can reach. Now all this may sound like I'm complaining right ?. Wrong I love her and wouldn't be without her in fact if I could start over again I wouldn't have any burms I would just have retics, there is just something so special about these snakes the way they move and size they get to that fascinates me. Sorry for the long post but I just hope this helps some one :sorry:

Amen! ;) (Altough i would delete the no burms anymore part, mate :p )

[David VB]

I'm not an expert either, far from that. But i do have a 2+ year old Burmese that comes up to 10feet and if he doesn't want to be taken out of the cage, then you have a hard time making him ;) But of course that is partly because i have bio active setups with plants and logs/branches to which he can coil around... I also have a retic but she is stil a baby (3 months), so she hardly is a pain to handle :) I love both species and if I have room, i definitely will buy more of both. Nothing is so majestic as a giant snake imho!

[Ballchris]

I'm not an expert either, far from that. But i do have a 2+ year old Burmese that comes up to 10feet and if he doesn't want to be taken out of the cage, then you have a hard time making him ;) But of course that is partly because i have bio active setups with plants and logs/branches to which he can coil around... I also have a retic but she is stil a baby (3 months), so she hardly is a pain to handle :) I love both species and if I have room, i definitely will buy more of both. Nothing is so majestic as a giant snake imho!

all i have to say is....amen.

[dave himself]

Actually, I've only ever heard retics were the harder to work with of the two because they get so much longer and are so much more active. Which is why I was debating getting a Burm at first, but I figured, "What if I end up only being able to have one giant?" Then I wasted that experience on a snake that I didn't want as much as another species, so I went straight to retics. That doesn't mean I won't get one some day. haha

I think both you and BallChris made the right choice with a retic for a first time giant. I really am sorry if I came across as if I was having a go at you both, or any one else I can come across as an idiot some times :(

[bigsnakegirl785]

I think both you and BallChris made the right choice with a retic for a first time giant. I really am sorry if I came across as if I was having a go at you both, or any one else I can come across as an idiot some times :(

Oh, no, not at all! Each person has their own opinions, I don't have a problem with you getting a Burm first, or suggesting it. haha I was just saying if I did the same, I might miss on the experience I really wanted. ;) You've got way more giant experience than me, my first one hasn't even grown up yet, and all I have are words and experiences to go off of for now. :)

[bcr229]

No matter which you get, buy from a reputable breeder and state that you want a more mellow critter that tolerates being handled, and don't be dazzled by a pretty "paint job". The one who sold us our first - and she's a sweetheart! - said that her full sister was extremely defensive, struck at him every time he opened her enclosure, hissed, etc. She's definitely not appropriate for someone new to the giants.

[kuester]

Yeah maybe ill hold off for a while and find someone that has some and interact with them first before i decide

[Eryaw]

Yeah maybe ill hold off for a while and find someone that has some and interact with them first before i decide

Not a bad idea- I do find my retics are much more active than the boas and are definitely more aware of their surroundings.