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I talked to a friend today who imports a lot of animals. He claimed this snake was offered to a friend of his(another importer) about 2 weeks ago. At that time the exporter claimed it was 32 feet. Let the press get a hold of a story and in 2 weeks it has grown 17 feet. Now thats a bunch of dogs!!!D.C.

If that is true, why did the importer not take it? A 32 foot retic in the U.S. would have no doubt fetched quite a price on the open market, especially as tame as this one is. I've seen video of the big snake, and the keepers are in there handling it just like I handle my Burmese. For a wild caught snake, that thing is amazingly docile (makes me wonder if it really is wild caught, but that's another subject in and of itself).

That being said, I have my doubts as to the truthfulness of all these reports, but I do not doubt that this snake is enormous. I would be surprised if it were under 30 feet. However, I remember showing my 16 1/2, 150 pound albino Burmese in schools, etc., and then hearing people -- both children and adults -- turn around and tell their parents, spouses, friends, etc., that she was over 20 feet long and was as big around as a car tire. Simply put, it is very easy to exagerate the size of a large snake (or any snake, for that matter). But we all know this, right?

I think the general consensus is that the snake isn't as large as is being reported, but it's probably still the largest snake we've ever seen. Like everyone else, I am anxiously awaiting an accurate measurement.

As far as an importer turning this snake down for sale and/or display in the U.S., I would doubt it. A 32-foot retic would just be too valuable in the U.S. market.

RP

Hindsight is always 20/20.Being as I make my living off of displaying reptiles and doing"shows", noone knows better than me how much that snake is worth. And since I was'nt directly involved in those negotiations I can't say if it really happened. But being that these 2 guys have sold more than their share of morphs to Barkers ,Clark, and Jay I tend to believe it. Anytime you're paying 3 grand or so in shipping for one "wildcaught" snake one is going to pause. Second , clearly most imports do not look like this or act like this. Even though it was reported not to be a "strong" snake(apparently this means not aggressive) once again it is an import. Lastly and most important all people who sell snakes are notorious for exagerrating, or lying about size. Obviously all the film was not available at the time of negotiations. Even now with tons of video and pics it is hard to ascertain the length of this snake. If an importer says 32 I'm thinking not over 25.
Now you have maybe a 25 foot python that may or may not eat. That may or maynot want to kill you. And would seem most certainly to be toward the end of its life. What is it you don't understand about someone passing on that scenario.
After the success of albino burms noone would have passed on leucistic burms. But being sterile I bet Bob would take his money back. If you buy a dozen Boelens and they all die within the year wiythout breeding is that a good deal? Its an import which in my book means its a crapshoot. Hindsight is easy. Its always 20/20.
The most important thing about this snake is her (I don't believe she is a male though I hope so)GENES. Someone needs to breed it to the biggest available mate. Lets not let these giant genes disappear. D.C.

"What is it you don't understand about someone passing on that scenario."

Those are things I had not considered, and they are indeed very valid points. All I was thinking about was how much a record setting reticulated python would be worth here in the U.S. Given that it is an import, and obviously a very old snake, it may not acclimate well to captivity.

But what if it did? What would it then be worth? Am I mistaken in believing that it would be worth much more than $3K, even if it was a headhunter? Is the $3K you mentioned in your post the price tag for importing this snake?

Now that the video has been released, and we can see this snake does appear to be quite tame and a very good feeder, whoever passed on this deal passed on a deal. But like you said, hindsight is 20/20. I guess after having had a few bad experiences with imports, it would be easy to pass on something like this.

Are y'all certain that the snake offered for sale is the one on TV and in newspapers?

RP

Once again I won't swear that it happened because I was'nt there. But it is the snake. Obviously as you stated someone could make a small fortune exhibiting that snake in the U.S. or Japan.
3 grand was the shipping the price tag was 5 grand. So when all is said and done about 10 or so. Which if it is a legitimate 30 feet that is a steal.
I'm paranoid I've had to many seemingly healthy snakes bellyup for no apparent reason. Even though you could make your money back 10fold...
Now if it was a 25 foot crocodile...
I would morgage the house. D.C.

there has been a reward for such a beast(over 30 ft)for more than 50 yrs,and that reward far outweighs a mere 20 grand,you could have multiplied your money 20 fold al least!

as far as the snake goes,its just not "measuring up"its fat,but the camera angles have been misleading us intentionaly,that animals head is barley larger than my 22 footer.
Noah