Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello, i am verry intrested in geting a burm, but have resentley been concitering a retic. i hear people say retics are the most trustworthy snake, and they are smarter than burms... ive taken into conciteration that a retic will be bigger, but its not as heavy bodyed

what are your thoughts, should i get a retic, or burm?

and will someone post pics of there adult male?

the retic will not get bigger than a burm. It may reach slightly longer lengths but you are talking a few feet compared to many pounds the burm will out mass the retic. I would get what you are passionate about and not get anything just because you want a big python. It is a huge responsibility and get what you will never get sick of cleaning its giant crap. I personally like retics more in gerneral but there are a few burmese pythons that catch a huge interest.

THANKS! you helped alot i think i will go with a male retic. ive wanted a burm for god knows how long. but, the retic is SO beautifull . i love both pythons.. both are amazing. but, im thinking i will go with a male retic

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Greg

I think a very important question here is: What is your expierence level with snakes? Have you kept large constrictors before? Can you afford to house a 20 foot snake??? My cages (before the cost of heating) cost WAY more then my snakes did.

Also, who told you retics where more "trustworthy"? In my expierence with them, retics are WAY less trustworthy. Unpredictable to an extant. Where as most burms just lounge around and don't do much. But they get heavier and more powerfull. So if they do attack, they can screw you up pretty bad. Both can though, don't forget that.

Also, do you have someone that isn't afraid of snakes that can assist you with cleaning and handling once the snake is to large to safely handle your self?????

Just some things to think about if you've never owned a big snake.

i have never owned a large constrictor. just my red tail boa. i was planing on geting him as a babie, and i figure as he grows, ill get used to his size. i heard that retics are more trustworthy from a verry experanced keeper that i talk to. i am only 15 (dont flip out) and i know alot of you will, well flip out and say im too young to own a giant.. but, im not. ive always loved snakes, and expecially burms. they have been my favorite sence i was little. with my size, im prety confadent i could handle a male burm by myself... i am biger than most adults. altho, i would have my brother around, or someone i know would help if need be just incase.

thanks for the input

Do you have a job? Who will feed your snakes if not? Do you know how much it cost to keep one of these snakes???? ALOT! On a full grown one you can spend up to 40 dollars on one feeding (depending on what you feed and how you buy it). Where are you going to keep it? Because let me tell you, THEY STINK! Bad, with huge crap, and worse urin.

Alot of things to think about. Also, wanting a burm for so long doesn't qualify you to own one. Expierence does. Whats happens next year when you get your license and don't have as much time for your snake? You'll get bored with him, forget to feed him, and end up getting rid of him. Another statistic. Keep your boa, get a ball python if you want, I wouldn't recomend a burm or a retic.

thats fine, recomend what you want.. im not looking for aproval. actually, yes. i do have a job. i can afford to feed, and house him properley. i figured as much wiht the smell... i know only experance can quailfie me. but how can i get experance with out dealing with one, and gaining it? no, im not another stastic.. thats what everyone told me about geting a iguana.. "13 is to young to own a iguana, it will endup dumped off in a shelter" well guess what, i have 2. perfectley healthy iggys. ive done alot of reasherch on burms over the last few years. i know what it takes to keep one. and, i am ready. no, im not going to dump him somewere next year when i get "board" of him. I will not get board of him, or any of my reptiles for that matter...

