Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for help with me new Retics. Let me say up front these are my first Retics. I have had many very large Burmese so I am familiar with large constrictors but not Retics in general. I recently purchased 1.2 Poss het albino retics. Temperments as follows:

6'- male seems very good; never strikes
5'- female seems uneasy and strikes repeatedly once she has had enough
4'- female strikes like crazy all of the time.

I would really like to get these to calm down and become handleable but at their sizes I just can't take all the biting to forcefully show them who is boss. Right now they are. Help please, I would like to keep these guys....... Thank you!!

Well, let me begin by saying that it is good that they are still small. At least this way you can work with them and not be seriously hurt if and when you are tagged during the process. (assume that you will be and brace yourself for it)

Secondly,.. don't ever approach the situation as one where they need to be shown "who's boss". That won't ever work and if you try this they will remain in fear of humans forever. Something has happened in these snakes' brief lives that has at least temporarily scarred them phychologically where humans are concerned. This can usually be reversed in time when they are still young. It is simply a matter of gaining and maintaining their trust. T accomplish this, you must demonstrate to them with every action that you do not pose a threat to them. So move slowly and allow them to smell you in their leisure. Don't ever seize them during this time. If you hold them allow them to have a free roam through your hands. Don't allow them to stare you in the face. Breath and eyes can often be misinterpreted as "Preditor" to them if they are already on edge or are uncertain about you.

Don't expect positive results overnight. It may take months, so be prepared for a long and arduous task. Once you have gained their trust be careful to not violate it. I once swatted a female away with a light newspaper and it took weeks for her to forgive me and months to completely trust me again. Keep us posted with your progress.

>>I am looking for help with me new Retics. Let me say up front these are my first Retics. I have had many very large Burmese so I am familiar with large constrictors but not Retics in general. I recently purchased 1.2 Poss het albino retics. Temperments as follows:
>>
>>6'- male seems very good; never strikes
>>5'- female seems uneasy and strikes repeatedly once she has had enough
>>4'- female strikes like crazy all of the time.
>>
>>I would really like to get these to calm down and become handleable but at their sizes I just can't take all the biting to forcefully show them who is boss. Right now they are. Help please, I would like to keep these guys....... Thank you!!
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If 50% of one's enemies are still breathing,... it just means you're doing a half-assed job.

Not sure what you mean by "forcefully showing who is boss," but I can help with some suggestions. Retics have very good memories and they will remember an unpleasant episode so think positively and work positively with them otherwise you may as well hang it up. Keeping them in a quiet place with no distractions and with low lighting for their handling sessions helps to calm them. Limit the session to 10 -15 minutes initially and do it every day for each of them. Make sure they eat their fill when they are fed and leave them alone for 2 days afterward (feed them in their enclosure-). If one prefers not to go out that day, pretend to mess around in the enclosure instead getting her used to your hand/arm in there. Condition them with the hook by lightly touching them beneath their chin when you go to handle them. This seems to have an effect on turning "off" the feeding response. Some retics are naturally more jumpy than others and may never fit our different definitions of tame. You have to learn how to work with them and they will cue you as to how they feel that day. Respect their feelings. I've probably forgotten a few things. Most importantly remain calm and understanding. I hope this helps. Congratulations on your trio.
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Marcia Pimentel
Tango River Reptiles
GiantFeeders

Keep the suggestions coming please. What I meant before was I have been told in the past that you just need to basically handle the snakes through the biting until they become calm. To me that is forceful and seems to trigger more biting. My definition of "tame" would be a snake that I can take out of the cage and handle for brief periods without being bitten and that is the goal I would be striving for. Once again thank you for all of your help.

I've never heard of that technique you mentioned but imo, it is definitely not something you want to do with a retic. In a way, they will always be the boss and as you get used to them and through your personal observations of them you will learn to pick up on the cues they give out. They can be "read." My retics for instance give me a forceful shove when they don't want to be messed with and I leave them alone. I think Burms, by comparison, are a bit more easy going in general. If they hiss and shove, I will still do what I need to do and then leave them alone. They have been pretty accepting of that. The retics shove and let me know, "no way!" A lot like my 17 year-old daughter actually Keep your sessions short and calm and they will more than likely come around and be the definition of tame you menioned. Good luck with them.
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Marcia Pimentel
Tango River Reptiles
GiantFeeders

im having the same problems with my two retics but i guess id have a more difficult time trying to "tame" them because they are WC. currently im handling them everyday and only one of them is getting used to me while the other one still is persistent in biting me. only two weeks have passed since the first time i tried handling them and i think it varies from snakes. but if there are other ways of trying to "tame" these amazing snakes please post it, i can also need the info. thanks

Retics in my experience are a bit more territorial than the burms you have worked with in the past. They also have a tremendous feeding response. Differentiating between the two behaviors is something that you will need to be mindful of as you "learn" your snakes.

I'm sure you've looked back through some of the older posts. As Marcia suggested and am sure Brian would agree the importance of developing a routine to let the snakes know when it is NOT feeding time. For example, if something dead and furry falls in the cage it is feeding time. If a hook comes in the cage follwed by a few pats on the side it is NOT time to eat.

The territorial side is what I think throws some new to retics for a loop. You get your new snake home, let it get settled into it's new surroundings, reach in to pull it out and, WHAM!! you get nailed. What happened to the nice snake you were handling at the show/store? It's the same snake. There is a very good chance that if you would take the snake out of the cage it would clam right down and you could handle it freely. I'm sure you've seen ads for retics that read, "fine once out of it's cage" this happens to be true more often than not.

Fortunately your snakes are not too big yet. If you take then out and handle then freely, which will probably be a little scary at first, you can start building some trust in them. OVER TIME, the snakes will start to "learn" the routine and should not respond by striking as often, if at all.

One last piece to remember before I end this rambling post. When working with retics as they get larger, always be focused on what you are doing. Don't operate from a standpoint of fear , but rather caution and awareness. I've handled some big girls out of their cages for exercise, cleaning, or whatever, without incident, totally relaxed. I put them back in their cage, closed the doors, turned around only to hear a solid THUD as she struck the glass behind me.

These are beatiful, intelligent animals that are rewarding to work with. They are not, however, for the feint of heart.
Good luck, glad to have you here,
Josh.