Reptile & Amphibian Forums

should i get a retic,burm,boa or carpet python. i like the color of the retics, but i hear a lot of storys about their temper.burmess are cool, but i heard that they can mistake people for food. so what do you guys think what snake should i get??????????????

Be careful, make sure that you are actualy ready for a giant. I think most people who we see make the news are thoughs who just wernt. Yes burms can and do look at people curriously to see if there edible. My retics sometimes bite first and ask later, of course she is a sweethart with me but hunger will make us all crazy right. I dont have any clue about your actual experiance so I would recomend the boa or even nice carpet.

sd

There's a number of good choices. But first, tell us about yourself and your experience with reptiles.

Bill

Unless you have had previous experience with giant snakes (years not days) then a Ball Python would be your best bet.Not trying to say that to be mean but i have saw so many people recently wanting a big snake and have no idea how to care for one much less how big they CAN actually get.People come by my house all the time ooohing and ahhhing at the retics,burms,boas,etc and always want to have the big ones but havent the faintest idea of what their requirements are.The best idea is to do research and alot of reading,studying,etc and when you feel like your ready for the big one then go out and find someone who has one and will let you get used to handling one by yourself,feed it,clean its cage,etc.,Do this for about 3 mths and after that do some more research and you might be ready for a big snake.After you get the idea of what it costs to feed and house these big snakes then you might not be so joyful to have one.They are a lifetime commitment period,not just a short joyride.

Retics as far as temperament,it varies from snake to snake.You may get one thats very easy going or you may get one that makes satan seem like a doll,its a 50/50 chance,just like gambling.Your best bet would be to get a c/b baby retic and raise it up that way you will know what to expect from it.

Burms DO NOT eat people,maybe in the wild (longshot) but havent heard of a case in captivity yet.Heard of people getting killed by them but thats from being mistaken as prey,not to be eaten.It would take a big burm to eat a fullgrown human being.Kids are about the right size but again if all the necessary precautions are taken then that wont happen.Taking all the necessary precautions to keep from getting attacked will possibly save your life one day if you decide to get a big snake. Regards Bill McLeod

One decision you need to make would be whether you want a "large" or a "giant" snake. Two of the species you've listed are the former and two are the latter, and there is a _major_ difference. I'll leave it to you to research which is which.

Giant snakes are a _huge_ commitment. (Large snakes are merely a _large_ commitment). You may feel like you can make this commitment now, but will you feel the same way every day for the next 20 or 30 years of the snake's lifespan? Remember these things will grow to eat small pigs, and produce a correspondingly large amount of foul-smelling waste products. Do you want to spend a major portion of your life cleaning up after that? And don't plan to sell it when you get tired of it. The world is overrun with unloved giant snakes and there are no homes for them.

I would have to agree with these guys , the best advice would be to start off with some boas and then SLOWLY progress . Trust me there is a rather large difference in being nibbled on by a red tail boa and being hit by a large ret . Start small and find some people with lots of experience with large pythons .