If not a Burmese python...

I'm curious as to what any of you have to say to my subject here. I'll start with saying Burmese pythons are just about my favorite snakes. I love everything about them. I love their large size, followed with a calm demeanor, as well as their beautiful "paint-blotched" pattern, and their head shape, as well as their bulky appearance. I also love how some, such as wild types and granite morphs (among others) with their dark matching colors and pattern would just make one refer to them as very prehistoric in appearance. However, now I would probably never consider owning one while I reside here in the United States. The problem lies in the fact of their legal controversy. With laws enacted on banning and regulating them constantly and a new federal law passed back in March highly crippling the market and ownership of them, this has, in my opinion, gone too far for me to keep one within my ownership. Life is unpredictable. I'll never know when I'll have to move out of state. But if I ever move, I'll definitely want my pets to come with me. Furthermore, now the local markets differ drastically for this species. In some states, one normal might be sold for $40 while others, maybe for $400! To some extant, availability has been struck by this.
So, in light of this issue, I'm here to ask any of you as to what you would say is the species that would fit as the "next best thing" and isn't plagued with as much legal troubles. (This mean African rock pythons are invalid as well.) Morph-wise, I could hardly care. I like snakes that are on the cheaper side of the scale, and appear more natural. And like I said earlier, I love any snake that would appear like it belonged in Jurassic Park. (The rock pythons were good at this.) I don't mind live bearers either, so if no python comes to mind, I'm open to boa ideas as well. Do any of you have any good snakes in mind?

Reticulated pythons?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Reticulated pythons?

---

X2 retics are such cool snakes I know a guy with one and I love seeing it

Tics are about my all time favorite snake. They can be nippy when young, but do calm down with handling from what I've read. I would suggest a male though if its just you. I know I wouldn't want to be working with a fat female over 18' by myself.

He could also go with a dwarf or super dwarf that dont get as big.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk 2

True, true. There is that option. But super dwarfs tend to be a little pricier.

I also love retics, but they are quite the opposite of a burm. They like to move, alot! They can be friendly with regular handling, but they like to move, alot! I own a dwarf that is just over a year old, he can be nippy at times, but he likes to move, alot! I have personally handled a 12' that was like handling a HUGE corn snake!
I would say if you want something modestly large, a well fed colombian red tail boa female can get close to (or beyond) 10'. They are cheap and easy to come by. They are usually super tame with minimal handling and they don't move much when they are out.
Also, if you really wanted a burm, you could call it a retic when it came time to move to another state! :D

I'm not sure if a "dwar" would be recognized by the state legislators as a legal pet or if it would fall under the category of "burmese" or "retic" and be categorically ruled out. I would suggest a Bao, BCC. The temperment is great, I personally love the colors of the original breeds but there are a great deal of morphs that are available as well. In most states, they are not restricted so even if you get a BCC female, it may be able to grow to 10'+ under the radar of regulations and kind of give you the best of both worlds. Good luck and please keep us posted on your decision.

Depends on the size you want to go with. I would either go with a retic if you want really big or go with a Red Tail Boa for a medium/large snake. Hope this helps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tfpets

I also love retics, but they are quite the opposite of a burm. They like to move, alot! They can be friendly with regular handling, but they like to move, alot! I own a dwarf that is just over a year old, he can be nippy at times, but he likes to move, alot! I have personally handled a 12' that was like handling a HUGE corn snake!

---

you forgot to mention that they move alot lol.

anyways yeah rectics are nice. have any of you guys seen bob clark's rectic fluffy that won the guiness world record for the biggest snake at 24' i believe. anacondas are cool too, im just not a big fan of owning big snakes myself.

There is no regulation (yet) on retics.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JaGv

you forgot to mention that they move alot lol.

anyways yeah rectics are nice. have any of you guys seen bob clark's rectic fluffy that won the guiness world record for the biggest snake at 24' i believe. anacondas are cool too, im just not a big fan of owning big snakes myself.

---

I've seen many of Bob's retic's and there's quite a few extremely large tics. He has some of the nicest retic morphs I've ever seen, the pieds take my breath away! He's great to deal with as well if you're wanting to buy a retic. That's where I got my purple albino and he's my favorite snake by far! http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/28/qemujaba.jpg

So, anything aside from the longest snake in the world? :) Something better for the large snake newbie, as opposed to a giant corn snake with the appetite of a bearded dragon.
I like the idea of getting into Boa constrictor constrictors...

Added: Even if you have to downsize, that's cool too. I love the other features of Burms more so than their size. Those dark short tailed pythons have really caught my eye.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pythonminion

So, anything aside from the longest snake in the world? :) Something better for the large snake newbie, as opposed to a giant corn snake with the appetite of a bearded dragon.
I like the idea of getting into Boa constrictor constrictors...

---

I fully recommend a boa (BCI, BCC, or BCO even) for a first big snake. I have two Argentine boas, a Hog Island "dwarf boa" (I think she's going to be on the bigger side), and three Colombian BCIs. My bf has a Guyana BCC boa and she's lovely: I love boas. BCCs do get larger so I'd look into those (BCOs can get on the bigger side too), but even Colombian females can get extra big. I recommend at least a 6' cage for a female so be prepared for that.

Here's my biggest boa, my jungle morph Colombian male (he's a June '10 baby and big for his size IMO):

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ps58a1fe39.jpg

I adore my retic female, she's one of my favorite snakes (don't tell my others that though). She is a mainland super tiger with big parents so I would expect her to get large, but I still wouldn't rule out a dwarf retic for you. They can get big too, with certain localities getting larger than others. I wouldn't count out them being on the ban list eventually though to be honest.

Here's my sweet girl, Estelle:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ps7b1f2aae.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...psf230b88f.jpg

^Beautiful retic! I would have tons of them if they stayed that size! I'm afraid my boy is going to get really big. I was told dwarf when I got him but that was even second hand from the guy I got him from. I guess I'll have to post pics and find out for sure some day!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daybreaker

I wouldn't count out them being on the ban list eventually though to be honest.

---

I want to rephrase this: I would count on them being on the ban list eventually is what I meant.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tfpets

^Beautiful retic! I would have tons of them if they stayed that size! I'm afraid my boy is going to get really big. I was told dwarf when I got him but that was even second hand from the guy I got him from. I guess I'll have to post pics and find out for sure some day!

---

Thanks! I love her at this size but I can't till she starts getting some size on her. I would assume your guy will get on the big side to be safe, most dwarfs I see still get to be a considerable size.

Fingers crossed he maxes out at around 12'. Between him and my female burm, I may have my hands full in a few years! It's not hard to get overwhelmed when people figure out you have snakes! Somehow I keep getting everyone else's problems!

To the OP:

I'd give my best reccommendation toward Dumeril's Boa. They can stay around 6-7 ft, or get up to 10-11 ft if allowed proper diet and caging. They have an amazing temperment, and of all the boas I have dealt with I would say they are one of the most prehistoric in their natural pattern and appearance.

Since you're saying this would be a first giant, I would avoid anything in the area of python reticulatus including Dwarf's or Super Dwarfs. There are a lot of mutts out there that are bred with the purpose of generating smaller morphs, but you still never exactly know what you end up with. They also have a feeding responce like no other snake I've ever worked with! They are an amazing snake, and I love my retics and will keep them for as long as I have the rights and ability. But if it's a first giant, it's not a smart direction. You can get a Superdwarf, but I'd highly suggest getting from a well known breeder like Mike Willbanks, Travis Kubes, Stephanie Laumeyer (Also known as the Snake Pusher), and to an extent Prehistoric Pets. All of these breeders will be able to get you a purer form of Super Dwarf than many of the others out there. These can be very rewarding snakes, but much precaution is needed with them. They strike fast, move fast, and are very powerful as adults. Dwarfs can be as tiny as 6' but also as large as 16' (Mainly Jampea ESPECIALLY female morph jampea with less tha 75% Jamp blood).

Burmse are very unique animals, and it's hard to match something with their power, grace, and gentle nature. They truly are gentle prehistoric giants. I have a 25% Dwarf Male Visual Granite Burmese, and he does mean the world to me, I dont believe there is a substitute for what Burmese Pythons can offer, but I do believe there are just as unique, prehistoric, large, and amazing snakes out there.

1 vote for Dumeril's Ground Boa
- Pros
- Cheap
- Large
- Tames easy
- Prehistoric and atttractive
- Unique
- Cons
- Not a burmese
- Sometimes hard to find good breeders
- Babies can be nippy (most snakes are like this)
- Females can be quite large (pro and con)

Good luck!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tfpets

There is no regulation (yet) on retics.

---

Not 100% true, There aren't any nation wide bans, but there are some state level bans (like Florida :mad:)

Texas has a permit system in Place for Retics, there are bans in Most if not all? of New York, and Ohio has very strict permit bans on Retics just to name a few as well. They are also up for the next addition to the Lacey Act as well as 2-3 more species of Anaconda, and BCI :-/ not that they will get the votes this time around . . .

WTB Purple Tiger ball python...



Have banana/coral glow come down to a reasonable price yet?!

African Rock Pythons, perhaps(?) I have four one year old females and one two year old male. Despite the overall opinion that SEBAE SEBAE PYTHONS are nervous super strong killers, I must say/write/type/mention that they quickly get accustomed to new conditions and are far more peaceful than most people say. The african rock pythons are very easy in handling and keeping as long as they are kept in a large terrarium and fed plenty (even) overfed/power fed (sometimes ofcourse).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by krzysztof

African Rock Pythons, perhaps(?) I have four one year old females and one two year old male. Despite the overall opinion that SEBAE SEBAE PYTHONS are nervous super strong killers, I must say/write/type/mention that they quickly get accustomed to new conditions and are far more peaceful than most people say. The african rock pythons are very easy in handling and keeping as long as they are kept in a large terrarium and fed plenty (even) overfed/power fed (sometimes ofcourse).

---

These have been added to the Lacey act as well.

Are scrub pythons available in the US?

Legal, heavy bodied, nice wedge shaped head, prehistoric looking pattern, don't mind live bearing.... Hmmmm I'd go with a dumerils boa. Wait I did and have 1.2 lol. They are great snakes. Easy to handle, calm and they get pretty big just not long. 6' and 40 lbs being the norm for an adult female. They do come bigger but its not real common.

Olive Python, but they don't have the pattern you are looking for.

Some Carpet pythons get pretty big...olive pythons are awesome!

Coastal carpets or bredli carpets.

Argentine Boa (BCO) go over 10' on female. Very curious boas and have quite thick body.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lefty

Coastal carpets or bredli carpets.

---

Ill second that. But I might be a little bias.