Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ive been wondering about getting a retic, and no this isnt my first snake. Ive heard that you cant really tame a retic, you might make him a little nicer but you always have to be on gaurd cause they are just a nasty mean snake. i would like to hear about your retic's and if they are tame, how often do you work with them, and what there temperment is in general when you have them out.

thanks

IMO it depends on the animal some say they cant and dont care for anything but food and will only tolerate handling sometimes, but my retic searches me out when others hold her as if to say I want my dad. and even though they only hear through vibrations she seems to know when Im near as soon as I speak and tries to come out to be near me .

I wouldn't label retic's as being mean or nasty. However some individuals can be a handful. Usually if you obtain them as hatchlings or very young at least, and you handle them regularly they will remain 'tame' and tolerate being handled. There are always exceptions but the retics that I've kept in the past and others that I have been around have been very docile and easy to work with.
The problem with retic's are their size. For that reason I would definitely not recommend keeping them if your not experienced with handling and caring for large snakes such as this. Adult retics should not be handled alone, no matter how 'tame' they are. So be sure that you can have someone with you who is capable of helping you with a large snake once it grows to large to handle alone safely.
If your able to house and feed such a large snake, and feel comfortable doing so, then a retic might be a good choice for you. They are really great snakes. One of the most beautiful snakes out there in my opinion. Just learn all you can about them before getting one, make sure you know what your getting into. Hope this helps. Take care,
Mike
snakesrock@hotmail.com

my first constrictor was a retic purchased from a private breeder in my area about 12 yrs ago. W/ handling, he was extremely docile.

thank you both for your input,you talked about affording meals, how often and do you feed, and what does that usually run you for a moonth?

I usually feed baby retics sub-adult mice. And as the snake grows graduate up to larger and larger food items. From mice, to rats, to rabbits, etc. I only feed pre-killed prey items. I never feed live. With live prey you risk harm to the snake from being bitten by the prey. I buy enough frozen mice/rats at one time to last me a month or two. That way I can thaw out enough for one feeding and leave the rest frozen until the next feeding. Some keepers also buy live prey and kill it before offering it to the snake. You still eliminate the chance of your snake being bitten, and the prey is still fresh this way. But whenever possible I stick to the frozen/thawed method, it's easier and much more convenient.
I feed baby retics one mouse every 6 or 7 days, and large retics I feed an appropriate sized prey item every 7 to 10 days. Not everyone will agree with that schedule, some keepers feed more often and some wait longer between feedings. That method just seems to work for me.
As far as the price goes, if you buy your frozen mice from a pet store you'll usually be paying more then if you were to purchase online, say from rodentpro.com. Usually when you buy online there is a minimum ammount you can order, but you save alot of money in the long run. I would check both online and at local pet stores in your area to give you an idea of how much it's going to cost to feed a retic. Remember an adult retic will be able to eat a large rabbit very easily.
Mike