I think i'm ready for my first large python. Recommendations?

[Expensive hobby]

So after just a week of owning my retic I realize he's going to be a handful when compared to my balls and boa.

He absolutely hates when I take him out and will strike my hook multiple times. He's fine once he's out though. I just have to make sure he's conditioned to accept the hook before he grows.

I'm beginning to like this challenge, but I think this will be my one and only retic lol.

That's just a baby retic being a baby retic. Get in the habit now of hook training and keep up with it. Retics are very smart and learn behaviors pretty well. Some will still have bad days and bad attitudes, but for the most part they are very fun to keep.

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[Mr Green]

Would it be okay to feed my retic a 13 gram small rat or should I wait till he gets a little bigger?

[reptileexperts]

As long as its not fatter than twice the girth of the snake you should be fine.

[Mr Green]

I decided to not feed the retic the small rat. I did feed two adult mice and I was shocked at his feeding response. He actively pursued the mouse and hit him hard... I wasn't prepared for that at all, lol.

[Expensive hobby]

I decided to not feed the retic the small rat. I did feed two adult mice and I was shocked at his feeding response. He actively pursued the mouse and hit him hard... I wasn't prepared for that at all, lol.

Feeding live?

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[Mr Green]

Feeding live?

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Yes. I'm going to switch him to F/T for good soon.

I have a question. I noticed my retic has a piece of dirt(i'm using eco earth) in his mouth. I tried to get it out, but he's just too active for that. Any other solutions? This is the best I could do picture wise.

[Expensive hobby]

I wouldn't worry about a little piece of eco earth. I might recommend paper tho for retics. As much as they make "messes" you'll go broke using naturalistic substrates lol. Plus their feeding response makes it very easy to get substrate inside them.

Paper obviously is the easier choice, but not best looking.

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[Mr Green]

I wouldn't worry about a little piece of eco earth. I might recommend paper tho for retics. As much as they make "messes" you'll go broke using naturalistic substrates lol. Plus their feeding response makes it very easy to get substrate inside them.

Paper obviously is the easier choice, but not best looking.

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Thanks, I just checked his mouth again and he was able to get the dirt out on his own.

And thank you for the tip! I will be switching to paper soon. I've never seen a snake shed in so many pieces before and my humidity has been a constant 70% in his tank at all times.

[Mr Green]

Guys, I'm worried my retic is a mouser. I've successfully got him eating F/T, but only mice. :/

How do I convert him over? He's super willing to eat whenever, just mice though. I know that's not practical when he grows a little more.

[jackal_727]

Based on my experience I would say over time he will accept many different foods. Once they put some size on there feed response go nuts and they accept more readily. My platty is over a year old and the feed response is amazing. My tiger however is still under the one year mark and the response is much more modest but getting better with each feed.