Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just picked up a beautiful 3 year old Bali yellowhead at the reptile show yesterday. He's about 5.5 feet with awesome color and irridescence. This is my first retic of any kind, and i went for this type because of their relatively smaller size. I have a boa and have noticed a big difference in personalities. The retic is very active and intent on exploring everything. When i walk past his cage he races to the front and watches me go by. The former owner said that he had not interacted much with the snake, and i know their reputation for aggressiveness. So, this makes me a little nervous around my new pet. I haven't gotten him out of the cage since yesterday becuase i want to give him time to settle in. I just have this feeling he's going to nail me when i try to get him out in a few days. Add to this the fact that his enclosure opens from the top which would probably further excite him seeing my hand coming at him from above. I really want this snake to get used to humans and would appreciate any advice you may have in his care and taming. Thanks, chris

Relatively smaller size. I had a 10 1/2ft male and I know of a 16ft pair. Yes compared to a 30ft plus sulwesi they are relatively small. Retics aren't all that aggressive. They have a strong feeding response and it's why most people think they are aggressive. I had my 10 1/2fter in a enclosure that opened from above. With him I had to just grab a coil and lift him out. He would then realize he wasn't going to be fed at that moment. He had tried to bite thinking I was food. Just put a towl on his head or block it at first till you learn your snakes habits. Let him get used to his new habitat! Retics are the only snake I've had not eat the first day I've had them! Took me a week to two weeks to accumliate them. Need anything else let me know,
John
Elapids@hotmail.com

Just picked up a beautiful 3 year old Bali yellowhead at the reptile show yesterday. He's about 5.5 feet with awesome color and irridescence. This is my first retic of any kind, and i went for this type because of their relatively smaller size. I have a boa and have noticed a big difference in personalities. The retic is very active and intent on exploring everything. When i walk past his cage he races to the front and watches me go by. The former owner said that he had not interacted much with the snake, and i know their reputation for aggressiveness. So, this makes me a little nervous around my new pet. I haven't gotten him out of the cage since yesterday becuase i want to give him time to settle in. I just have this feeling he's going to nail me when i try to get him out in a few days. Add to this the fact that his enclosure opens from the top which would probably further excite him seeing my hand coming at him from above. I really want this snake to get used to humans and would appreciate any advice you may have in his care and taming. Thanks, chris

If you do not have a snake hook, get one. I always hook mine first to get them out. I don't really pick them up with the hook, just lift a coil and place it in my hand. If you are met with a feeding response, a tap on the nose with the hook will usually turn them off. Hope this helps.

Jeff

thanks for both replies, fed him today and he absolutely went nuts on the rat, thanks again, chris