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First retic nervousness

Tatoo Oct 19, 2009 11:07 AM

So, at these years NARBC I finally broke down and picked up my first retic. I’ve owned several large burms in the past but have been out of the hobby for about 4 years. I have her set up in a 20gal aquarium for now. I usually don’t like to give them too much extra space so her next cage will be a 4 footer but was going to wait till she grows into it a little more (was planning on another month or so). She’s got under-tank heating (which she hasn’t needed except in the night when the basking light is off. The hot end is in the low-mid 90’s and the cool side is in the low 80’s.

This is probably excessive nervousness because it’s been a while but hey, better safe than sorry. I’ve been told the have stronger feeding responses than burms and I have never had burms get finicky when I first get them. Last Tuesday she went poo just fine and seems nice and active when she’s out. I was expecting her to really go for her food but I’ve attempted feeding twice with no luck.

I was trying to feed her a large live mouse. She was getting fed frozen but I’ve found in the past that if they’re going to be picky it’d be with non-live and to rule that out generally I give my snakes live on their first feed and get them back on frozen once I verify they’re going to eat and have a good appetite. I also feed in separate feed bins as I always do with my large snakes and have tried once in the bin then the next day in her cage with no luck

As of yesterday I’ve had her a full week.

Should I be concerned? Anything special to consider with this species that veries from the feeding habits/patterns from a burm?

Replies (3)

Tatoo Oct 19, 2009 11:12 AM

FYI, image is completely unrelated and accidental i just couldn't figure out how to remove it!

Sarge2004 Oct 19, 2009 07:24 PM

Just my recommendations from experience-I think you temps are too high. I only provide undercage belly heat with a true temp gradient. Most of the time my retics are on the cool side of the cage. My max hotspot is 89-90 and 75 on the cool side. The basking lamp might be too much in that size of a cage and will dry up humidity that retics love. Let the snake settle in for a week prior to feeding and handling.

I strongly advise feeding inside the cage. Retics can hold onto their feeding mode for up to 48 hours and moving a large retic after feeding is more than dangerous and stressful on the snake. Get a snake hook if you don't have one. Every time you open the cage touch the retic on the nose with the hook except when food enteers the cage. The retic soon learns that the hook means "no food is coming" and the feeding responce is cancelled. When the snake is taken out of the cage I want it to "think" it is not being fed ever. Hope this helps and good luck. 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.

reticguy76 Oct 19, 2009 08:04 PM

i always keep my babies at 92 on warm side and 80-82 on cooler side. first step: give it a week to relax and settle in. second: get it off mice, mice have absolutely no nutritional value for the large boids. third: ensure it has ample hides.
some tics need at least a couple hides, others could care less about hides.
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retic is king of kings

1.0 Tiger Retic
1.0 Albino Tiger Retic
0.1 Striped Tiger Retic (het albino)
0.1 Salmon Boa
1.0 Albino Boa
0.1 False Water Cobra

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