info on keeping giants

bbailey1392 · 10-31-03, 07:19 PM

What is it like to keep these giant pythons? My question is aimed more at those that keep them as pets and enjoy handling them regularly. I keep reading from different keepers and it seems like there is a world of difference. I think they look amazing. I know I don't have room for one now, but I might like to get one in the future. I like what I hear about retics. Although some people talk about them as if they were keeping a monster in their house who was waiting to kill them. Are they safe to handle with just one person? Is there a way to know if you are getting a wonderful pet or a man eating monster before you buy one? How would you recomend someone prepares themselves for giant python ownership? Would owning a Dwarf Retic help to prepare someone for their tempermant? If could get the opinion/recomendation of some experienced keepers that would be great. Does anyone know of anyone in Western Washington who has one that I could talk to and maybe check out? Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian

2.0 BCI's Jake & Ellwood

BreaksBabe · 11-01-03, 06:20 AM

ive had my female burm for about a yr now and she was my 2nd giant python. when i was about 5 we had a 14ft retic. imo burms are a lot more docile and easier to handle. i am on my own with her and she is a handful. espicially when she had her resp. infection and i had to give her her med.s by myself (not something i recommend). i knew she would make a great pet when i got her at the pet shop with how tolerant she was of being picked up by several diff ppl and with ppl walking up and messing with her. i wouldnt trade her for any smaller snake as much as i loved my ball python i wouldnt give up my burm for anything.

NewLineReptile · 11-01-03, 07:08 AM

I keep many large snakes Right now. I keep many burms and a few Retics one at 16'+ Sulawsie Retic. Owning big snakes are alot of work it is more like a full time job. There is always something that needs to be done. You asked about the retics if you could handle them by just one person. your answer would be yes as a babie but not for long. You should never handle any large snake by your self when it is past 8 - 10 feet. My 16' Retic takes 2 - 3 people to handle and that means every time you clean the enclosure or just when ever you have to take it out. Even if you wanted a dwarf retic they still get to be a Big snake. And still would have the temperment of any other retic. If you really want to get a retic i would go with a new born and work with it. But you have to remember keeping even just one large snake will cost you just as much to keep as if you had 10 small snakes. The price of feeding and the price of a big enough enclosure Are not cheap. If you are wanting to get a big snake for a good pet. One that you would handle offten i would go with a Burm and see how that works for you. I love my Retics but they are not a good first choice of big snake to jump into. Most Burms are pretty well temper and they are a awesome snake to keep. Out of all my big snakes i like my Rocks and Retic's they are just awesome looking snakes but for handling i like my burms That are also a awesome looking snake.

Brandon

P.S If it was not 6:30 Am i would probably go into some better detail about owning large snakes. But i need my Tim Hortons first....lol
If there is anything i can help you answer feel free to just ask or PM me and i will do my best to help you out with what you want to know.

Sunrunner · 11-01-03, 10:18 AM

I will comment on this further but for now I will just strongly say that if anyone recomends to you that you can handle a giant snake NO MATTER WHAT SPECIES on your own is not only wrong but putting themselves PLUS others in a very dangerous position I know many giant snake owners will think I am full of crap but believe me I was one of them and got my mind changed very quickly one day (I will not discuss this here if you want info pm me)
I only tell this story (much to my admittance of my stupidity) because I think it might help ppl understand how dangerous it really is, and how bad it could really be just because a snake might not be able to kill you, does not mean that they could not do alot of dammage to you in other ways,(ie. nerve dammage, stiches,permenant scaring) which is not pleasant. Everyone says," oh my burm is dog tame" or "like a puppy" but these animals do not have the intelect of a puppy or dog so one day when your least expecting it WHAM.... not by agression or fear but likely thinking your white sleeved arm is a nice juicy rabbit or your a preditor trying to eat him by comming at his head..... just a few examples.

Point is that no matter how tame you think your snakes are there is always mistakes on the handlers side and or the snakes side....

Please take this into consideration, I have many many giant snakes and have worked with them for a long time all species..
Rocks, Retics, Annacondas and burms

I will give you 3 guesses of which one really did some damage to me?!

Thanks for your Time
Kim

dlucka · 11-01-03, 03:51 PM

I think the handling should be clear for now, big snake need more then one person, heaven if i know i can take a 12 foot snake alone i always
have some one in backup and give a hand, and when i work with a 250 pound snake tame as a dog it's the same thing.

As how you can tell if you will have a pet or a men eater go for a adult one (2year and more) that you can work with a few time. If you bought a young one it's hard to tell how they will be in future. But you will not be able to pet a big snake like a dog, don't think you'll watch tv with it on you.

