SD Retic

So I have been thinking and debating. Since I was told I can't keep a SD Retic in a tub for its whole life, Can I keep it in a V-180 until its about 5-6 Foot, and then upgrade to a 6x2.? The V180 is 40"x31"x10"

I've just wanted a Retic of my own ever since I took care of one at my school many many years ago. I have experience with them. The one I took care of was a 16 foot normal female. She was very docile, and only bit me once. I accidentally stepped on her tail. So Ife I can keep it in a tub for say the first 2 years, I wouldn't mind getting a 4x2 later on

If you are going the SD route, I'd skip any kind of tub. Unless you are a breeder or space is really an issue.

Retics are extremely arboreal and enjoy climbing and perching. Obviously if you are dabbling in mainland animals, the arboreal part is probably not something most people can afford to do.

I find my SD X Dwarf X Mainland (only 18%) extremely active. I have two friends here who also had SD's, one pure and one a mix like mine. Both of those snakes were difficult keeps and both were placed. Their keepers felt cage size was important, and actually provided good sized enclosures. The pure SD was in a giant cage.

The pure SD was unfortunately a nightmare unfortunately and not all that small for a pure Kalatoa.

If you are just focusing on your own SD, why not give it some living space? They are excellent display animals and I think you'd enjoy seeing the smaller package display the wild behaviors they often show in captivity.

This cage is 6 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 30 inches deep. The snake is roughly 8-9 feet long.
https://i.imgur.com/l9oCIt0.jpg

With a pure SD, you could likely go 4 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 30 inches deep. I nice cage size for an active animal.


It doesn't get much better than seeing this action.
https://i.imgur.com/FJWTJW0.jpg

Honestly, this animal is about 50-50 arboreal and terrestrial. He is a real treat to watch.
https://i.imgur.com/GrYM26O.jpg

Just my two bits, but I'd do yourself a favor, and really the snake too, and focus on caging as part of the experience.

UNLESS, you are a breeder keeping several snakes or don't have the space.

However if you don't have the space maybe the species isn't the right choice?

Best of luck, I hope you get what you want.

At the given time of her size, I have my 75% kalatoa 12.5% jampea in a 4x2x2 with a shelf that spans across the back. She is 16 months old, bout 6 foot. Relatively new cage, so its bare at the moment. But you can see how much room she has. Shes never really used a hide so have none in there. Just going to be adding some vines, foliage and branches for her.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b66ac2cb80.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gio

If you are going the SD route, I'd skip any kind of tub. Unless you are a breeder or space is really an issue.

Retics are extremely arboreal and enjoy climbing and perching. Obviously if you are dabbling in mainland animals, the arboreal part is probably not something most people can afford to do.

I find my SD X Dwarf X Mainland (only 18%) extremely active. I have two friends here who also had SD's, one pure and one a mix like mine. Both of those snakes were difficult keeps and both were placed. Their keepers felt cage size was important, and actually provided good sized enclosures. The pure SD was in a giant cage.

The pure SD was unfortunately a nightmare unfortunately and not all that small for a pure Kalatoa.

If you are just focusing on your own SD, why not give it some living space? They are excellent display animals and I think you'd enjoy seeing the smaller package display the wild behaviors they often show in captivity.

This cage is 6 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 30 inches deep. The snake is roughly 8-9 feet long.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/l9oCIt0.jpg

With a pure SD, you could likely go 4 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 30 inches deep. I nice cage size for an active animal.


It doesn't get much better than seeing this action.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/FJWTJW0.jpg

Honestly, this animal is about 50-50 arboreal and terrestrial. He is a real treat to watch.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/GrYM26O.jpg

Just my two bits, but I'd do yourself a favor, and really the snake too, and focus on caging as part of the experience.

UNLESS, you are a breeder keeping several snakes or don't have the space.

However if you don't have the space maybe the species isn't the right choice?

Best of luck, I hope you get what you want.

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This is something I completely agree with. I feel it is a quality of life thing for an intelligent species that is active and enjoys climbing, swimming, and exploring from time to time.

OP,

If you are really serious on a SD retic then my suggestion to you would be to get in contact with Garrett Hartle of Reach Out Reptiles. He specializes in SD and SD crosses and is a wealth of information

Quote:

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Originally Posted by asplundii

OP,

If you are really serious on a SD retic then my suggestion to you would be to get in contact with Garrett Hartle of Reach Out Reptiles. He specializes in SD and SD crosses and is a wealth of information

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yes, please contact Garrett. SUPER nice guy and will tell you straight up how to keep a SD retic. then follow-up with a purchase from him. beautful healthy animals.

SD are all different, you might get one that pushes is the main issue and smashes his face up.
My 2yr old male dwarf X SD is in a 5*2*2 and 6+ft long, he weighs 1000g.

Well I spoke to my GF about this, and when I mentioned theres a possibility of getting one that gets to 12-13Ft She said No Go. So for now the Retic is on hold. I'm hoping that after a few years with my Bloods and other species I plan on getting that she will warm up to the idea. If not. thats ok too.

