Burmese OR Reticulated - Which do YOU Prefer?

[moshirimon]

In my opinion, the two most commonly kept giants are the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) and the Reticulated python (python reticulatus). They both make excellent pets and i would like to know which one each of you prefer. point out specific points like personality, ease of care, colour, etc..

Personally i like Retics, i own a baby male (named Stringe r) who is growing fast!
here is a pic of him i just recently took and added in a little bit of editing:cool:

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj6/KINGbiggypac/IMG_8711.jpg

Also i'd love to see some pics of your giants!

[snake man12]

Retics have a very aggressive feeding response but are extremely beautiful. There may be debate on this but in my experience burms are a little calmer.

[BarelyBreathing]

I prefer retics to burms, but I'm in love with the green morph half dwarf burm.

[moshirimon]

Retics have a very aggressive feeding response but are extremely beautiful. There may be debate on this but in my experience burms are a little calmer.

You are right i have never owned a burm but from handling one i could tell they are alot more docile. i actually like the way retics almost never stop moving , and their awesome feeding response. i like a challenge:crazy2: lol but are burms feeding responses really that far off?

luckily i have never been tagged by my retic, and i am always careful during feeding.

[exwizard]

I'm considering a Burm in my near future. I prefer Burms for two reasons. Idk where you live or what your snake ordinances are like there but for me, of the two species, Burms are legal in Iowa whereas Retics are not. Plus Burms generally have a better temperament. Btw, I've never heard of a feeding problem with Burms either

[moshirimon]

yes i think you are right about burms being better tempered. but no adays retic are bred much more in captivity and that "wild" attitude seems to be slowly dying down in my opinion. my retic is ball python tame, just moves more and is a little twitchy lol. i don't see many "aggressive retics" people talk so much about. same with Blood Pythons. they also have a reputation for being aggressive, but i've come by some pretty sweet bloods lol

my favourite thing about burms is their plumpness. i love a thick plump snake. also i like how so many are vocal but not aggressive. really cool to have a snake do a signature "hiss'

[exwizard]

Like I said, I do plan on having one but not until I'm ready. I probably will get one as a baby and handle him frequently to make absolutely sure he is puppy dog tame when he gets bigger. For me, handleability is high on my priority list.

[bushsnake]

at 20 feet i would rather have a burm

[StudentoReptile]

Personally, I have encountered more fiestier burms than retics. I think retics are more beautifully colored and patterned, as well as more diverse in genetic mutations (I guess I've never been impressed with any burm morphs).

Additionally, with the recent federal rule change here in the U.S. that prohibits interstate travel of burmese pythons, the market for acquiring a burm through legal means is slimmer. And if I ever relocated out of state, I couldn't bring it with me (legally).

So, gun to my head, overall, I'd probably choose retics.

[alessia55]

From the retics and burms I've handled, I've loved both. But if I had to choose one, it would be the burm because of the (generally) "calmer" disposition.

[exwizard]

....Additionally, with the recent federal rule change here in the U.S. that prohibits interstate travel of burmese pythons, the market for acquiring a burm through legal means is slimmer. And if I ever relocated out of state, I couldn't bring it with me (legally).

So, gun to my head, overall, I'd probably choose retics.

It was exactly the legal issues that contributed to my preference for Burms. While you cant take Burms across state lines, I cant keep Retics at all in Iowa whereas I can keep burms but the legal issues are moot for Moshirimon since he lives in Canada and the US interstate restrictions dont apply to him. I dont know what restrictions his bylaws would be applicable to him, but it is all irrelevent to US law.

[StudentoReptile]

It was exactly the legal issues that contributed to my preference for Burms. While you cant take Burms across state lines, I cant keep Retics at all in Iowa whereas I can keep burms but the legal issues are moot for Moshirimon since he lives in Canada and the US interstate restrictions dont apply to him. I dont know what restrictions his bylaws would be applicable to him, but it is all irrelevent to US law.

Well...he did ask for our opinions:rolleyes: But you're right, our legal crap wouldn't apply to him.

That said, legalities aside, I still find retics more beautiful and less temperamental than burms, so it wouldn't affect my suggestion either way.:)

[dave himself]

Although I only keep burm I'm lucky to be in a position where I get to handle both on a regular basis. I think that both these snakes are amazing and in the not to distant hope to have a tiger retic so I,ll be sitting on the fence on this one and saying I,ll choose both

[exwizard]

...legalities aside, I still find retics more beautiful and less temperamental than burms, so it wouldn't affect my suggestion either way.:)I have not owned retics or burms but I have been around them both and from what Ive seen, it seems to me that Burms are the ones with the better temperment and there are morphs out there for Burms as well and since out of all the giants, I can only have Burms and Amethistines, Burms are what is in my future. I know your experiences are different than mine. Im just relaying my experiences and my opinions for what its worth.

[Slcburm]

I have a burm but would get a retic in a heartbeart. They are such gorgeous and mysterious snakes...but huge lol

[dave himself]

I would just like to point out that that although I've found that burms in general seem to be the easier of the 2 to handle they can have there off days. Our biggest girl Daisy who is an 11 footer and hook trained came flying out of the viv at my face before I even had a chance to tap her with the hook and we had quite a job to convince her to go back into her viv and calm down. The next day she was back to her normal puppy dog self but it made us very aware that our beautiful big PET snake was and is to be treated as an apex predator at all times

[limey]

Both stunning snakes. Unfortunately I don't have experience with either (yet!).

[smoothie4l]

I (of course) don't have any experience with any large snake but I would still say Burmese. Burmese pythons seem more relaxed and although I have seen an very tame Reticulated python Retics always look like they have somewhere to go in a hurry.

[ReticMan123]

As someone whbo has had burms...and retics in the past...Currently I have my bautiful baby albino purple retic...I love him to death....As of now I prefer tics more. They in my opoinion are more active and have more of a sence of intelegince sri for my spelling.....Anyway In my opinion I tghink burms are more hardy...I have seen a stronger feeding response with burms hence my baby giving me feeding problems currently...Plus I think burms are much more thick bodied and lazy which I do like the heavy body boys...but IN tiome tics get pretty thick too But both atre just amazing boids and anybody is lucky to own either one

[moshirimon]

Yes they are both amazing.

But both atre just amazing boids and anybody is lucky to own either one

I am pretty sure they arent Boids(boidae). Boids are just Boas and anacondas.

I believe retics and burms belong to the Pythonidae family.
someone correct me if i'm wrong?

[marvelfreak]

I have own both. I had one Retic and i believe it was seven Burmese's. For me i would pick Burmese's over Retic one one main reason. Retic are smarter. They will watch our every move and study you. Then if you ever do something out of route they they nail you, to let you know you did something different. If a Burm has a bad day you may have a bad day. If a Retic has a bad day there no doubt you will have a bad day. This is just my from experiences.