I think i'm ready for my first large python. Recommendations?

I've owned ball pythons for quite awhile and I recently purchased a small boa, but i've always wanted to own a python/boa that is much larger than I currently have.

What would be good options? I want something that will not top 10 feet and something that it would be relatively safe for me to handle on my own. I know that crosses out mainland retics, burms, green conda's, etc. I know that is probably not possible, but my idea large snake would be something with the personality of a ball python, but twice the size.

What do you guys think?

May want to consider trying to find a half-dwarf Burmese Python. They do not get relatively large, and stay under the 10' mark even as females. Burmese pythons are going to be one of the closest thing to a ball python but larger. Since you want to keep it under 10, don't consider getting a normal Burmese. These can overrun your limits quick as females. Males can stay on the smaller side, but its hit and miss.

Stay away from Superdwarf / Dwarf retics IMO - If you're after the ball python experience these will bring a lot more action than you are probably prepared for, quick , intelligent, and flighty. A lot more teeth. And a lot more to clean up after. Saying that, they are still great animals, but you have to truly be wanting that experience, and be ready to handle it.

Carpet pythons may be another direction for you, Diamonds would be the one to look into, they have girth, length, and normally docile. Pure diamonds will cost you a bit, but its worth it.

All in all though, I think a boa is the right move right now. They grow slow so you can get to know it as it turns into a giant. They are one of the most docile larger constrictors out there in captivity, they are extremely forgiving for husbandry mistakes (regardless of what some people may say). And they are fascinating species for being so laid back. If you want to get into the bigger end of things, pick up a Dumeril's Ground Boa or Argentine Boa. If you want exotic, look for a Madagascar Ground boa, but these will cost in the area of 700-800 and need to be from someone who is working with zoo stock offspring due to current laws on their procession (has to be from approved breedings due to restrictions on export if I'm not mistaken). Beautiful boas though, and I plan to work with them in the near future if my plans open up a little bit.

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Originally Posted by Mr Green

I've owned ball pythons for quite awhile and I recently purchased a small boa, but i've always wanted to own a python/boa that is much larger than I currently have.

What would be good options? I want something that will not top 10 feet and something that it would be relatively safe for me to handle on my own. I know that crosses out mainland retics, burms, green conda's, etc. I know that is probably not possible, but my idea large snake would be something with the personality of a ball python, but twice the size.

What do you guys think?

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same boat :)

I'm always a fan of b.c.c. and b.c.o. when it comes to large but not too large. I understand you posted this in the python section.

Im personally a fan of blood pythons, especially red bloods. I don't know if that would be big enough for what you want?

Male yellow anaconda? Kinda world's away from a beeper but stay relatively small, CAN have awesome temperaments, and stay relatively safe to handle.

My boy is a little unpredictable, sometimes he will bite you 10 times in 10 seconds and other times he will bite you in slow mo. Never really hurts tho. And other times he will chill with you for hours with absolutely no aggression.

Just another "option" for a snake that gets bigger than a bp but not crazy big. The experience tho is much different.

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redtails are nice not to big my female 7 ft 35 pounds female can get 10 feet males around 15 pounds around 5to6 feet.

They are actually in the medium category but at 25 plus lbs they feel big..
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/q...psd67ef192.jpg
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps151c42b6.jpg

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Originally Posted by Tim Mead

They are actually in the medium category but at 25 plus lbs they feel big..
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/q...psd67ef192.jpg
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps151c42b6.jpg

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HEY TIM! I love those pictures! I would highly recommend one of Tim's bloods to anyone! And ya forgot about bloods as a bigger option. Mine are still small lol.

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I like my carpet pythons, female jag I have seems to have topped out around 9 1/2 feet. Depending on the locale, they can get the length, but not the girth of most other snakes at that length. I feel I am in no danger handing mine alone.

