What's the attitude of your SD retics?

[Mike41793]

I think retics are really cool looking but don't really have any interest in a 20ft snake lol. I really loved SD retics but then i saw some videos of them and their attitudes seem to vary A LOT. Some shoot right out of the tub looking for food, some are as calm as ball pythons, some let you take them out but then don't stop squirming around like a corn snake etc.

I'm potentially interested in this species as my first non-bp species. I've also been researching boas and carpets too though. (Right now i think boas are winning lol). I'm sure eventually ill have one of each anyways haha. But anyways, tell me how your SD's are temperament wise. It doesn't have to be super detailed (though id definitely appreciate that too ) i just want to get a general consensus of how they tend to be.

Thanks!

[Wes]

I held my 50% SD Super Tiger I got from Travis Kubes last night for the first time, and that was a whole new experience to say the least. She is the complete opposite of the other two who are calm as could be. I wasn't even planning on holding her but when I opened the tub she came right out, mouth open, and seemed to be homing in on my face. It was wild. I couldn't tell if it was just a really aggressive feeding response or what was going on. I held her for about 3 minutes and she struck and moved non stop. She is only a month old though, so I feel like this will change a lot as she grows. I also fed her about 30 minutes after the whole ordeal and she ate no problem.

[liv]

I'm also interested in this. I think I'll be getting one regardless, but I'd like to know what I'll be getting myself into

[MrLang]

As the new morphs come out, I feel some of the bigger breeders are trying to downplay what it's like owning one of these giants. The word 'dwarf' implies something that they are not. A full grown SD is still a BEAST of an animal, even compared to a full grown boa. If you 'slow grow' or 'maintenance feed' a male I suspect based on no experience that it will be hungry all the time and try to eat your face. I think hook training is key. There are a number of safety precautions that probably make it easier - but a lot of times when I see videos or hear people speak about the truth of keeping them, they're pretty wild.

When I have the space and funds for a huge reptile, I'm getting a tegu or monitor. They're smart, diurnal, and fun to watch inside their enclosure. After a certain size, huge snakes can't really come out and 'hang out' so then you're just feeding it and watching it sleep.

[Wes]

As the new morphs come out, I feel some of the bigger breeders are trying to downplay what it's like owning one of these giants. The word 'dwarf' implies something that they are not. A full grown SD is still a BEAST of an animal, even compared to a full grown boa. If you 'slow grow' or 'maintenance feed' a male I suspect based on no experience that it will be hungry all the time and try to eat your face. I think hook training is key. There are a number of safety precautions that probably make it easier - but a lot of times when I see videos or hear people speak about the truth of keeping them, they're pretty wild.

When I have the space and funds for a huge reptile, I'm getting a tegu or monitor. They're smart, diurnal, and fun to watch inside their enclosure. After a certain size, huge snakes can't really come out and 'hang out' so then you're just feeding it and watching it sleep.

I disagree, a 100% SD will max out at about six feet and be considerably smaller than your average BCI, and just like any snake, some will be calm, some will be feisty, and some will like to move. I do agree that hook training is important but no more than it is with a couple of my carpets.

I think I am going to take a video of my amel and het amel this afternoon so you all can see what 2 well fed 50% SD retics look like and act like at almost a year and a half old.

[Mike41793]

As the new morphs come out, I feel some of the bigger breeders are trying to downplay what it's like owning one of these giants. The word 'dwarf' implies something that they are not. A full grown SD is still a BEAST of an animal, even compared to a full grown boa. If you 'slow grow' or 'maintenance feed' a male I suspect based on no experience that it will be hungry all the time and try to eat your face. I think hook training is key. There are a number of safety precautions that probably make it easier - but a lot of times when I see videos or hear people speak about the truth of keeping them, they're pretty wild.

When I have the space and funds for a huge reptile, I'm getting a tegu or monitor. They're smart, diurnal, and fun to watch inside their enclosure. After a certain size, huge snakes can't really come out and 'hang out' so then you're just feeding it and watching it sleep.

