Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been keeping snakes for about 15 years, started with a cornsnake when I was 14. I have had Kings, Gophers, Milks, Corns, Ball Pythons, and Columbian Boas in my time. My cornsnakes produced several offspring over a 6 year period. I now own One snake, Helga, a 19 month old , 11 foot albino Burmese Python. My pride and joy. I am seriously tempted to buy a male silver retic, as a hatchling. I have been reading these forums for some time, but I wonder if any of you can really point out some differences between burm and retic behavior, care, etc. Or perhaps suggest a good web site. Am I getting in over my head?

If you're going to get a retic,I would strongly suggest captive bred!Wild caught babies can calm down with time,but save yourself the trouble,and bites!lol! The best source for c.b.retics and info,in my opinion,is either Nerd or Bob Clark.
The major difference between burms and retics:intelligence!Retics are the smartest snakes I've ever kept,they seem to recognise their keepers,and can escape any unsecure cage.They also learn,mine seem to watch how I open their cages,and then attempt to do the same once the doors are locked! Of course, you still need to watch out for the feeding response!I use a snake hook to stroke my retics,to let them know they're not being fed,before opening the doors all the way and handling them.I started this when they were babies,and they've learned that snake hook=no food!!Like I said,very intelligent.Of course this is just my opinion,but I think if you start out right,retics make very rewarding snake pets.
Hope this helps,R

I agree I own 4 burmese pythons one is an albino and 2 retics. Now when I feed my retics I seperate the male from the female. I feed the female right on my floor and leave the male in the tank. Well last time I fed them the female had eater her rabbit and then gone in and opened up the tank and ate the rabbit I had in the tank for the male.

Hi.

I would highly recommend a Jampea dwarf retic. They still get reasonably large but not monstrous, pretty much handleable by yourself, and you'd be able to feed an adult nicely with rabbits rather than goats or pigs!

That's just my 2 cents. BTW, I have an '03 c.b. male Jamp (almost a year old) from Shaun DeBord. It has earned the rank of my favorite snake--not an easy feat. A truly great animal.

Regards,

Bill