I was also going to say carpets. Coastals, bredls, and diamonds all have a nice size adult length to them, but stay on the skinny side build wise. Im kinda biased tho, total carpet freak

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why do people seem to be recommending every type of carpet except jungles? (total curiosity here)

Big snake?

How about a boa like this?

This guy says his boa is 14 years old now. This is a MALE Peruvian. Right at 10 feet here. Not the rule but the exception.

http://www.mccarthyboas.com/BS_5_201...t_60LBS_01.jpg

But a female Iquitos Peruvian boa will be plenty big. Or a female Argentine boa.

Boa personality is almost always good. Almost LOL!

Costal carpets are a bit more slim but the females can go 11 feet.

Also look at Olive pythons. Olives are totally underrated. They may take you passed 10 feet though.

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Originally Posted by OsirisRa32

why do people seem to be recommending every type of carpet except jungles? (total curiosity here)

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they typically don't get the size the op is looking for, even tho I do own a supposed a pure jungle that is 9 foot, but due to her size I kinda doubt she is, but thats what she was sold to me as.

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Originally Posted by OsirisRa32

why do people seem to be recommending every type of carpet except jungles? (total curiosity here)

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Jungles are nice if you get the high contrast ones. But they fall into the middle of the ground size wise. They don't have the girth of Irian Jaya (which are shorter) and they don't have the length of inland / coastal / diamond. Jungles are for people who want jungles, but are hard pressed to fit into a category outside of that IMO

I really do love my boas. After having BPs, the boas are great, thy're interactive, but still docile enough to have out while watching a movie. Mine are still small, but I've never had a problem with any aggression. Baby nippyness, but nothing else. my BP have me a worse tag than either of my boas

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Originally Posted by reptileexperts

Jungles are nice if you get the high contrast ones. But they fall into the middle of the ground size wise. They don't have the girth of Irian Jaya (which are shorter) and they don't have the length of inland / coastal / diamond. Jungles are for people who want jungles, but are hard pressed to fit into a category outside of that IMO

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So let me get this straight- IJs are thicker/girthier than JCPs? That would be something interesting and worth knowing. Lol

Yep. I know many I that take rabbits.

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Originally Posted by reptileexperts

Yep. I know many I that take rabbits.

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I'd like to see a pic of an IJ (preferably pure) big enough to do this.:gj:

Google is your friend :) my IJ duo are only 2 years old this year. Still small! But when they get there... I'll update it!

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Originally Posted by reptileexperts

Yep. I know many I that take rabbits.

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This is the first time ive ever heard that. I guess it would be totally possible, as all carpets can and will take some gargantuan meals as compared to their body size, but ive never heard anyone suggest that its a good idea in captivity. I guess if you only wanted to feed a few meals a year it would be a decent strategy. Anything more often then that would get you an extremely obese and short lived snake though

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Imo i would go with a ij bredli or coastal carpet all of them get big but for the most part stay under 10 foot unless you get a female females costals can get up to 11 foot.

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King Cobra=/of discussion lol

J/K, no kings.

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FWIW I held a red tail boa last week at repticon a little over 8ft long and 25 lbs. Very sweet and gentle snake the owner said her mother was 10ft and he thinks she will exceed that.

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Originally Posted by Tennessee

FWIW I held a red tail boa last week at repticon a little over 8ft long and 25 lbs. Very sweet and gentle snake the owner said her mother was 10ft and he thinks she will exceed that.

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Omg I held the exact same boa :D she was such a sweetheart. I was surprised at how heavy she was. She felt more like 50lbs to me haha! Did you see that awesome retic they had out? He was very cool, but got a little stressed so they had to put him away.


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Haha yeah I was like are you sure she's only 25?? I saw the retic too he was a beast

Anyone have experience with Macklot's pythons?