Really? Like wes said, SD's max out around 6 feet and theyre slim like a carpet python. (From my research, not experience). I'd say once you hit the 10ft+ range thats where snakes start to get beastly, for me at least.

I'd rather handle a pissy SD retic than deal with a pissed of monitor haha. Just personal preference i guess though.

[Mike41793]

I think I am going to take a video of my amel and het amel this afternoon so you all can see what 2 well fed 50% SD retics look like and act like at almost a year and a half old.

Please do!!

[MrLang]

A true SD might max out at 6-8 feet but I don't think there are that many that are true SDs. They also grow slowly - I'd make sure to take weigh-ins from people that have had them for 4+ years. If you even look at a 50% SD like most of the morph ones are, those get 10-12 ft. A dwarf is 10 - 12 feet. Remember, a full size retic is a 15+ foot animal. Slender is a relative term - for a 15 foot animal being as thick around as your thigh is slender.

Again I'm basing this off very little knowledge - just playing devil's advocate because I've read enough where people say they have a dwarf or a 50% dwaf or a SD animal and the word dwarf certainly doesn't well describe what I see. There are lots of people that think they have a dwarf of super dwarf and the animal hits 10 feet and continues growing strong. What do you do then?

[Mike41793]

I disagree. From what i've seen they don't get close to 10ft. As long as you buy from a trustworthy source, i think you'd be all set.

Also, i don't think any snake gets as big as my thunder thighs. They're like 30" around haha.

[TheSnakeGeek]

I think retics are really cool looking but don't really have any interest in a 20ft snake lol.

mainland males average 12-14 feet

If you 'slow grow' or 'maintenance feed' a male I suspect based on no experience that it will be hungry all the time and try to eat your face. I think hook training is key. There are a number of safety precautions that probably make it easier - but a lot of times when I see videos or hear people speak about the truth of keeping them, they're pretty wild.

if you starve it it may be hungry all the time, but you can grow it "slowER" without power feeding it or starving it. i've seen videos online where people will only feed their full grown retic a smaller meal once a month, and those animals look way too thin. granted i've only had my mainland a few months, i noticed no difference in his feeding response from when i was power feeding him 2 large meals a week to when i switched to one meal a week that was about as round as his thickest girth. if anything, he may have chilled out a little because he only expects food on sundays (feeding day). i do agree that hook training is necessary and can be a very useful tool. when you say, "but a lot of times when I see videos or hear people speak about the truth of keeping them, they're pretty wild," it sounds like the only videos you believe to be "true" of retics are the ones of people with aggressive ones. i don't sell retics and gain nothing monetarily from sugar coating them, just figured i'd chime in to say mine is now my favorite animal to work with and has never shown one sign of aggression asides from the typical feeding response, and even now that he's starting to realize the hook rubbing means "no food" isn't that big of a deal. i'm still on my toes whenever i'm taking him out, as they should be respected, but then again, so should any animal, especially snakes.

There are lots of people that think they have a dwarf of super dwarf and the animal hits 10 feet and continues growing strong. What do you do then?

super dwarfs are life hets, if you buy from a well known and trusted breeder who's been doing this a while and knows what to expect you shouldn't have this problem.

Mike,
hopefully reptileexperts will chime in. i don't have any experience with dwarves or SD and i know he has quite a few. one thing i've found out is no amount of reading will give you the experience like hands on interaction. people often advise against retics, which i think does have it's time and place, ESPECIALLY if a person considering getting one has little or no experience with snakes, but i've also noticed 90% of the people doing the advising against getting a retic are people who have never owned one themselves and experienced how truly amazing these animals are. you're a snake guy. you know what it takes to keep them healthy and happy. if you've been thinking about this for a while and it's not a impulse buy, i say go for it. you won't regret it. if you get a higher % SD from a respected breeder, you won't have to worry about eventually having a "monster," or better yet, a giant, on your hands. and plain ole purple albinos are pretty cheap now, you'll just have to pay for getting that super dwarf blood mixed in there.