Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm about to acquire a year and a half old or so female het albino retic. Her former owner doesn't care to keep her anymore due to her slightly less than pleasant attitude, which I'm sure just stems from not being messed with much as a baby/juvenile, and not having enough time due to his other large snakes to really mess with her like he should. She's now getting up about 7' or so. Most of the snakes I keep are venomous so I'm used to dealing with hands off animals, however, if possible I'd like to try to calm this retic, as the thought of keeping a 20' mean snake isn't really pleasant. Disclaimer: with that being said, I am willing to do so, so don't think that I'm just going to keep this snake for a short time and get tired of being struck at. I'm just wondering if any of you have ever received a slightly pissy, slightly older retic that you were able to calm. The person I'm getting from has said that when you try to handle her and such to make her realize you aren't there to hurt her, she generally just stresses out and doesn't eat for the next few weeks. So any tips before I get this snake? Thanks.
-Chance Duncan
River Valley Snakes

dont take this as gospel, every animal is an individual and so results may vary. In my experiance however agressive retics, may calm a bit, but if your wanting tame I wouldnt count on it. Even with a ton of handling, most likly she will only grow to be a predictable aggressive adult. It seems to me that usualy only WC and abused cb retics are truly agressive. Most CB baby retics are semi docile at birth, but again each animal is an individual and contrary to popular belife I think that some are just born bad.

I have a WC, LTC 15ft female retic that started off as a terror at around 12-13ft when i got her. Now, 3yrs later, she is usually aggressive only in the cage. I've had her out in the back yard for photo sessions, and she acts tame.

This was achived with sturdy welders gloves and ALOT of patience. Use of the gloves allows them to belive you are not affraid of them when they bite you. With the gloves, take the bites and continue working with the snake. If the snake bites you, do not put it back in the cage, If you do, the snake now knows what to do to get you to leave it alone. Just be careful, don't back down, and be patient.

Wow, im very impressed... That is spectacular, just goes to show that these animals are individuals. Either that or my bad retic theory is just bs, I have not realy seen or heard of very many tame big WC retics, you must consider yourself lucky either way?

I would never call this snake tame. I have known her for 3yrs, i'm in tune with her 98% of the time. Removing her from the cage to clean can be tricky. I just wanted to clarify that she only "acts" tame in open spaces. Thanks again for the compliment!

That's the way all my Bali retics are. While in the cage they are always looking for food. I touch any of them and it's an instant jolt getting ready to take my hand for lunch. After I pull them out they are all very calm. I'd say they have one hell of a feeding responce in which you must get past. I have yet to see a retic calm inside it's cage. Anyways this has been my experience. I can't wait to expand into some of the true dwarf retics.
John

I know how it is dealing with touchy pythons. I currently have an adult pair of southern scrubs, female of which being almost 10', and those guys have to be the most touchy pythons on the planet (well, to me anyway). However, that's only inside the cage. Once out they are very tractable and fairly easily handled, as long as you don't go waving your hand or arm or anyting else in front of their faces (as I unfortunately made the mistake of accidentally doing once with my female). I'm greatly looking forward to getting this female retic. I've always liked retics for some odd reason, but the only one I've ever kept was for a short time and was a wc juvenile, but even that snake was a total sweetheart. My thinking is that with this snake being still very young (certainly much younger than the above mentioned and pictured retic was when it was received), and I'm stubborn enough that she just won't really have much of a choice but to realize that people aren't the enemy. Now onto my next question about retic genetics...
-Chance

>>I know how it is dealing with touchy pythons. I currently have an adult pair of southern scrubs, female of which being almost 10', and those guys have to be the most touchy pythons on the planet (well, to me anyway). However, that's only inside the cage. Once out they are very tractable and fairly easily handled, as long as you don't go waving your hand or arm or anyting else in front of their faces (as I unfortunately made the mistake of accidentally doing once with my female). I'm greatly looking forward to getting this female retic. I've always liked retics for some odd reason, but the only one I've ever kept was for a short time and was a wc juvenile, but even that snake was a total sweetheart. My thinking is that with this snake being still very young (certainly much younger than the above mentioned and pictured retic was when it was received), and I'm stubborn enough that she just won't really have much of a choice but to realize that people aren't the enemy. Now onto my next question about retic genetics...
>>-Chance

