Dwarf Ret questions

So I am thinking of moving into the world of rets a little by getting a dwarf. All I have now is a male ball python about 7 months old. He is healthy and happy and what have you. My ultimate goal later in life is to own a true Ret but that comes many years from now. In the meanwhile I was thinking of buying a dwarf. Anyone got one they can post pictures on by chance? I am doing research but I would like to hear from owners of what to expect and what have you by owning one. Thank you very much.

well its good to start with a dwaf but these can get up to 12 ft average an some maybe 14 ft depending male or female . I think you should go to another fourm and talk to people their about these snakes this fourm is a little different. Im getting my retic in a couple of months a burm. Now retics grow really fast but dwafs a little slower and super dwaf really slow.soo look up bob clark he sells dwafs

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Originally Posted by Tripppysmurf

So I am thinking of moving into the world of rets a little by getting a dwarf. All I have now is a male ball python about 7 months old. He is healthy and happy and what have you. My ultimate goal later in life is to own a true Ret but that comes many years from now. In the meanwhile I was thinking of buying a dwarf. Anyone got one they can post pictures on by chance? I am doing research but I would like to hear from owners of what to expect and what have you by owning one. Thank you very much.

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You might want to reconsider what you are looking for. It is true that dwarf retics can still get up to 14 ft. but super dwarves will grow to about 7 - 7 1/2 ft., and the genetic stripe is also a dwarf that grows to around 10 ft.
The problem you will run into is that these dwarves run several hundred dollars to $1600+ for the genetic stripes, and I don't feel that your limited experience with a ball python has you ready for a retic yet. I would suggest a carpet python or a red tail boa.

I am not thinking of getting the Ret anytime soon mind me. I understand I need more pratice with snakes. Went back to work for Dell and in the time I was gone there is someone there that owns two rets I am also looking into doing volunteer work for the local zoo here on one of my days off. Figure it is a smart step. I was asking the questions hoping to get pointed to some online refrences or books to read or what have you. I am sorry if I was not clear enough on that. My bad.

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Originally Posted by MPenn

You might want to reconsider what you are looking for. It is true that dwarf retics can still get up to 14 ft. but super dwarves will grow to about 7 - 7 1/2 ft., and the genetic stripe is also a dwarf that grows to around 10 ft.
The problem you will run into is that these dwarves run several hundred dollars to $1600+ for the genetic stripes, and I don't feel that your limited experience with a ball python has you ready for a retic yet. I would suggest a carpet python or a red tail boa.

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Actually, there are also SuperDwarves. These haven't been classified yet, but they are an even smaller variation/island population of the Reticulated Python. From what Mike Wilbanks has told me, his largest superdwarf is still hanging right around the 7' mark, and most are around the 5' mark. The Jampean Dwarf (Python reticulatus jampeanus) may reach around the 14' mark...

If your considering a dwarf, look into SD's. Mike only produces hybrids/intergrades so far, as he's concentrating on producing dwarf morphs...but I'm sure you could find other breeders out there producing pure SD's.

Here is a site with some pictures on them. www.constrictors.com
You could also shoot Mike a call. He's more than happy to help, and a good guy all around. He knows his Retics!

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

Actually, there are also SuperDwarves. These haven't been classified yet, but they are an even smaller variation/island population of the Reticulated Python. From what Mike Wilbanks has told me, his largest superdwarf is still hanging right around the 7' mark, and most are around the 5' mark. The Jampean Dwarf (Python reticulatus jampeanus) may reach around the 14' mark...

If your considering a dwarf, look into SD's. Mike only produces hybrids/intergrades so far, as he's concentrating on producing dwarf morphs...but I'm sure you could find other breeders out there producing pure SD's.

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Isn't that pretty much what i said.

The reason very few people have pure SD's are because there is only been one successful breeding in the USA so far. Jim Mason, Bebo's Burms, was the first in the States to breed and successfully hatch pure SD's.

Great that you're doing your homework Tripppysmurf. I am to when it comes to these big boys. I'm lucky though because I have one of the countries largest Retic Breeders nearby. PreHistoric Pets, CA.

But I still like to find out from various sources.

Here are a few links to try:
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4

You can also search within these forums of course and like one of them suggested NERD's site.

I hope some or any of these help.


Charlie S.

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

Actually, there are also SuperDwarves. These haven't been classified yet, but they are an even smaller variation/island population of the Reticulated Python. From what Mike Wilbanks has told me, his largest superdwarf is still hanging right around the 7' mark, and most are around the 5' mark. The Jampean Dwarf (Python reticulatus jampeanus) may reach around the 14' mark...

If your considering a dwarf, look into SD's. Mike only produces hybrids/intergrades so far, as he's concentrating on producing dwarf morphs...but I'm sure you could find other breeders out there producing pure SD's.

Here is a site with some pictures on them. www.constrictors.com
You could also shoot Mike a call. He's more than happy to help, and a good guy all around. He knows his Retics!

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Did you see that albino SD on Mike's website? WOW - sensational!

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Originally Posted by Alice

Did you see that albino SD on Mike's website? WOW - sensational!

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I own a G-Stripe (dwarf) and 2 SD. One of the SD is Poss. Het. Albino. The other is a normal old SD.

A very good friend of mine also breeds Jampeas. Now although this is not common, his largest Jampea is over 16 feet and in the 190 pound range. :rofl: I should have one of her babys coming in a few months. :banana: He has other very large Jampeas in the 15+ range too.

There is also a really cool Jampea breeder out there by the name of Travis Kubes that breeds his own line of Jampeas that stay very small.

I personally know quit a few others that own smaller locals of Retic and through their and mine experience here is what I can tell you.

What these snakes lack in size they make up for in a lot of other places. These guys tend to be more cage aggressive, have a much higher feeding responce, be more flightier, more nippy and push a lot more. Jampeas seem almost aboreal at times. :rofl: Theres nothing like taking a 16 foot Jampea out of her cage and having her use your body as a climbing post, so she can get into the raptors in the basement. :rofl:

In short these are nothing like there larger counter-parts.

I would not recommend a dwarf to a first time Retic owner and I would not recommend a Retic to someone thats only owned Ball Pythons. Sorry man, thats only my opinion. I owned snakes for along time and did years of research and handing of other people's Retics before I bought and owned them. I had a lot of other snakes along the way too, Boas, Burmese and Ball Pythons.

Good luck. Retics will either make you love them, or hate them once you have owned them.

Just my opinions.

For what it's worth - after 20 some odd years with balls I started branching out to other pythons and got myself a couple of dwarf/super dwarfs retics last year - a Jamp from Travis Kubes and the Super from Reeds Retics.

Comparatively they were much more difficult animals to work with - the most aggressive pissed off ball did not hold a candle to these guys. As babies they were cage aggressive, flighty, biters - oh and they crap all over you every time you picked them up. But with patience and handling they have become a wonderful pair.

http://jetpythons.com/gimlismall.jpg