Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my male tiger retic now for a couple of months, and he is the most interesting snake I have kept thus far. I am fully aware of how large he could get (mother was a yellowhead dwarf and dad was small, but that may not mean anything with the way he eats). Anyway, On the one hand, I would love to give him the biggest enclosure possible, which could be as big as a large walk in closet if my new house works out...however, since most snakes are kept in emclosures where they know exactly where food will come in and out, I assume that the ambush instinct is suppressed. If given enough space, will this instinct come back and make working with him in a larger enclosure and danger or at least, much more difficult than if I were to keep him in a six foot neo or vision? Thanks for any and all replies...

on a related note, what are some good journals or literature that have scientific information about retics? I would like my knowledge to go beyond what I read on caresheets and observe in his current enclosure.
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Excuse me sir, is this the Delta House?

Sure! C'mon in!

I don't belive the size of the enclosure matters in terms of feeding response. What does matter is :A, are you only opening the cage to clean or feed? OR :B, do you open the cage more often to interact with the snake and less for the cleaning and feeding?

Retics are intelligent creatures of habbit, If you go and interact with the snake every day of the week and clean and feed on the days that its needed. The snake will figure out that its not getting fed every time the cage is opened.

But you as a keeper should approach the snake as if it were hungry every time you open the cage. So, don't get used to your retic being mellow most of the time.

It is important to remember also that adult retics CAN be territorial. They often have "favorite" places to sit, or bask. This is more apperant in large enclosures. They may defend these areas from any invaders. This may manifest itself as a potential mate being attacked or a keeper being attacked. Often this behavior will play a role in what the keeper may precieve as a "feeding responce" although more often than notnit probably is.

I do have quiet a bit of literature on retics, some articles were writin as far back as the late 1800's. most were found in obscure herpetological journals, and obtained from friends at the zoo. I do have a article also writtin about the "territorial behavior" of retics. Send me an email and we can discuss them.
-Shaun DeBord

>>I have had my male tiger retic now for a couple of months, and he is the most interesting snake I have kept thus far. I am fully aware of how large he could get (mother was a yellowhead dwarf and dad was small, but that may not mean anything with the way he eats). Anyway, On the one hand, I would love to give him the biggest enclosure possible, which could be as big as a large walk in closet if my new house works out...however, since most snakes are kept in emclosures where they know exactly where food will come in and out, I assume that the ambush instinct is suppressed. If given enough space, will this instinct come back and make working with him in a larger enclosure and danger or at least, much more difficult than if I were to keep him in a six foot neo or vision? Thanks for any and all replies...
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>>on a related note, what are some good journals or literature that have scientific information about retics? I would like my knowledge to go beyond what I read on caresheets and observe in his current enclosure.
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>>Excuse me sir, is this the Delta House?
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>>Sure! C'mon in!
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MikeWilbanks@Constrictors.com