I know you said you want to keep it under 10 feet, but IMO Burms are a fantastic big snake. Males will be smaller in girth and shorter, a lot of times around 11 feet or so. They have wonderful dispositions and are usually slow movers, not as curious or flighty as Carpets can be, although I love Carpets as well and I would highly recommend one of those also. Boas are also great, very strong, have great dispositions and very hardy. All these have been recommended in this thread, but I am a huge fan of Burms and would definitely recommend a male to keep it on the smaller side, if it's really considered "smaller":)
Either way, good luck with your decision, you can't go wrong with a lot of what has been mentioned in this thread.

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Originally Posted by Cowtipper

I know you said you want to keep it under 10 feet, but IMO Burms are a fantastic big snake. Males will be smaller in girth and shorter, a lot of times around 11 feet or so. They have wonderful dispositions and are usually slow movers, not as curious or flighty as Carpets can be, although I love Carpets as well and I would highly recommend one of those also. Boas are also great, very strong, have great dispositions and very hardy. All these have been recommended in this thread, but I am a huge fan of Burms and would definitely recommend a male to keep it on the smaller side, if it's really considered "smaller":)
Either way, good luck with your decision, you can't go wrong with a lot of what has been mentioned in this thread.

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Dwarf burms are also an option.

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So after much consideration I decided to go with a retic. I won a sunfire reticulated python 100% het purple albino male for 190. Is that a good price?

Also it's 34 inches so i'll have a little time before he gets huge.

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Originally Posted by Mr Green

So after much consideration I decided to go with a retic. I won a sunfire reticulated python 100% het purple albino male for 190. Is that a good price?

Also it's 34 inches so i'll have a little time before he gets huge.

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Price is pretty good. And emphasis on "a little but of time" lol. But males won't get crazy

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Originally Posted by Mr Green

So after much consideration I decided to go with a retic. I won a sunfire reticulated python 100% het purple albino male for 190. Is that a good price?

Also it's 34 inches so i'll have a little time before he gets huge.

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Hey not trying to rain on your parade but your the one that won tonight rite. You are located in georgia rite? If you are i think retics are a prohibited species in georgia

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Originally Posted by bigt0006

Hey not trying to rain on your parade but your the one that won tonight rite. You are located in georgia rite? If you are i think retics are a prohibited species in georgia

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That would be news to me. Im fair certain the only regulations currently in place hete are on alligators, crocodiles, and venomous snakes

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http://www.georgiawildlife.com/ExoticPets

you are incorrect. While local city laws may vary, state laws do NOT prohibit retics from the state of Georgia.

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Originally Posted by reptileexperts

http://www.georgiawildlife.com/ExoticPets

you are incorrect. While local city laws may vary, state laws do NOT prohibit retics from the state of Georgia.

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Wasnt sure just dont want to see someone get in trouble for something

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I have a quick question. I was doing some research and saw that young retics like a smaller cage so they feel secure. I was thinking about putting the 34 inch in a 20 gallon long. I have plans for a much larger enclosure when he grows, but how long could I keep him in that?

If you can maintain proper husbandry in it it should be fine but not for long. They like small but not cramped. A 34" snake would do well in a 32 qt tub.

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I go from a 13.5qt MCB-S tub straight to a 41qt, and after that a 4x2x1, then to the big racks.

If any grow over 20' I will provide something larger.

You might get some aggression from the males if they go into a bare tub that's overly large. They feel like they have a "territory" and defend it as such.

Happened with my purple sunfire when I moved him into a 41qt. The two girls moved at the same time, and they are all the same age a d size, and he's the one that got aggressive. You can tell it wasn't a stressed defensive deal either, he was pursuing me lol. He grew out of it.

Be prepared to spend some money on a MUCH larger enclosure soon tho. They grow so fast. Especially a mainland tic.

Reptileexperts knows his stuff and I'd be happy to answer any tic questions as well. ;)

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So my retic came in today. I'm a little worried because it was cooler this morning than I thought it would be. When I pulled him out he was cold to the touch and was pretty still. He's flickering his tongue a lot so I hope he's okay. Should I be worried?
http://i58.tinypic.com/11cch9h.jpg

Just gradually get some heat on him and he should be fine.

