Quick retic question

jay76 · 09-24-03, 08:29 PM

It's likely a recurring quesion, but could a young retic (he or she is about 26 inches or so) with the beginnings of a nasty temper be somewhat calmed towards humans by regular handling?

ReptiZone · 09-24-03, 09:42 PM

depends on the local but a retic is alwase a retic so you should never trust them.

To me a retic is the kind of snake you get just to admire and injoy having in your collection I dont normaly handel my snakes but I do handel my suluwasie retic from time to time because I need to insure that he knows exatly who I am when he is 20+ feet.

so if you get a baby and work with it on a daly basis to ensure that they recodnise you then you should not have a problem.
But dont think that if you handel every day for 30 min a day that it will become like a Ball python cause asuming that means you lost respect for the retic and when that hapends they set you straight real fast.

note retic's are made to be looked at with your eyes not your hands.

jay76 · 09-25-03, 06:01 PM

Thanks Chondro! I'm not looking to make it tame, just to make it realize that human hands aren't on the menu

Believe me, even though it's still small, I really do respect it! Getting him out for a tank cleaning was fun in itself. Well actually getting him out was easy - getting him back in was more fun. Strong bugger.

ReptiZone · 09-25-03, 09:40 PM

Have fun with him you are in a compleatly new world of herps when you have a retic. But man I love them to death nothing beats the intelagence and beauty of a retic in my books.

Scales Zoo · 09-25-03, 10:19 PM

You should really try and maintain a well tempered snake, because 20' long nasty retics aren't fun unless you are out shooting for some Real TV footage.

I've yet to meet a tame adult sulawesi retic. Many other locals are varied tempered, and tigers are known for their docility.

I also like it when retics are trustworthy as young snakes. A 10' retic, which is actually quite a small snake when you see one, can really give a nasty bite. A 20' snake can easily give you a vacation at the local hospital.

My point is, you don't want to try and tame a 10' retic, so if you can do it now, do it - otherwise take precautions around the snake as it grows, and avoid being bitten at all costs.

And invest in a midwest python hook. They are a great tool for the big snakes. I use ours for everything from moving a log out of the way in a cage, pulling a large snake to the door of a cage, and fending off bites from African Rock pythons and mean Retics.

Also, always feed with tongs. Retics seem smarter than many pythons, and seem to be able to know the difference between the door they come out of, and the door the food goes in. In our larger cages, we have a door for each purpose.

We've both been bit by small ones in rubbermades when they thought it was feeding time, but we were just doing a water change.

ReptiZone · 09-25-03, 11:05 PM

realy good info scales zoo.
And it is alwas fun to be reminded that my male suluwasie will never realy gro out of the snaping stage.
Althow I hade it out for some cleaning and all I git was one strike and a whole lot of trying to slither away in to the closet..LOL I think I will empty that thing and just let it go in there next time saves my a hole lot of trouble.

NewLineReptile · 10-05-03, 08:51 PM

I agree with Marc & Scales Zoo

I own 2 Retic's and try to hold them as much as i can and so far my female has been very good. But my male will bite you the first chance he can. My female is only 6 months old and is a bit better to work with were as my male is 2 years old with a attitude problem...lol But i feel that if you work with a retic from a young age that it could be like any other snake in your collection. But they are for sure not a snake that you would put a 100% trust in.

You can never tell what a snake will be like unless you are willing to give it a try. When i first got into Retic's i did years of resarch and put the idea of a retic away until i was up for the challenge.

Good luck
Brandon

jay76 · 10-05-03, 10:42 PM

Very good info everyone! Thank you all

ReptiZone · 10-05-03, 10:53 PM

Hehe..
you mean till I de-brainwashed you told you the straight truth about retic's. I am a one of the worst ppl to ask a retic queston to...well sort of I give it to ya strait.

NewLineReptile · 10-07-03, 03:30 AM

Yep that's right until you de-brainwashed me.........lol

but you were very helpful with all my questions
thanks man for the help

Brandon