Retics can be very docile when tamed and handled regularly. They are very intelligent snakes but each snake is an individual. Some may never be totally tame. Most retics are what their kepers make of them. You have your hands full with these ones especially if they were mistreated or not cared for but it is very possible to tame them. Do you know if they are wild caught or captive bred?

Retics bite for only two reasons: to eat and for defense-they are not "mean". The defication/musking shows that the snakes are scared of you and this is a defense mechanism the retic uses against predators. So you must win their trust. DO NOT restrain a retic by its neck or head-they hate that, are very unforgiving of that, and will remember that. Restraining a retic's head goes the opposite way of building truat. Place a piece of a worn, unwashed t-shirt in each retic's cage. This lets the snake get used to your scent and not associate it as a threat. Retics are very cage defensive/territorial so the t-shirt lets them associate you with their cage and safety. If you don't have a snake hook-get one-essential retic equipment. Also do feed the retic inside of its cage. Every time you open the cage for anything except feeding, touch the retic on its nose/head a few times with a hook to cancel the feeding response. When food enters the cage never even let the retic see a hook. They soon lean that the hook means "no food" and calm down. Once you have the feeding response cancelled gently hook the snake and bring it out of the cage. Wear gloves at first if needed. Let the snake crawl onto your arms on its own or just stay on the hook. Patience is important along with very slow, gentle movements on your part. Mimic a tree. Fast/jerky movement will scare them. Let the retic move unrestrained and guide it rather than grab or restrain it. Of course keep the snake away from your face. Take your time and don't be discouraged. Limit handling sessions to a few minutes each day and then increase the time as the retics begin to trust you. Try to be calm as they can sense that. Once you establish trust a retic will bond with its keeper. I wish you the best here and if you have any questions please ask. Bill.
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

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