Retic Vs Blood

[Rogue628]

Owning a retic has been a dream for me since I first got into snakes years ago. Size wasn't the reason, although I do like the bigger snakes....it's the intelligence these animals are said to have that intrigue me the most.

In the last year I've given much thought to owning a blood. After much research and speaking to people who have several years of experience with them, I'm leaning more towards the breits. I honestly believe I will love the challenge of these animals and they can also teach me to be a better keeper with any animal I own...but so can retics.

I know that retics are bloods are two completely different animals, however, I'm curious as to which may be the best next step in my keeping experience and level. Will a retic better prepare me for a blood or would a blood better prepare me for a retic?

Your thoughts?

[MoreliAddict]

The Retic probably takes more experience because it could reach 25 feet whereas the blood would only reach 8 feet tops...

Is this a serious question?

[Rogue628]

Yes. I'm trying to make logical and sound decision on which animal will be my next purchase between these two.

Size really doesn't matter as I'm capable of providing proper husbandry requirements for either. I already have 2 burms, had one in the past, and have handled burms much larger than mine, but that was a long time ago.

On the other hand, I have very little experience with a snake that shows alot of moodiness or defensiveness.

I'd like to take my keeping experience to a more advanced level, if that makes sense. I've been waiting years to feel confident enough to keep a retic, but yet, I'd like a challenge as well and I feel like a blood will give me that.

[Guest_Deleted]

i would say if your willing to take the next step owning a big snake is a wonder and thoug yes it may take more experience to own a retic you can always go buy a blood at a expo for a lot cheaper if you end up wanting both i also think retics have a prettier pattern and from experiences retics were always more nice to me then blood but i like both kinds thats just my two cents :) good luck on whatever you choose i also read you have two burms so you have already accommodated for big snakes :)

[MoreliAddict]

You can just use a hook, and control a blood python from behind, you don't even know that yours will have such bad temperament.

A Retic could be a real handful, even for two people. Also, I don't care how hard bloods are supposed to hit, I'm sure an adult Retic bite would be way worse. Also, if one were to kill you, it would be the Retic...

[Guest_Deleted]

You can just use a hook, and control a blood python from behind, you don't even know that yours will have such bad temperament.

A Retic could be a real handful, even for two people. Also, I don't care how hard bloods are supposed to hit, I'm sure an adult Retic bite would be way worse. Also, if one were to kill you, it would be the Retic...

he does speak the truth

[Wildside]

You can just use a hook, and control a blood python from behind, you don't even know that yours will have such bad temperament.

A Retic could be a real handful, even for two people. Also, I don't care how hard bloods are supposed to hit, I'm sure an adult Retic bite would be way worse. Also, if one were to kill you, it would be the Retic...

This^ If you don't have enough reliable help around you to deal with a large python then go with the blood. You're pretty much guaranteed to get out of a grappling match with an 8 ft. (a very large) blood, whereas your chances of getting the upper hand on a 12 ft. retic without having to kill it are much less. Retics are extremely strong.

[marvelfreak]

As some one who has kept and worked with both i would say go for the Blood. I have seen both Retic and bloods that were mellow as can be. I have also seen Bloods and Retics that were Bipolar. The key is which ever you pick take you time and shop around when the right one for you you'll know it.

Bloods aren't as bad as people make them out to be. I will give you one tip females tend to not be as high strung as males. My two females i can just reach right in and pick up. The males i have to see what kind of mood they are in first before tiring to pick them up.

[Rogue628]

Whichever one I decide to get, I will hand pick it. I want to interact with one first and see how well we respond to one another.

I have no experience with bloods right now, although I'm trying to find someone near me who has one so I can get first hand experience.

I have very limited experience with a retic and the couple I've handled (with help as they were both well over 15' long) were like holding really big babies. I think they were more curious about me than I was of them...and were very watchful, but not in a defensive way. It was like they were trying to figure me out.

And I honestly don't have any real experience with defensive animals. I've only been tagged 3 times during my keeping experience, both past and present. One was a feed bite from a juvenile royal and was my fault. The second was a defensive bite from one of my burms when she was not quite 6 months old...and completely my fault. And my king has tagged me, but well...it's a king. lol

I will eventually have both. I just don't know which one I want first.

[CDN_Blood]

And here's my 2 cents...

First of all, Bloods can surpass 8 feet. It's rare, but it can happen. Secondly, if you think you can 'control a Blood from behind', you need to see your doctor and have your prescription changed 'cause the pills you're taking now are clearly causing delusions. When a Blood is ticked, there is *no* controlling it, period. The same goes for a Retic, but they're actually easier to deal with when angry than a Blood is.

We've been talking about this in PVT a few times, but I've never asked if you were thinking of a normal Retic or a Dwarf. That would impact my final decision for sure :)

[Trent]

I would say Blood python myself...even dwarf retics get BIG...now if we are talking SD retic,then I would say Retic.

If it was me I would get both!
Wait a min..I do have both:)

[Rogue628]

Purple phase albino retic. :D

And I will eventually have both (provided I can find a blood I want to have)....just which one first? lol

[Norm66]

An 8' or bigger blood would be a beast fo sure!

Fo me the answer was a 50% super dwarf retic.

[millertime89]

I think my vote would be obvious, male dwarf retic. Good size, good attitude, nuff said. Get a hook if you don't already have one just to take them out of feed mode when you open their viv.
No retic has been confirmed at 25 feet by an independent scientific review. There are always claims, but none of them really have any merit. Biggest currently is right around 24'. Getting one over 20 feet is RARE, does it happen? Sure, but nowhere near as often as people seem to think. If that were the case they would be found all over Indo with some regularity, but it just doesn't happen that often.

/rant, I'll start a new post.