NewLineReptile · 11-01-03, 04:50 PM

dlucka.....I don't think by getting a big snake at 2years would be a smart idea. From a baby it will grow up around you and be use to you. And if it turned out to be not so good then it would be better to know as a babie and not a 10'-15' giant. And if he had to get rid of it he would find a home for it faster then if it was already a giant. As for not having a big snake sit with you and watch tv NOT TRUE I have a 11' and a 9' Burm that will sit with you all day. As i said before IMO If you are thinking of getting into large snakes Do all the research you can and then do MORE. On the snake that you want to get And start with something known for the calm temperment. Like a Burm and raise it from a babie. And spend as much time as you can with it and you should be fine. Just because they get to be giant's does not mean that they can not make a good pet. I have some that are awesome pets And i have some that are not to friendly But all in all i think that they are the best pets i have ever had. And would not give them up for anything else.

Brandon

dlucka · 11-01-03, 05:41 PM

I don't say that they are bad pet, but i will not sit in from of tv with a 250 pound snake on me and be alone in the place. If he have to choose just one snake
and he want a tame one, he better go with one that already had his bad time
and now be stable. You are right for starting with a babe but i might get
on bad side when he get bigger then go for adoption, for me (and i think you're in the same situation), i don't mine to get a snake that will try to eat me (this is already done) when i have to work around or on it, but he said that he want a big tame retic.

I agree with you, they are wonderful animal but you have to treat them with respect and i will not trade or sale one of my.

bbailey1392 · 11-01-03, 08:14 PM

So I guess the consensus is to get and work with a Burm first before moving on to a snake with a more questionable reputation. I keep just my two BCI's right now and I think they're great. I wish they were a little more active in their cage, but when I'm holding them they are full of personality. They are always moving and exploring. Most of the burms I've seen seem a lot like a big garden hose. They've just kind of sat there. Is this the case with most burms? I like a snake that's gentle, but not so much that it just sits there all the time. Is there any hope for me with the big guys?

burmer · 11-02-03, 06:50 PM

I keep a retic and two burms. IMO retics get a reputaiton they really don't deserve. I have noticed the retic I have now and the ones I've had in the past are going to be way more active and flighty than a burm. A burm would be a great start in keeping giants though.
The one thing I can stress the most is just use common sense and do lots of research. Once any snake is over eight feet I wouldn't handle it without someone being in the house.

Reticman · 11-02-03, 07:00 PM

Burmer is right. Although mine is only a baby and a little hissy in her home, when I get him out he is very docile and very active and cheking everything out...no hesitation, lack of tounge or anything. When you move to a large snake you just have to devote lots of time and attention to hi/her so it will calm down..but remember...its till a very wild..very strong animal

bbailey1392 · 11-03-03, 09:14 AM

Thanks a lot everyone. Where would you suggest reading for research? I'm trying to find somone in the area with a large burm that would let me handle him, and I'd love to see a large retic. I'm going to join the PNHS and I'm hoping to get some more info through them. I know I'd never get a giant without handling some first. That just seems silly. I don't think you can get enough just from reading.

Linds · 11-03-03, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sunrunner
I will just strongly say that if anyone recomends to you that you can handle a giant snake NO MATTER WHAT SPECIES on your own is not only wrong but putting themselves PLUS others in a very dangerous position I know many giant snake owners will think I am full of crap but believe me I was one of them and got my mind changed very quickly one day

I sure hope no giant snake owners will think you are full of crap. Whoever does certainly should not be owning these amazing creatures. They are wonderful, but not to be taken lightly. I couldn't agree with you more.

Quote:

Originally posted by bbailey1392
I know I'd never get a giant without handling some first. That just seems silly. I don't think you can get enough just from reading.

That's a great idea! These are incredibly powerful snakes, you can never get an idea until you have dealt with it firsthand. Definitely experience is vital to anything. Research is still very important, but by no means is it sufficient enough in keeping these animals. As with anything in life, hands on experience is the best

Quote:

Originally posted by dlucka

As how you can tell if you will have a pet or a men eater go for a adult one (2year and more) that you can work with a few time. If you bought a young one it's hard to tell how they will be in future.

Ooooo I would have to disagree with that one. It is much easier to form a snake in to a manageable animal if you get it as a baby. More than once I have been sold an animal that was "tame", only to have it end up being one of the most agressive animals in my collection, as well as aquiring agressive animals that have never even hissed at me. Often if you purchase them from people with large colelctions, these snakes have not been handled. They may say they are docile because thats all they have had a chance to see in the short periods of time they spend with the animal. Also, some animals react differently with different people. Just because they are calm with one owner is not to say they will be with the next one.