considering a retic - Page 3

bcr229 · 05-04-15, 06:33 PM

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 · 05-04-15, 08:36 PM

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** · 05-04-15, 08:48 PM

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 · 05-04-15, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuester

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 · 05-05-15, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballchris

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 · 05-05-15, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the great debate thread guys. Very interesting.

kuester · 05-05-15, 12:57 PM

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

dave himself · 05-05-15, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuester

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 · 05-06-15, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Amen!

(Altough i would delete the no burms anymore part, mate

)

David VB · 05-06-15, 07:44 AM

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 · 05-06-15, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

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

dave himself · 05-07-15, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

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 · 05-07-15, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave himself

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 · 05-08-15, 06:58 PM

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 · 05-08-15, 09:34 PM

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