Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a summer 2012 female tiger retic het albino that I would like to breed in the future with my male albino retic. I purchased her only three days ago and i had her shipped to me. Here is my problem, she is extremely aggressive and very nippy. she was burrowing herself underneath the substrate for a couple days and now she is out and about which is progress. she has also eaten a rat which im happy about. I realize it is hard on these animals to be shipped across the country. I would really like some advice on things i can do to make sure i dont have a giant aggressive animal. What are some tips on how to get her to calm down a bit? Im fairly new to dealing with reptiles and im in the learning process so im open to try anything someone has to offer me. Thank you very much for reading this and helping me.

babies are defensive and nervous, not aggressive. let the snake be without handling and minimal interaction for 7-10 days, except for the spot clean.
-----
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

Thank you very much. She is definitely nervous and fearful. I appreciate the advice and I will try that.

You have been given very good advice. Let the snake settle in before handling. Do you use a snake hook to touch the retic before handling? Bill
-----
...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.

No I don't use a snake hook. I had a cheap one but my son broke it. I will go buy a better one. Thanks for your input.

You could be dealing with the legendary retic feeding response. No matter how tame a retic seems, the feeding response will surface one day and you don't want that with a large snake. Touch the snake on the nose with the snake hook every time the cage door is opened except when food enters the cage. When feeding never let the retic even see a hook. When you bump the nose, look for a reaction, such as dropping of its head or turning away. Retics are very smart and soon learn the hook means "no food is coming". I wish you all the best with her and with a little time, both of you will get along just fine. Bill
-----
...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 very much. I just bought a very sturdy snake hook and I will definitely apply your advice. I wonder if you or anyone else can point me in the direction of a good book to buy or a good reference I can check out so I can find more information on retics and/or breeding? I appreciate the help. -Benjamin

I am not aware of any good books on retics but I could be wrong. Do a search and see what you might find. I have read some articles and papers on retics that gave very old and bad advice, such as feeding a retic out side of its cage. Books can look very good and professional but also be very misleading. You are doing the right thing by asking questions on this forum. There are very good and knowledgeable people here. Bill
-----
...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.

Got long tongs for offering food
Make sure there is a hide.
Retics often talk to you and say they are hungry by striking when you walk in the room to get your attention. Again hook training is critical. All my retics snap or swipe 2-3 times trying to catch something before they realize the hook is not food on a tong. Once they are moving away or in a more curious mode they can be carefully removed from their cage for handling transfers to clean soak etc.
Winslow

Ok thank you very much. You guys have been the most helpful people I have come across in the reptile community. I am applying all this information and it is already showing results in multiple snakes in my collection. I will go get a good pair of long tongs.

Seriously this way work? I am 53 and helped at a local pet shop on and off since 1973. Back in 2003 or so I was selling a 3' king snake and the lady did not want it as it had 2"s of my finger in its mouth before I could get it off. A friend told me people use alcohol to get large snakes off them if they bite. I didn't have that issue, but I tested it with various rat snakes and kings that would bite. IT WORKS. so I started to rub a small amount of hand cleaner on my hands before selling a kingsnake. Now before people call me names, I disclosed that to the customer. I don't need someone screaming at me for a $30 snake.

So, as a last results in the future you may try it. It does NOT work on north african rocks lol. But it did keep a customers super nasty BCI from biting me while I sexed it.

Is it something I would use all the time? NO, but it's just one of those crazy things we herp people collect as options.

We had a 17' female at the shop in the 70s that was puppy dog tame. But after the first rabbit she would on full feed mode.

Also don't handle rodents before you handle her. You would be making an invitation to her.

good luck
-----
Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat