Hi! My first retic....

Hello, been browsing the forums for a bit, but want to introduce myself. I have 2 BP's; 1.0 normal, and 0.1 Bumblebee. Me and my friend are starting a rather large breeding project in the next year. I'm currently enrolled in college to become a vet, specifically herpetology. But only 2 semesters in, so it's going to be a while.
This past weekend at Hamburg, I somehow ended up leaving with this beauty, Jago. I definitely never expected to get a retic, but she caught my eye, and I couldn't resist haha:P.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../4/6/jago4.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../4/6/jago3.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../4/6/jago2.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../4/6/jago1.jpg

Do they normally get more purple/gray with age? It doesn't show up well in the images, but she is stunning in person. I can't get over her colors :D

Just be prepared for her size when she gets older and hook-train her early on.

I have seen some examples of purples get more purple with age, but usually the purple tends to look more lavender or gray as they get older.

very nice retic, she wont be a baby for long hahaha....

And i definitely second the hook training

Haha, yea I'm anticipating her getting big very soon. I know a lot of people are reluctant to see someone jump in with a new giant snake with everything that's going on legally. But I have the knowledge and some experience with them. Time to jump in. Don't worry everyone, I won't let this become another example of foolishness.
I have been studying and researching snakes years before I ever owned one. Just been a passion of mine, and the reason I'm going to school. It seems like there are not enough herp vets around. I would rather deal with them than neutering and putting down dogs and cats. Thank you all for the advice though. It's nice to have any input. :)

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Originally Posted by KaioSama

Haha, yea I'm anticipating her getting big very soon. I know a lot of people are reluctant to see someone jump in with a new giant snake with everything that's going on legally. But I have the knowledge and some experience with them. Time to jump in. Don't worry everyone, I won't let this become another example of foolishness.
I have been studying and researching snakes years before I ever owned one. Just been a passion of mine, and the reason I'm going to school. It seems like there are not enough herp vets around. I would rather deal with them than neutering and putting down dogs and cats. Thank you all for the advice though. It's nice to have any input. :)

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Well as long as you did your homework and have an appropriate sized enclosure, all is well. Good luck with her.

Good luck with that beauty, you gotta love the retics

beautiful find!!! i love retics. absolutely my favorite snakes on the planet. especially the albino morphs

Congrats on the pick up she's a beauty! :gj:

Beautiful retic.

Good luck :D

That's a nice retic! Your first too! Not bad at all ;)

I wish I could turn back time and take up vet. medicine, specializing in reptiles back when I just graduated from high school :(

Thanks for all the praise everyone! She's doing pretty well at the moment. Fed her twice so far. I waited 2 days after her first feeding to see if I could take her out, and we have cats so that may have contributed to this, but when I attempted taking her out, she was still in food mode, and didn't strike my hand, but almost looked like she was about to, and just opened her mouth up really wide. So I just let her be for another day and she was fine to handle.
I have my hook on order, but what I have been doing in the mean time is tap lightly and rub her head when I'm interested in taking her out. I have been trying to rub her head as much as possible when I do handle her as well. She doesn't flinch at all like my BP's do when I even go near their heads. She appears to be very calm and fine with this act. She even fell asleep in my hands with her head cradled on the inside of my elbow while we were watching at movie, and I was rubbing her the whole time. Will what I'm doing have any merit towards training?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KaioSama

Do they normally get more purple/gray with age? It doesn't show up well in the images, but she is stunning in person. I can't get over her colors :D

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You actually got a Phase 1 albino. They come in three colors. The purple, Lavender and as you have in your hand. the White.

They may dull out a bit. but you won't see much purple or Lavender in that snake.

Beautiful animal though!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KaioSama

Thanks for all the praise everyone! She's doing pretty well at the moment. Fed her twice so far. I waited 2 days after her first feeding to see if I could take her out, and we have cats so that may have contributed to this, but when I attempted taking her out, she was still in food mode, and didn't strike my hand, but almost looked like she was about to, and just opened her mouth up really wide. So I just let her be for another day and she was fine to handle.
I have my hook on order, but what I have been doing in the mean time is tap lightly and rub her head when I'm interested in taking her out. I have been trying to rub her head as much as possible when I do handle her as well. She doesn't flinch at all like my BP's do when I even go near their heads. She appears to be very calm and fine with this act. She even fell asleep in my hands with her head cradled on the inside of my elbow while we were watching at movie, and I was rubbing her the whole time. Will what I'm doing have any merit towards training?

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Short answer... Maybe

First Retics are known for being extremely head and tail tip shy. If you want her to move, touch the tip of her tail :)
I don't know if constant rubbing is good for the snake. I've never actually tried this. Handling her a lot will definitely help her get accustomed to being held. I'm not sure if continuous rubbing is required.

As for the bite setting.
Snakes see movement and think food. Compared to a ball your retics feeding response is going to be more aggressive and directed/quick to act. Where most balls would normally wait and see, the Retic may very well come right out at you for food. So you will need to either learn to out smart the snake by coming from behind, learn to hook. or just take the bite. It's not easy to stop the good feeding response :)

Shawn

May I ask who did you buy her from? And did you buy her as a lavender, a purple, or a white phase albino? There are three different phases, and each are born with all the color they will have as adults, they do not "grow into" their color. If you bought this animal as a lavender or a purple, then you were misinformed, because to me she looks like a white phase. She MAY be a light lavender, but I doubt it. She is still gorgeous none-the-less. Good luck with her.