Reptile & Amphibian Forums

WOW

I've been away from snakes for a couple years and I've come back to a retic morph craze!!

I've always loved snakes, they've always been my favorite animal hands down.

But I've read some recent articles regarding people getting getting strangled to death by thier large pet python.
Before i read these articles I was dead set on getting either a retic or a burm.
Seemed like the next step up in snake keeping after working with ball pythons and boa constrictors for a few years.

But my quesstion is
HOw bad are large pythons really?
I've wrote a few people asking them but Can never get a straight answer out of them.
And can never find any good info online other then how horrible they are to keep.
I suppose what I really need is a good explanation.
I understand that it varies from snake to snake and species to species but what variables would be needed to turn the odds in my favor of landing a nice calm and tame retic or burm?
please any and all info would be greatly appreciated

HOw bad are large pythons really? Not sure what you mean by bad. They can kill you, not sure what article you read, either about the asst. zoo keeper or what. You will learn from you snake when and when not to mess with it. However it is snake and could strike whenever. I was in your place once, and well I just jumped in and did it. I still have that thought everytime I deal with it but it keeps me alert. I like my Super Tiger, and Amel, but Tigers are also good. My burm was really laid back to. You need to work with it and you will understand it as it grows. That is why you get so many answers, but its better to get captive born and bred. Wild caughts can be aggressive. If you like the size of these you may want to look into a blood python. They get just as thick but not as long.

Good Luck.

I've wrote a few people asking them but Can never get a straight answer out of them.
And can never find any good info online other then how horrible they are to keep.
I suppose what I really need is a good explanation.
I understand that it varies from snake to snake and species to species but what variables would be needed to turn the odds in my favor of landing a nice calm and tame retic or burm?
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

Thank you for your response
From what I understand burms tend to be a bit more laid back
But I don't yet want to completely rule out a retic.
Most of you are already keeping retics.
So this brings me to my next question if you'd be so kind.
Does feeding prekilled prey items to retics reduce their famous feeding response?
and if so does that reduce general aggression in the snake?
Sorry if these questions are a bit specific but I'm just trying to soak up as my knowledge as I can
care sheets I've read don't go to far in depth.
Thank you for any and all replies

Once again it varies by the animal. My retics range from having to open the bin with a hook cause they ARE going to come out biting, to just opening the glass and reaching in and pulling them straight out with no hook or anything. I agree with the rottenweiler when he/she says to get captive born and bred. Try and get something close to a hatchling and grow with the snake. You will soon know how to tell what mood your snake is in demanding on how it's body is reacting. I am the first person to close a cage door and say "I'll mess with you later" if the snake is responding aggresive in any way. With that said, my open bin with hook snakes, are complete dolls once they realize that they are not going to be fed. So it is all in how well you understand your snake.

Scott Austin

I responded in the burm section but regarding retics--- Ours KNOW the difference from feeding time, play time and cage cleaning day.... because we use a hook...
They are READY to eat all the time-- but if a hook touches them - everything changes... totally different attitude... all ours are on frozen thawed... which i find much easier for me... if for whatever reason they DON'T eat (which has happened all of once...) then I'd rather not chase a rabbit around in a huge cage while someone else messes with a snake in food mode...

We put the rabbits/rats/whatever in a cat litter box and set it inside the door- so if they don't eat its easy to open the door and pull the pan out... if the snake is right there near us, we come back later...
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Until there are none, Rescue One! Get ready to welcome the new and improved Oklahoma Animal Rescue Group -- Just a few weeks away from getting our 501c3 status!!!!!

Pick up the latest isue of Reptiles magazine. It has an article on just your question from the man himself, Kevin "the morph god" M. It will tell you how to give yourself the best chances of "taming a retic".

NERD, who is a sponsor here, has care sheets on both burms and retics that I have found to be very good.

thank you all for your responses
they were helpful in persuding me in my decision.
for those interested i think i'm going to go with a burm for starters
retics will come later in life

Never, ever trust a large constrictor completely. They are not domesticated animals and even domesticated Dogs and cats can turn on you. I have kept large constrictors among other smaller snakes for over 20 years. The mistake one can make is getting too complacent. Never take anything for granted. Many people say to always have someone else around when working with large Constrictors but we know that often does not happen when we want to work with our snakes. I made the mistake many years ago while trying to medicate what i considered a very tame 11 ft. Constrictor. It threw it's coils around my neck and tightened up. I am 6'2 and 230 pounds and i could not do anything to loosen the snakes grip. Thought i was a goner. Fortunately when i released my grip on the snakes head it loosened up just before i passed out. The key is to be prepared. Have a bottle of alcohol or listerine around at all times to pour down the snakes mouth. A knife will often not do the trick when a Constrictor decides to kill. This is evidenced by the huge scars found on wild snakes. The main and most important factor is to never have the scent of food on you. This is what causes the most deaths. Aggressive snakes that bite are another matter. They usualy bite but don't constrictsomething as large as a human. As the previous responses have said; use a hook on your large snakes first. Don't want to go on and on, but have any of you noticed how a seemingly docile snake can become Extremely aggressive when taken outside in the Sun?

Could you elaborate on snakes becoming aggressive when taken out into the sun?
I've never had that happen, but I do kind of anticipate that when I do take mine out of the house into the backyard.
I don't know if it would be from the direct sun light reving up their metabolism or them sensing a great opportunity for escape.
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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python (both gorgeous)
1.1 Ball Python (normals)
2.3 hatchling ball python (normals)
1.1 Ball Python (het for albino)(gonna make my own albino)
2.1 Corn Snake (Okeetee,Sunglow x Snow,Okeetee, )
0.0.1 Gray band Kingsnake (Blairs)
1.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Andean Milksnake (het Inca phase)
1.0 Bullsnake (normal)(my garbage disposal snake)
1.1 Bullsnake (red bulls)
1.1 Black Pine Snake
1.1 Southern Snow Pine (red phase snow, snow)
1.1 Mexican Pine snake
1.1 Black Milk snake
1.0 Western Hognose (possible het albino)
1.1 Honduran Milksnake (het albino)
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback (Hondo)
0.1 Spouse (WC)(hates the herps,and not real crazy about the dog)

I dont think they the snakes thinks its a great opportunity to escape. I just know that mine is energized by the sun and is disappointed that he has to go back in his enclosure.

I have a large burm who is about 11 feet long. I have had him for 3 years. He is the most laid back snake ever. Kids love him and many take pics while holding him. However, he indeed is super aggresive when feeding. I can only speak for my experience. Most of the stories I read about accidents with large snakes are those who allow them to "free roam" in the house or in a room of their own. I think most of these people must gain a false level of comfort when it comes to feeding. My snake, Slim, has been held and handled often since he was a baby. He does not mind being handled, although I don't think I would say he likes it either. LOL The bottom line is I never forget he is a dangerous animal and show caution ESPECIALLY when feeding.

All in all he has been a joy and I'm happy I have him!