handling my first big? retic!!!

Well to me 12 feet is a big snake! lol It was really educational and I really enjoyed it. Made me really want one even more! The circumstances behind why I got to handle it kind of annoys me. I person that I know called me and ask if I could come do a preliminary health check on some snakes he just bought while he waited to get them into the vet. Of course wanting to see his new additions I shagged tail over there. His first snake is a nice sized female burm at 11 feet. He has her in a 150 gal long fish tank and I've been trying to convince him to get a real enclosure. I like the guy and his hearts in the right place but man sometimes you have to say no. He answered a CL ad for a large retic. He shows up to look at it and ask questions and ends up coming back with it, a 7 foot burm, a 5 foot rtb, a 3 foot ball, and 2 baby corn snakes all in pillow cases except the retic which was and is still in a 75 gal tote. I don't know what to really do about his situation. I've already offered some temporary caging until he can get appropriate sized but hes just like ehhh I aint got time today to come get it. I cant load it up and deliver it by myself or I would. Its driving me nuts that they are crammed in totes and no where to stretch out. any way back to the health check. the burm and rtb looked healthy. clean mouths, no mites, and couldn't hear anything in the lungs with my stethoscope. the corns also checked out good. the ball seemed ok but its color looks off like one that's not getting quality rats and also looked a little thin. The retic wouldn't hold still long enough to get my scope on it but seemed active and alert like other healthy tics I've seen. clean mouth and no mites either. I got a good look in its mouth when I took her out of the tub. lol gawwd I want one! gotta get my caging together and find a nice dwarf boy and a girl sd! maybe some anerys! any way thanks for reading my ramblings and here are the only 2 pics I was able to snap s/he kept me pretty busy. lol

http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps32ad4e5f.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4157236c.jpg

Was she moving around a lot on you? From what ive gathered it seems they aren't slow moving like bci's at all lol

Yeah she was a handful! None stop action for sure! I don't know if I'm active enough to own and care for more than 1 or 2 of this type of snake definitely a workout keeping up with them!

The "I'm cool cause I own snakes" attitude bugs me. It always seems they are the ones that keep the snake for the cool factor and don't provide the correct care or hold the correct knowledge. They are the loud mouths in the pet store telling everybody about their collection when nobody asked. Then you ask some simple questions and you get the confused puppy look.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of my snakes. I just don't go around telling everybody that I have them. I think like many of us here most people I know would be surprised to find out I have the ones I do. I don't mind talking about snakes, I just prefer to do it with people that do it right. People that actually care for the animals and the hobby, not the glory hound with a 12 foot snake in a fish tank.

This is a perfect example of an irresponsible person pushing snakes out the door when I'm sure they knew he was not ready. I Just could not let any of my snakes go to a home that I know is not ready. I bet even few people here have enough spare room to bring that collection home. Just the quarantine alone would be a nightmare. But that's me thinking they will be quarantined.

Ha, you got me on a bit of a rant. Sorry.

Good luck with your friend. I hope you can make him see the error of his ways. Your a good friend to lend out your cages.

I don't think you're alone with your feelings, KMG. I feel the same way. This "cool factor" affects lots of different animals adversely. I live in South Florida and can't even begin to tell you how many pit bulls I see roaming the streets or in animal shelters. People get their the"cool factor, don't raise them properly then irresponsibly just let them go. Same US true if snakes. The burms, retics etc are not properly raised, become big and unruly, then end up in the everglades. It sucks and ultimately leads to stupid legislation that hurts responsible owners...anyway, I love retics. Beautiful snake.


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Originally Posted by KMG

The "I'm cool cause I own snakes" attitude bugs me. It always seems they are the ones that keep the snake for the cool factor and don't provide the correct care or hold the correct knowledge. They are the loud mouths in the pet store telling everybody about their collection when nobody asked. Then you ask some simple questions and you get the confused puppy look.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of my snakes. I just don't go around telling everybody that I have them. I think like many of us here most people I know would be surprised to find out I have the ones I do. I don't mind talking about snakes, I just prefer to do it with people that do it right. People that actually care for the animals and the hobby, not the glory hound with a 12 foot snake in a fish tank.

This is a perfect example of an irresponsible person pushing snakes out the door when I'm sure they knew he was not ready. I Just could not let any of my snakes go to a home that I know is not ready. I bet even few people here have enough spare room to bring that collection home. Just the quarantine alone would be a nightmare. But that's me thinking they will be quarantined.

Ha, you got me on a bit of a rant. Sorry.

Good luck with your friend. I hope you can make him see the error of his ways. Your a good friend to lend out your cages.

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I agree with 99% of what you are saying!!! The other 1% is because I never shut up about my animals. don't make me cool but I want people to realize they aren't what everyone thinks. Its really funny because the guy that sold him those I actually answered a CL ad he posted a few months ago and walked away because of the conditions of his.... well everything. the animals didn't look sick or anything but the place was horrible and just didn't like the way he handled his animals or the crap make shift enclosures he was using. not to mention the rabbits running loose in his house. He is a flipper from hell with no morals. As for the "friend" that purchased them he isn't thinking with his head. his heart is in the right place (imo) but he really isn't using his brain. I'm going over today to take my qt tanks for him. not ideal but way better than the 75 gal totes hes using. also taking my laptop and hotspot to help him order caging for the retic from boamaster.com

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Originally Posted by DMills

I don't think you're alone with your feelings, KMG. I feel the same way. This "cool factor" affects lots of different animals adversely. I live in South Florida and can't even begin to tell you how many pit bulls I see roaming the streets or in animal shelters. People get their the"cool factor, don't raise them properly then irresponsibly just let them go. Same US true if snakes. The burms, retics etc are not properly raised, become big and unruly, then end up in the everglades. It sucks and ultimately leads to stupid legislation that hurts responsible owners...anyway, I love retics. Beautiful snake.


Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

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Amen brother! the whole legislation thing is a huge deal in Ohio too!

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Originally Posted by KMG

Then you ask some simple questions and you get the confused puppy look.

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Change that to 100%. You over looked this. I'm sure you can answer questions about your animals.


I would love to have a monster snake but I know I can not provide the proper enclosure so I don't. My darn responsible thinking prevents me from buying one.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Change that to 100%. You over looked this. I'm sure you can answer questions about your animals.


I would love to have a monster snake but I know I can not provide the proper enclosure so I don't. My darn responsible thinking prevents me from buying one.

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Lmao yep you got me there! 100% I do reptile shows for my local boy/cub scout troops. They even have a reptile badge that I mentor the kids working on it. I want a retic! Not Necessarily a monster especially with the permit issues in Ohio but I'm looking at getting a dwarf male and sd female in the not so near future. I want to know exactly what I'm talking about when I start seriously looking for one. Also really starting to look at carpets now that I'm almost done with balls. Only got about 10 left lol.

Awesome Retic! Wish I knew someone close to me that had some mainlands or even some dwarfs. I would love to work with them. I would love to have some of the larger Tics, but even though I have the room, I don't think it would be a good idea without someone to help me with it on a regular basis once it gets over about 10ft.

I think having a helping hand is one of the biggest things people forget about when purchasing these giants. Could you imagine trying to move a 17ft-18ft Retic without anyone to help? Much less a 24ft-25ft Retic.

That is certainly something most people don't think about when they buy a baby 'tic! I explain that in my shows for the kids. I always recommend 1 person extra per 3 feet of snake after 6 foot. so a 9 footer needs 2 people 12 feet of snake needs 3 people. so on and so forth

Just a couple general notes from all this.

1) most people who are enthusiastic about their snakes will boast about them quite frequently, doesn't mean they are in it for the wrong reasons - and I did catch the part about answering questions, still wording makes that a very dangerous assumption statement

2) Purchasing snakes like those on a whim is never a good idea. If you have a collection of large constrictors already, that's fine if you have the extra QT housing ready and what not, but if you've never dealt with a breeding season male giant, do not just jump in like that, it's a danger to yourself and the snake

3) Mainland retics are pretty mellow outside of the cage, they resist at first and start to move forward quite a bit, but after the first 5 minutes they generally stop trying to move much and just want to stretch. Dwarf / Superdwarf much much more active IMO

4) You're doing good getting caging to your friend and making sure he get the proper setups ordered. Quickest / best option though may be Vision caging. Take a look into the 600 series, not too pricey and qujck to get them to you. If he just needs two shipping will run anywhere from 150-300 via frieght. I believe its 15 per cage, 300 per flat

5) It is quite rare for a retic to generally get above 18 ft in captivity, the statement about imagine working with a 25 ft snake is very misguided, some of the largest in captivity at the moment are around 24', and most keepers I know has their biggest girls maxing around 17' wtih a few 21' snakes in there but these are very specific lines and localities.

These statements are not meant to offend anyone who posted, just some outside insght. Please ensure your friend does know that the feeding response of a retic is nothing to mess around with, and any bite that may occur needs to handled very carefully and not "jerked" back or extreme damage can be caused. Its bad enough that when a retic bites, it already begins turning its neck twisting the wound tearing deeper.

Good luck to him though, if he's in Ohio hope his permits are good and in order!

Reptileexpert: no offense taken at all from me. I value your help and suggestions greatly.

Update: I mentioned in other post about trying to help this guy. He has declined most of it and gone on his own path. He has ordered caging from boamaster and that's about all I know. I wish him the best of luck and offer prayers that the animals stay healthy. There's just no talking sense into some people. As for the permitting issue I believe he has started the process. The vet I sent him to insist that he gets it or her office will report him to the authorities. All of the snakes did get a clean bill of health from the vet. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice.

I guess my point was alittle misunderstood. I don't mind if anybody talks about their pets. I'm talking about the people that start rambling on about how they have this and that and keep them anyway they can just so they can have as many as they can. People that its obvious they keep snakes to brag about it without caring about the conditions they put them in.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I guess my point was alittle misunderstood. I don't mind if anybody talks about their pets. I'm talking about the people that start rambling on about how they have this and that and keep them anyway they can just so they can have as many as they can. People that its obvious they keep snakes to brag about it without caring about the conditions they put them in.

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The "my snakes bigger than yours" kind of people. I completely get what your saying.

Glad to hear they were able to get a clear bill of health! But yes, the vet is unfortunately doing the right thing by imposing some sort of accountability for your friend. It's the ones who refuse to follow the rules that make our hobby look bad :(

that is so cool. I really do love retic, even just a normal retic still makes my jaw drop. Too bad its not legal here nor do I want to go about this illegally.... Actually found a sd retic for sale locally... took every ounce of my mental strength to resist it:rolleyes:

Retics are one of the absolute few snakes I legitimately enjoy handling/interacting with. Even the strength of a 12' captive animal is impressive!

If that retic is a female, I sure hope you got him to order at least the 6' boamaster... Looks like a normal mainland tiger- which seem to (from my experience) always grow just a bit bigger than other morphs do. My tiger is somewhere between 17-18' foot at 4.5ish years old...

Make sure to also tell him- always feed in cage, and tap train the retic. Always use paper towels to reach in and tap the snake first before handling, to remove feeding response.. I cringe every time I think of someone dumb enough to feed an adult retic out of cage, and having to deal with a retics feeding response in an open environment- accident waiting to happen.

If he does end up needing to get rid of it, let us know- I'm sure there are several of us here who will be more than willing to take him off his hands. ;)