A reminder of what can happen

[millertime89]

Male retics can be the most dangerous non-venomous snake in the world when in breeding mode. You talk to any retic breeder who has been through a few seasons and they will all tell you even though the females get bigger, it's the males in breeding season you need to watch out for. This is exactly why you need to have backup when handling a big snake. This is also why males are usually slow grown and a lot of people try to keep them on the smaller side so in the event you do get a breeding season bite, it's nowhere near this bad.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by millertime89

Male retics can be the most dangerous non-venomous snake in the world when in breeding mode. You talk to any retic breeder who has been through a few seasons and they will all tell you even though the females get bigger, it's the males in breeding season you need to watch out for. This is exactly why you need to have backup when handling a big snake. This is also why males are usually slow grown and a lot of people try to keep them on the smaller side so in the event you do get a breeding season bite, it's nowhere near this bad.

That's just sad to read.

Selfishness ahead of respect for the animal we all "love".

[jpsteele80]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

That's just sad to read.

Selfishness ahead of respect for the animal we all "love".

Agreed, when I get my male I plan to grow him just the same as my female

[IW17]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

That's just sad to read.

Selfishness ahead of respect for the animal we all "love".

I would agree with you, however I think it's the other side of the story that's sad. I'd say more often than not, Male snakes that breeders" slow grow" are fed in a more healthy manner. The females seem to be way over fed to get them up to Breeding size as quickly as possible. Not the case with all breeders, but definitely a trend that's not uncommon.

[dastefster]

Wow! awesome post. I wonder if he had and nerve damage.

[moshirimon]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

That's just sad to read.

Selfishness ahead of respect for the animal we all "love".

90% of retics are overweight in captivity. "Keeping it small" being used the way it is by breeders, would actually in my opinion be the proper way of doing it as opposed to feeding a baby every 5 days. As long as the snake isn't underweight there is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping your snake small. And really it doesn't always keep them small, it just slows down the process.

All in all I think for any retic bigger than 5 foot, once a week feeding is ridiculous. (unless your bulking up a female for breeding)

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by moshirimon

90% of retics are overweight in captivity. "Keeping it small" being used the way it is by breeders, would actually in my opinion be the proper way of doing it as opposed to feeding a baby every 5 days. As long as the snake isn't underweight there is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping your snake small. And really it doesn't always keep them small, it just slows down the process.

All in all I think for any retic bigger than 5 foot, once a week feeding is ridiculous. (unless your bulking up a female for breeding)

I get your thought process and where you're coming from.

I disagree in slowing down a process of a snake that regularily hits well over 10 feet for both male and females. Regardless of breeding. In the context it was initially said was that the animals are kept smaller purely to keep them a more managable size for the breeder. Nothing to do with health except for their own. Selfish as I said.

The last comment needs more context.

Is it bad to feed a snake the largest meal it can possibly take every week? Most likely yes.
Is it bad to feed by weight and keeping the meals a healthy size so it keeps a very healthy growth rate/healthy size on the snake? No.

Example, I feed my snakes, multiple species now, the same way. I use a 10 - 15% of body weight in their prey item on a regular feeding schedule. This has shown me over years to give both males and females a healthy growth rate. For adults I feed the same way and it's maintained males and breeding females with ample weight gain to give me healthy clutches/babies.

[moshirimon]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I get your thought process and where you're coming from.

I disagree in slowing down a process of a snake that regularily hits well over 10 feet for both male and females. Regardless of breeding. In the context it was initially said was that the animals are kept smaller purely to keep them a more managable size for the breeder. Nothing to do with health except for their own. Selfish as I said.

The last comment needs more context.

Is it bad to feed a snake the largest meal it can possibly take every week? Most likely yes.
Is it bad to feed by weight and keeping the meals a healthy size so it keeps a very healthy growth rate/healthy size on the snake? No.

Example, I feed my snakes, multiple species now, the same way. I use a 10 - 15% of body weight in their prey item on a regular feeding schedule. This has shown me over years to give both males and females a healthy growth rate. For adults I feed the same way and it's maintained males and breeding females with ample weight gain to give me healthy clutches/babies.

Ahh that's true. Smaller , but more often meals would work too. Wasn't on my mind at all lol.

Still I don't see anything wrong with slowing down as long as you don't do it to the point of stunting their growth. Then again I don't know what your idea of slowing down is. I just hate power feeding. And what I meant to say is that in the eyes of many of these "power feeders" which most people are now a days , slowing down isn't really slowing down much more than what it should be. Trying to make your snake the biggest it can be is just as selfish I think. I doubt miller meant to slow down a mainland to under 10 feet though.

Millertime should give us some input on this and clear up his idea of "slowing down".

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by moshirimon

Ahh that's true. Smaller , but more often meals would work too. Wasn't on my mind at all lol.

Still I don't see anything wrong with slowing down as long as you don't do it to the point of stunting their growth. Then again I don't know what your idea of slowing down is. I just hate power feeding. And what I meant to say is that in the eyes of many of these "power feeders" which most people are now a days , slowing down isn't really slowing down much more than what it should be. Trying to make your snake the biggest it can be is just as selfish I think. I doubt miller meant to slow down a mainland to under 10 feet though.

Millertime should give us some input on this and clear up his idea of "slowing down".

Power feeding has been around for a long time in many species and I would frown upon it as well. I don't like that practice either.

"slowing down" was originally put into context that a large, breeding mode male retic is very powerful and could be potentially dangerous thus the "slowing down" to be more managable for the keeper.

That's not respecting the animal for what it is and what it can do. It's putting the keeper's needs ahead of the animal and then just adding "it's healthier" as to sound like the animal is ahead of them.

[moshirimon]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

That's not respecting the animal for what it is and what it can do. It's putting the keeper's needs ahead of the animal and then just adding "it's healthier" as to sound like the animal is ahead of them.

Um no its not. I feed my retics every 10 days as babies. After 5 or 6 feet o switch to two weeks. In my opinion an adult retic should be fed every 4 weeks. The animal IS healthy. I don't do this because I can't manage a big snake, I can, and love them. But I know i believe it is healthier, and more natural. not saying a snake should live natural "wild" life on captivity, but overfeeding is incorrect and many if not most don't realize theyre doing it.

As miller said, and I don't mean to be rude or condescending, these are not ball pythons and different measures can be taken.

[moshirimon]

Originally Posted by millertime89

Male retics can be the most dangerous non-venomous snake in the world when in breeding mode.

Love this. Although I am not a breeder, I am a keeper and I have experienced many retics.I find it surprising that 95% of caresheets, and books out there don't state this.

People need to know the difference between male and female. Aside from size, and constriction male retics in my opinion are definitely the most dangerous non-venomous snake. Males develop large serrated teeth once they reach sexual maturity, and not only that, but the whole way they bite is different. It is NOT a feeding bite, it is designed to slice and dice. You can get bit one day and have minor injuries, and another day SEVERE injuries depending on the snakes reason for biting.

Retics in the wild are covered in scars and either healed/open wounds, which are caused by males during breeding season literally FIGHTING. How often do you hear of snakes doing this? Let alone being smart enough to do this. From what I know they are the only large snake equipped with this weaponry. They do not want to eat, they do this compete.

That being said, burms, boas, rocks, scrubs and other large snakes do not have these "combat teeth". Not to say some of them, especially scrubs, have long teeth that can also cause damage. But none of them will give you a slice like a big male retic will.

**One question for millertime.. This is for my own curiosity, I heard if a male is never exposed to the scent of other retics that this aggressive behavior will usually stay withheld, along with noserubbing. Is this true???