How to keep retics on the smaller side? (Mainlands)

Hey everyone. So I am subscribed to numerous youtube channels to keep up to date with all my favorite snake keeps. Anyways.. I had seen recently that I believe it was Prehistoric Pets posted a video about keeping a mainland retic smaller. It was a female on a clutch of eggs. I believe they had said she was 20lbs. She looked pretty small to me. They said, "we have treated this like a pet. Not like a breeding animal or something to make money off of." I by no means believe in starving an animal to keep it malnourished and at a size you can handle. But she appeared very healthy. I was curious how you would go about this. I read somewhere that they need fed at least every 10 days as babies-juveniles or else they will get really hungry and can become irritated and nippy not to mention malnourished. I would like to get a mainland retic. But I can't handle more then 10-12 feet of snake (I am not even 5'). I have all necessary means of caring for it. I just need to know anybody that has had success with keeping a mainland no bigger then 12 ft. :snake:

Why? I mean if you get a mainland retic you should expect a snake on the large size or you should get a locality or even get a super dwarf if size is an issue. Why the need to keep an animal small when it has the potential to get bigger? :confuzd:

I can't wrap my brain around the idea of people trying to keep animal small because "insert reason here"

Not picking on you just wondering the thought process especially when smaller retics ARE available.

Just on a side note a 12 foot retic is still no joke...do you have a second person that will be with you all times when handling a snake that large?

I also agree with Deborah there are options for "smaller" retics. I am sure reptileexperts will chime in at some point so I will wait to hear his response.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Why? I mean if you get a mainland retic you should expect a snake on the large size or you should get a locality or even get a super dwarf if size is an issue. Why the need to keep an animal small when it has the potential to get bigger? :confuzd:

I can't wrap my brain around the idea of people trying to keep animal small because "insert reason here"

Not picking on you just wondering the thought process especially when smaller retics ARE available.

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Super dwarfs are out of the budget. They seem seriously expensive.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

Just on a side note a 12 foot retic is still no joke...do you have a second person that will be with you all times when handling a snake that large?

I also agree with Deborah there are options for "smaller" retics. I am sure reptileexperts will chime in at some point so I will wait to hear his response.

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Yes, I do have a second person that will supervise and help when it is handled. I also know that a 12 foot snake isn't a joke (not met to sound rude or anything at all.) I was just curious because I had seen it done and the retic still looked healthy and such. I in no way intend on doing anything that would cause the animals harm or any problems. I had been looked at super dwarfs, but when I saw this it sparked my interest.

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Originally Posted by Chaoticpythons

Super dwarfs are out of the budget. They seem seriously expensive.

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Have you checked the budget of feeding a super dwarf vs a mainland over the course of their life?

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Originally Posted by John1982

Have you checked the budget of feeding a super dwarf vs a mainland over the course of their life?

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Not really.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

Just on a side note a 12 foot retic is still no joke...do you have a second person that will be with you all times when handling a snake that large?

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x2. I'm 6' and my 9 footer can still be a handful if he's feeling antsy. If you don't want a 12+ foot snake, don't get a mainland. Just keep saving up until you can get a super swarf. Would you consider a "full grown" 400 gram ball healthy? I've seen all those videos too, and it's obvious prehistoric pets is using them as a marketing strategy to appeal to the smaller snake keepers that may be nervous of the giants simply to sell more snakes.


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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGeek

x2. I'm 6' and my 9 footer can still be a handful if he's feeling antsy. If you don't want a 12+ foot snake, don't get a mainland. Just keep saving up until you can get a super swarf. Would you consider a "full grown" 400 gram ball healthy? I've seen all those videos too, and it's obvious prehistoric pets is using them as a marketing strategy to appeal to the smaller snake keepers that may be nervous of the giants simply to sell more snakes.


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Def wouldn't consider that healthy. I will just save up money to get a super dwarf.

Another thing to consider OP is that you're 15 correct? If you decide on a mainland do you plan on moving away to college/living in the dorms? Add the costs of feeding and the space involved also. Super dwarf I think is the way to go.