Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an eight or nine foot albino Burmese that I was keeping temporarily together with a 13 foot Tiger Retic, in the same room enclosure.
Recently, I noticed the Burmese has desperately been trying to mate with the Retic. To the best of my knowledge, the Retic is male. I don't have large enough probes to find out for sure, but thats what I was told when I bought it.
The Retic doesn't seem bothered at all by the courtship behaviour, but I haven't actually seen them locked up together either.
Is it possible for the male Burm to just be feeling the need after being conditioned? I would think that he would have to pick up the scent of pheramones before making an attempt, but i'm not really sure. Any help would be great! Thanks, Angela

If you have a male retic as large as you say and a male Burm in the same cage, if the Burmese has not been mauled to death, chances are the retic is not a male. Male retics of breeding size/age are very aggressive towards other males and can do serious damage to them. The fact that the Burmese is still alive suggests female retic to me. I would see if anyone in your area can check for you that knows what they are doing and can sex snakes accurately.

Patrick Powers
Manager of Prehistoric Pets

Thanks Patrick ~ Do you think that aggressive behaviour your talking about in a male Retic would be the same in the event that there was no sexually receptive female present?
I know there is an obviously reproductively conditioned male Burm with him, but if the retic is male, do you think that he would even recognize the Burm as being a male at all ~ especially with no female around?
Thanks, Angela

I'm not exactly sure if the retic would not react because there is not another male retic or there is no female retic around. I was always under the impression that male retics would be aggressive towards any larger males, and I would think that the Burmese trying to breed would trigger something in the male retic. But I could be entirely wrong. I will ask someone else here at Prehistoric and see if they maybe have some better insight. If there is someone near you with experience with these animals, I would suggest having them look at the retic to be certain.

Patrick Powers
Manager of Prehistoric Pets

thanks Patrick for your input. I'll try and get ahold of some python probes and check the Retic out. I'll let you know what comes of this. Thanks, Angela
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