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I want a Burm one day so bad. But with these damn interstate sale laws I'm screwed unless they drop them. Anyways! Awesome little retic guy!


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You'll be fine. Talked with retic shippers about this not too long ago when my shipment came in freezing and the snake had a registered body temperature of 68 which felt freezing. A retic can sustain a body temperature quite low before anything bad happens. That sad, as long as you're warming him up slowly you'll be fine. DO NOT soak him to try and warm him up. Put in room temperature water and not much of it for him to access at his leisure. Most retics will feed the day of arrival, but give him time to gradually warm his body temperature up, then offer food. Cheers on the new kiddo arriving safe.

Thanks for the help! I offered him a mouse earlier, but he wasn't interested. I guess i'll offer anyone in a few days.

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Originally Posted by Mr Green

Thanks for the help! I offered him a mouse earlier, but he wasn't interested. I guess i'll offer anyone in a few days.

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Do yourself a favor and don't feed mice to retics. They can take weaned rats for the most part straight outta the egg lol. Retics can take WAY bigger prey than you woukd think especially looking at boas or balls as a comparison. Try a hopper rat if you are worried.

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So I just offered him a hopper rat and he's not interested. He's just coiled up in a ball under his hide. Am I doing something wrong?

My warm side is about 89 and the cool side is 82 with a 70% humdiity level. He's currently in a 20 long and has several hides in his tank. Suggestions?

Retics will normally hit the day you bring em home. Are you trying live, pre kill, or F/T? Are you feeding in the enclosure or separate container? What kind of substrate? And what kind of heat are you using?

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Originally Posted by Expensive hobby

Retics will normally hit the day you bring em home. Are you trying live, pre kill, or F/T? Are you feeding in the enclosure or separate container? What kind of substrate? And what kind of heat are you using?

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That's what I heard and but times he's not been interested. I'm trying live right now and feeding in the enclosure. The substrate is the echo earth coconut husk and i'm heating with a 150W 24 hour light.

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Originally Posted by Mr Green

That's what I heard and but times he's not been interested. I'm trying live right now and feeding in the enclosure. The substrate is the echo earth coconut husk and i'm heating with a 150W 24 hour light.

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It's not common but I have had snakes that ONLY take frozen thawed or pre kill. I attribute it to a live rodent biting them before I acquired them. Must have been spooked. Also sometimes snakes that have been fed F/T or P/K their entire lives won't know what to do with live. But yours is too young for that to be the case I would imagine.

I'm at a loss considering the info you've given. How many meals did he/she take with the breeder before you acquired it?

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Originally Posted by Expensive hobby

It's not common but I have had snakes that ONLY take frozen thawed or pre kill. I attribute it to a live rodent biting them before I acquired them. Must have been spooked. Also sometimes snakes that have been fed F/T or P/K their entire lives won't know what to do with live. But yours is too young for that to be the case I would imagine.

I'm at a loss considering the info you've given. How many meals did he/she take with the breeder before you acquired it?

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I'm not sure how many meals he had, but I chatted with Ben Siegel on facebook and he informed me that it was feeding on adult mice(which I tried the first time).

I'm starting to get a little worried because I own two balls and a boa and they both ate readily on the first day I got them.

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Originally Posted by Mr Green

I'm not sure how many meals he had, but I chatted with Ben Siegel on facebook and he informed me that it was feeding on adult mice(which I tried the first time).

I'm starting to get a little worried because I own two balls and a boa and they both ate readily on the first day I got them.

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Ya that's not typical behavior. Maybe try a F/T and leave it in the tank for a few hours with the tank covered in a towel. Obviously watch out for catching the towel on fire with the light. If that doesn't work let us know...

And it isn't all that common with retics either, but maybe it's a mouser. Happens with beepers all the time but not generally with retics. Try a mouse again too to see if it has any feeding response, then work on getting it on rats after you get a meal in it in your care.
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