-----

>>>>I know how it is dealing with touchy pythons. I currently have an adult pair of southern scrubs, female of which being almost 10', and those guys have to be the most touchy pythons on the planet (well, to me anyway). However, that's only inside the cage. Once out they are very tractable and fairly easily handled, as long as you don't go waving your hand or arm or anyting else in front of their faces (as I unfortunately made the mistake of accidentally doing once with my female). I'm greatly looking forward to getting this female retic. I've always liked retics for some odd reason, but the only one I've ever kept was for a short time and was a wc juvenile, but even that snake was a total sweetheart. My thinking is that with this snake being still very young (certainly much younger than the above mentioned and pictured retic was when it was received), and I'm stubborn enough that she just won't really have much of a choice but to realize that people aren't the enemy. Now onto my next question about retic genetics...
>>>>-Chance
>>
>>
>>-----
>>
>>
>>
-----

>>>>>>I know how it is dealing with touchy pythons. I currently have an adult pair of southern scrubs, female of which being almost 10', and those guys have to be the most touchy pythons on the planet (well, to me anyway). However, that's only inside the cage. Once out they are very tractable and fairly easily handled, as long as you don't go waving your hand or arm or anyting else in front of their faces (as I unfortunately made the mistake of accidentally doing once with my female). I'm greatly looking forward to getting this female retic. I've always liked retics for some odd reason, but the only one I've ever kept was for a short time and was a wc juvenile, but even that snake was a total sweetheart. My thinking is that with this snake being still very young (certainly much younger than the above mentioned and pictured retic was when it was received), and I'm stubborn enough that she just won't really have much of a choice but to realize that people aren't the enemy. Now onto my next question about retic genetics...
>>>>>>-Chance
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>-----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>-----
>>
-----

>>>>>>>>I know how it is dealing with touchy pythons. I currently have an adult pair of southern scrubs, female of which being almost 10', and those guys have to be the most touchy pythons on the planet (well, to me anyway). However, that's only inside the cage. Once out they are very tractable and fairly easily handled, as long as you don't go waving your hand or arm or anyting else in front of their faces (as I unfortunately made the mistake of accidentally doing once with my female). I'm greatly looking forward to getting this female retic. I've always liked retics for some odd reason, but the only one I've ever kept was for a short time and was a wc juvenile, but even that snake was a total sweetheart. My thinking is that with this snake being still very young (certainly much younger than the above mentioned and pictured retic was when it was received), and I'm stubborn enough that she just won't really have much of a choice but to realize that people aren't the enemy. Now onto my next question about retic genetics...
>>>>>>>>-Chance
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>-----
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>-----
>>>>
>>-----
>>
-----

>>>>>>>>>>I know how it is dealing with touchy pythons. I currently have an adult pair of southern scrubs, female of which being almost 10', and those guys have to be the most touchy pythons on the planet (well, to me anyway). However, that's only inside the cage. Once out they are very tractable and fairly easily handled, as long as you don't go waving your hand or arm or anyting else in front of their faces (as I unfortunately made the mistake of accidentally doing once with my female). I'm greatly looking forward to getting this female retic. I've always liked retics for some odd reason, but the only one I've ever kept was for a short time and was a wc juvenile, but even that snake was a total sweetheart. My thinking is that with this snake being still very young (certainly much younger than the above mentioned and pictured retic was when it was received), and I'm stubborn enough that she just won't really have much of a choice but to realize that people aren't the enemy. Now onto my next question about retic genetics...
>>>>>>>>>>-Chance
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>-----
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>-----
>>>>>>
>>>>-----
>>>>
>>-----
>>
-----