-Greg

Well, you sound dedicated enough and the thing with the iguanas is reassuring. I understand they aren't easy creatures.
But please be insanely careful with these big snakes. Have all the necessary safety protocols, a second reliable person ALWAYS asisting you when the snake gets big, a few spray bottles of alcohol or vinegar around, make sure the showcase is incredibly strong and secure, etc.
Regarding your size and the relative strength of snakes, here's a small anecdote. I'm a 5'4" female but I work with sheet metal and help around a hobby ranch so I'm no cream puff. One day I had the privilege to handle a docile juvenile amethystine python, a slender creature about seven feet long. The snake was calm and impeccably well mannered the whole time I took her out, but at one point to explore something a distance from me, she wrapped three feet of tail around my arms as a base and suspended her remaining body length to check out the other thing.
That three feet of tail pretty effectively immobilized my arms. I could have squirmed out of it, but not easily. And she was merely exploring.
Even if you're a 6'5" body builder or something, your snake (who will grow far larger and thicker than the seven feet I handled) will still become much more powerful than you. So even if your retic becomes a sweet tempered saint, please always have a spotter.
You've been lectured enough in this forum, so I'll sign off now. Good luck.
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0.2 chickens
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave)
0.1 Halflinger horse
0.0 reptiles due to living with
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human

thanks, i will defintley have someone to help me when my burm gets big enough...

thanks for your help

I don't know. I think the overall adult size on average for a retic does indeed outweigh your average burm. Retics are thinner per foot, but they are also very heavy weightwise, and very strong. No doubt there are some very huge burms out there that are enormous, but overall my experience has been that retics are larger on average.

ok, thanks

Maybe you won't be another statistic, and your right, nothing can give you more expierence with burms than owning one. With that said, how can you say your ready to own one after only keeping one snake let alone a RTB. It's good that you have done your homework on this snake but do your parents know how big this thing will get? Are they supporting this hobby, will they help you buy cages, food, vet bills, all supplies needed? Are you ready to keep the same 15 ft plus snake for 30 yrs because yes they do live that long. If yes is the answer to all these questions then I'm sure you are ready. If no, theres no harm in waiting a little longer and starting out with other pythons such as a Carpet or even a blood. If it has to be a burm or retic I suggest a burm.

I do not think age has anythign to do with it. Just your ability to do the job. The wya you said it you sound like you are big enough phosically so if you can afford it and its care and you've done research then go for it. Just know what your doing befoe you do it. I am only 16 anf I'm 6' 5" 281 lbs. I work out and I even get phiscialy tired after messing with my 12' retic. They definately are not more calm. I think of them as like a giant rat snake that is jumpy. Not all are like that though. I would suggets getting which ever you are more interested in. I have 1.1 burms 6' and 7' and 1.1 retics 4' and 12'. The burms are much more laid back and not as unpredicatable. Remember though that they are individuals.
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Justin

Thanks justin i agree. just beacuse im 15 shouldnt matter... im more intrested in burms.... but, i love the colors or the retic. and ive heard they are clamer, and smarter... so i figured i migh go with a retic.

savvgawd. no, my mom doesnt suport the hobbie. she hates snakes. i have a showcase my mom gave me, that will be his cage. my boa is house siting till he gets here though. lol my boas cage is almost finished, so he will be going in that when the burm get big enough to live in the showcase.

I was 16 when I had my first large burm. I lived, just use common sense.

In all honesty on the temperment issue: Burmese tend to be more sluggish all around. However there is no reason why you can't buy a baby retic and with gentle handling have a big monster in a few years that is every bit as deliberate in its motions as a docile burm. Get whatever retic you want. Don't get a tiger just b/c someone says they are more calm. They are not calmer b/c of the gene, they are just like any other retic. The first thing my baby tiger did when I got it years ago was bite the tar out of my hand a few times. Captive breeding several generations in has bred a lot of aggression out of many lines of retics, so you should be able to get whatever kind you may want and with dedication have a very nice large snake. A nice docile burm takes just as much dedication too.

thanks for the help

Make sure you will have someone tohelp you when it gets bigger. I have a few friends that would help if I asked. One is wiling to do and the others will just do it to help out if I neede the help. You know what I mean? And the other is if you are holding the snake and it is farily small like under 7' and it bites you. DO NOT PUT IT UP. especially the retics because they are smarter and will learn hat when it bites yuo will put it up. What state are you in? I am always on the lookout for fellow herp keepers my age, or any age for that matter.
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Justin

IM in Illinois

do you have aim, or msn?

aim-kdxman89

msn kdxman5@motocross.com