Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if there's any reason my retic has grown so slow compared to other I have seen I got him on 6-17-07 and he was about 3' and right now he's about 10' and if i feed him a 2lb rabbit it makes a huge bulge in him still. I got him from a local store that said they got him from Prehistoric Pets, but whats to really believe. Is it possible he has some dwarf in him? or is there something else? the first year and a half I had him I fed 1 rodent that would leave a noticable but not huge bulge in him every week and now i feed him every 10-14 days 1-2 XXL rats.
Here's a Pic when I first got him

and here's one now with my friend that just went into the Air Force

thanks
Zack
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Zack Greens Reptiles

Personally I dont see anything wrong with his size. My 08' male is 9'.
I would doubt any genetic reason for his size. What's the size of his enclosure?
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old

He's in an AP T25 which is 72x30x18, I dont mind at all growing kinda slow, I kinda like it that way, you get to learn the personality of the snake more before it's huge. I was just curious.
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Zack Greens Reptiles

Thats a good sized enclosure. I have a friend who has a 15' female in a 6' vision.
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old

genetics, locale and feeding regimine, pretty much make up the size potential for large boids
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retic is king of kings

1.0 Tiger Retic
1.0 Albino Tiger Retic
0.1 Striped Tiger Retic (het albino)
0.1 Salmon Boa
1.0 Albino Boa
0.1 False Water Cobra

And also remember the point of keeping the giants is not just to get them as big as you can as fast as you can. Like you said a slower growth gives you more time to know your snake
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"We don't inherate the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children"

yeah but it's nice to know you're doing something right...and them growing well sort of helps substantiate that.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Good point, but on the other hand are some of them just being grown too fast, because you see alot of extremely obese burms and retics. can this be caused from feeding too often when little, or only feeding an adult too much. I hear alot of people say they feed it when its hungry, well after feeding mine a 2lb rabbit that makes a massive bulge not 30mins, 1 day, 3 days later, he always seems hungry.

Just a few thoughts, whats eveyone else's oppinion on it?

Zack
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Zack Greens Reptiles

The answer is complicated. To an extent it's temp dependant; my retics go to the warmest part of their cages (high 90s) right after eating, and stay there for 3-5 days (as babies). I haven't been into retics long enough to really comment on adults, as the only adult I've got is an SD. But feeding frequently the first...1.5 years? that I've had mainlands hasn't resulted in obesity.
I'd imagine if you dont give the juvies access to really warm temps, that they could get obese if fed heavily too, but mine usually poop within 3-5 days of a meal as babies. On the subadults it's slowing down (seemed to starting at maybe a year, or a bit more).
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Interesting point/question. I don't believe it has been addressed in a definite fashion. With such variation amoung individuals, it seem one would have to rasise an entire litter of line bred snakes to get a good answer. I have one great feeder that has always slimed down about 2-3 weeks after a heavy feeding, but now at a little over a year the meals are larger and it seems to take a little longer for it to look like a lean mean eating machine. I think that now, at approx. 1 yr. I will cut back to one large meal/month.
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steve

I don't think its an automatic correlation between size and the keeper doing everything right. As was said before, slower growth allows not only you to get to know and enjoy your snake, but it also allows your snake to get to know you. Everyone know that retics are smart. I don't want a 15' animal with the brain of a 3 year old!
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old

Well let me start by saying your snake seems to be growing great for a male. At just under 3 years old it is a tad over 10ft (assuming the person holding is around the 6ft mark) he is growing at an appropriate rate. But like others have said, heat, food, genetics all play roles in growth rates. I have several ball pythons for example that are kept at the same temp, same size cages, exact same feeding schedule and all within 2 months of age yet some are over 500-600grams heavier. Genetics can be the only reasoning behind this growth difference and retics have the exact same potential. I've seen some males that are only 6 ft at 3 yrs and somet that are 14ft. Based on the picture provided he appears to be a healthy weight and tame enough to handle so you must be doing something right so keep that up.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!