Your thoughts on Dwarf and SD retics?

Hello! So, I have 2 ball pythons, a BCI, and two cresties. I love love LOVE retics (Thanks Sauzo :rage::rofl:)! I don't think I have space now for one though. But... dwarf and SDs. What do you think? I've heard people say they are insane, but some say they are just like normals. See, I was considering a retic as a next step in the future. Future. Future. Future. Future. Future. Future. Got it? One more time: Future. I wanted to start saving up now, as they are EXPENSIVE and all I have rn is $3 lol. I've heard of people getting big big vision cages and putting them under their twin bed, which I think is a really good idea. So, I might be able to get a normal retic thing now (not now, you know what I mean) as a baby, and put him in a tub/20 gallon until he's big enough to go into the 50/60 gal vision tank I'll have by then. BUT! The main reason I love reticulated pythons is for the personality, so if dwarf/SDs are like that, that would be a game changer. Sorry this is all over the place. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by GpBp

Hello! So, I have 2 ball pythons, a BCI, and two cresties. I love love LOVE retics (Thanks Sauzo :rage::rofl:)! I don't think I have space now for one though. But... dwarf and SDs. What do you think? I've heard people say they are insane, but some say they are just like normals. See, I was considering a retic as a next step in the future. Future. Future. Future. Future. Future. Future. Got it? One more time: Future. I wanted to start saving up now, as they are EXPENSIVE and all I have rn is $3 lol. I've heard of people getting big big vision cages and putting them under their twin bed, which I think is a really good idea. So, I might be able to get a normal retic thing now (not now, you know what I mean) as a baby, and put him in a tub/20 gallon until he's big enough to go into the 50/60 gal vision tank I'll have by then. BUT! The main reason I love reticulated pythons is for the personality, so if dwarf/SDs are like that, that would be a game changer. Sorry this is all over the place. Thanks!

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Loads of info below.

The last 3 are videos and really worth a look.

The first links are 3 different keepers (I have Wallace) and different experiences.

$3 LOL! Yep, future plan, I get it. Keep in mind the caging and feeding costs.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...n-(Pic-heavy-)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ic-Progression

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ce-Progression!

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ression-thread


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2UF4WGzDFw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhxMtNIOWqE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmYCnUzAJAc


I can't forget about Gene.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...y-has-a-thread!

Gio and Sauzo seem like the main retic guys here so thats who you want to listen to without a doubt.

I know you said "future"....and that's definately the right move. I wanted a giant for years before I got my Burm (today actually lol) and had to wait a LONG time because I knew better. Things to consider:

Food costs....rabbits get expensive and retics can eat a lot of them if big enough.
Caging costs....expensive
Your living situation....this is big in my opinion. If you rent, or ever plan on it I would absolutely hold off. 99% of landlords arent cool with a 10+ foot snake in their building and its easy grounds to evict you.

I waited to buy my Burm until I had a good job and my own house.....but boy was there ever temptation along the way lol.

I refuse to own anything I can't handle alone. A retic, burmese, and anaconda make that something I will never own. I have nothing against large snake keepers and admire them for taking on the challenge but it is not for me. My view is if you can offer a retic the proper habitat and handling through its entire life then get one. If not then don't. Anyone who plans to ditch a snake once it gets full grown is bad in my book (happens far too often with large snakes/reptiles and people who think they are cool but have no idea the commitment).

That being said a SD retic is in my future one day as a sub 10 foot snake is right up my alley and I am still holding out hope for titanium morphs to enter into SD land.

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Originally Posted by Gio

Loads of info below.

The last 3 are videos and really worth a look.

The first links are 3 different keepers (I have Wallace) and different experiences.

$3 LOL! Yep, future plan, I get it. Keep in mind the caging and feeding costs.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...n-(Pic-heavy-)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ic-Progression

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ce-Progression!

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ression-thread


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2UF4WGzDFw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhxMtNIOWqE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmYCnUzAJAc


I can't forget about Gene.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...y-has-a-thread!

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Those are all awesome links with a wealth of information. I've watched his Youtube videos you shared about 100 times a piece while I was deciding to get my SD Retics!

Can't forget this link with a ton of great information that he shared here on the forum, either:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ze-origination

I just received my first pair of SD Retics today, so I haven't had any real first hand experience of my own yet to share with you other than they are beautiful and majestic beyond words! But, i've done A LOT of research, as anyone who is considering traveling down this road should...

KevinK,

I'm flattered you feel Sauzo and I are the "go to" retic guys. We are far from it.

ReptileExperts is the biology major, and experienced keeper on this board and a host of others. I only have 1 retic, a costal carpet, a locality BCI and my son's royal.


My retic, Wallace is far from a giant. He will be 2 years old the 1st of June and is roughly 7 feet long and pretty lean.

I DO NOT feed frequently, yet he's perfectly healthy. Usually every 3 to 4 weeks he eats. I frequent some of the UK. retic boards and many of them think we over feed our animals here in the states. That's another topic, but I have NEVER had a pushing issue with Wallace.

Also keep in mind a lean, healthy 7 foot SD/Dwarf retic is not nearly as large as you may think.

http://i.imgur.com/g48JVmi.jpg

My boa is much larger yet not as long.

Anyhow, my SD/Dwarf with a little % mainland is pretty nice. A little twitchy getting out of the cage but once out he's great.

He will enter a brand new cage in the next month or 2 and removal will be much easier with 2 feet of ceiling space.

My retic fantasies are also in the “future, future, future” for obvious reasons, as it is a big responsibility to own one. When I do finally have everything I need to properly keep a fantastic retic, I am going to get a big mainland type. Retics are (imo) the most beautiful serpent species in the world, but also something magical about being the longest serpents in the world. I haven’t spent time with one, but I hear from keepers about their intelligence and personality.
itbis one of those “someday” goals of mine.

I want a 18 footer type morph. Lol

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Originally Posted by Gio

KevinK,

I'm flattered you feel Sauzo and I are the "go to" retic guys. We are far from it.

ReptileExperts is the biology major, and experienced keeper on this board and a host of others. I only have 1 retic, a costal carpet, a locality BCI and my son's royal.


.

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Well, if we're going by the amount of Retic knowledge shared and transmitted on this forum recently I think its a safe to say you guys take the cake.....Im willing to make a poll if needed :rofl: I practically live on the giant section and you guys control it lol. BP's are awesome....but Retics and Burms are the Bee's Knees.

I have seen Reptileexperts before on here, he keeps hots , correct?

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

I want a 18 footer type morph. Lol

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When I think if a morph that is capable of that concerning mainland retics, I think of the Tiger gene for sure....look up "Fluffy" from Bob Clark if you havent already.