Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ive been trying to decide to get a retic or a burm, this sint my first snake, i have room for a snake this size, and have a wallet for feeding them, and no this isnt my first snake. ive heard retics can be mean, and for that large of a snake to be mean (i have 3 small kids) is a scary thing around kids, i would like to know wether a burm or a retic would be a better decision.i think retics are an amazing looking snake, and would be my top choice, but their temperment is what questions me. thanks you for your replies.

thanks

Any snake has the potential to be agressive. If you get a snake that is cbb, and you get the snake when it is a baby, with persistant working with the snake it can become more and more tolerant of you. Retics have gotten a bad rap from their agressive nanture, but this mostly stems from wild caught specimens. You need to be able to handle the snake weather it be puppy tame or very agressive. That being said, if you are worried about this snake around your kids then i would have to assume that you do not feel competent enough in your own experiance. What types of snakes have you kept? As of now my advise would be to work your way up. Start with a red tail boa.

That is a very good point, any snake can be aggressive no matter what species it is. Retics do have a bad reputation, but an undeserved one. I love burms don't get me wrong but I would choose a retic anyday. Besides being beautiful, retics seem to have a more active and curious personality. And as stated in the above post, if you get a CBB baby burm or retic, it's going to be completely up to you how it's temperment is. Just make sure you get it used to being handled as a baby and handle it on a regular basis so that it doesn't just associate you with being fed. Another good point stated above though, is that if your not comfortable with the idea of a retic, your possibly going to handle this snake nervously which will cause the snake to be nervous as well. You have to be comfortable with the snake. So if you think this is a problem perhaps you should consider the redtail, or another species that you are comfortable with. Just my thoughts. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Mike

i have 3 redtails, and 2 ball pythons. my reason asking a retics temp. is because ive heard that you "cant" tame a retic, you can only make it tolerant, though it will bite alot still, and i just dont want my kids growing up with a 15' retic that is mean as hell. but if you can work with them and make them docile than a retic will be my choice.

Alot of people who have been around WC retics will tell you that they can't be tamed. And for some WC individuals thats absolutely true. But when it comes to a CBB retic, they can be just as tame as any burm with regular handling. Of the retics that I have raised, and I've only raised a few but, of all of them the only retic that I have been bitten by was a hatchling that still wasn't used to being handled, and it was still my fault for startling the snake. I would definitely recommend getting a retic. Just make sure your very careful with a snake that large around your kids, no matter how tame your snake is they are still unpredictable. That goes for all snakes, not just retics. Keep us updated.
Mike

I echo what has already been said in recommending a retic. In addition, retics generally are not as heavy-bodied, and in my opinion a lot prettier.
p.s. -
Don't forget, this is a RETIC forum! LOL

Both are wonderful animals. Retics can be tamed and be very docile. You never let you guard down for one second with the giant constrictors though and give them the utmost respect. The retic has gotten a bad rap, as has been said by WC imports, and their legendary feeding response. Reading your retics posture and cancelling the feeding response is very important.

I have been bitten very few times by retics. The "laid back" burms that bite out of no where are the ones that nail me more-LOL. Bill.
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

thank you all for your information, it was exactly what i was looking for. im glad to hear they can become docile. again thank you for your information and i will keep you updated and post pics here in a couple weeks when i add another snake to the family.

thanks again, and merry christmas

If you're not really interested in breeding them, or you don't want one that will become too monstrous, I'd recommend getting either a cbb male, cbb dwarf, or a cbb dwarf male retic. Males of all varieties don't get as large with the dwarfs staying smaller still (everything is relative though; a dwarf male might still hit 10 feet or so, but that's worlds different than a 20 foot "normal" female). Also, among the small number of retics that I've interacted with, the dwarfs have been more reluctant to bite.
But definitely retics over burms. Good luck with whatever you choose.
Robert