When I previously spoke with her I had mentioned they get much larger, but she didn't understand how long. When I specified 13' she said no way. Its better to find out now, then to have a 12' retic with no where to live.

Garrett is an excellent resource and he'd be the one I'd go to if I was interested in another SD.

That said, it is often overlooked at how arboreal this species can be. Without having to do too much research and fact finding, you can see plenty of examples in the wild of reticulated pythons that are using the canopy.

Surprisingly, they are not all juvenile animals.

My point earlier in this thread mentioned mainland animals climbing and perching. Again, space and being able to afford to accommodate these large animals is a roadblock for most.
Don't however think that just because a captive mainland animal is classified as terrestrial, it won't exhibit arboreal behavior.

http://reptilescanada.com/threads/re...haviour.57185/

Properly fed and raised animals will be extremely strong, muscular and lean. Even in the retic world, I see a lot of fat specimens.

If you haven't seen it, check out this whopper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Aze5pRETgM

Another captive animal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XtCWR0tSYo

In the wild.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XtCWR0tSYo

This one is really interesting. This is prime hunting territory, unfortunately for the snake, it's cover has been blown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfz9ar5Y_bw


My point here is this; If you are not keeping multiple animals, are not a breeder and space is not at a premium, offer as much room for a species like this as possible.

In general, a well raised specimen is active, and will utilize the space it is given. Some are pushers, and no matter how much space you give, you can wind up with a difficult keeper. I'm fortunate my male is not a pusher. Some animals are different and may actually not like a lot of space. Usually if you provide top cover, and some type of hide, the large expanse of a big cage becomes smaller and more comfortable for the nervous, shy type.

O/P, you have previous experience with the species, and are now looking at a smaller package so none of this is brand new info for you I'm relatively sure.

Treat yourself to a nice display cage and enjoy the experience. I find my fella to be the best in cage display animal I have. I find him to be the most annoying animal to handle out of the cage. That's the trade off I guess.

Like I mentioned earlier, it's honestly 50/50 for this one when it comes to ground vs. canopy. If you want to call 2 feet tall a canopy that is.
https://i.imgur.com/qgAaeLF.jpg


Caught in the act.
https://i.imgur.com/kfhzDkF.jpg

Best of luck finding the sweet spot between cage and animal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

When I previously spoke with her I had mentioned they get much larger, but she didn't understand how long. When I specified 13' she said no way. Its better to find out now, then to have a 12' retic with no where to live.

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Oops,

I missed this.

I'd actually be surprised if you went PURE SD and male that you'd wind up with a 12 footer. I'd say its rather unlikely.

My animal is predominantly dwarf, and SD with 18% mainland in the mix.

He's a bit over 3 years old and 8-9 feet. He's fairly topped off.

Had I waited and contacted Reach Out Reptiles, Garrett would have been able to set me up with an even smaller animal.

Holding off for now is a wise decision. Your living quarters are far more important!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gio

Garrett is an excellent resource and he'd be the one I'd go to if I was interested in another SD.

That said, it is often overlooked at how arboreal this species can be. Without having to do too much research and fact finding, you can see plenty of examples in the wild of reticulated pythons that are using the canopy.

Surprisingly, they are not all juvenile animals.

My point earlier in this thread mentioned mainland animals climbing and perching. Again, space and being able to afford to accommodate these large animals is a roadblock for most.
Don't however think that just because a captive mainland animal is classified as terrestrial, it won't exhibit arboreal behavior.

http://reptilescanada.com/threads/re...haviour.57185/

Properly fed and raised animals will be extremely strong, muscular and lean. Even in the retic world, I see a lot of fat specimens.

If you haven't seen it, check out this whopper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Aze5pRETgM

Another captive animal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XtCWR0tSYo

In the wild.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XtCWR0tSYo

This one is really interesting. This is prime hunting territory, unfortunately for the snake, it's cover has been blown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfz9ar5Y_bw


My point here is this; If you are not keeping multiple animals, are not a breeder and space is not at a premium, offer as much room for a species like this as possible.

In general, a well raised specimen is active, and will utilize the space it is given. Some are pushers, and no matter how much space you give, you can wind up with a difficult keeper. I'm fortunate my male is not a pusher. Some animals are different and may actually not like a lot of space. Usually if you provide top cover, and some type of hide, the large expanse of a big cage becomes smaller and more comfortable for the nervous, shy type.

O/P, you have previous experience with the species, and are now looking at a smaller package so none of this is brand new info for you I'm relatively sure.

Treat yourself to a nice display cage and enjoy the experience. I find my fella to be the best in cage display animal I have. I find him to be the most annoying animal to handle out of the cage. That's the trade off I guess.

Like I mentioned earlier, it's honestly 50/50 for this one when it comes to ground vs. canopy. If you want to call 2 feet tall a canopy that is.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/qgAaeLF.jpg


Caught in the act.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/kfhzDkF.jpg

Best of luck finding the sweet spot between cage and animal.

---

My mainland 3 year old loves to climb and swim at 13ft and 50lbs. If you give them something to interact with they will. The only time she actually hides, is right after eating for a day or 2. That is more food coma than anything. I am sure a SD will enjoy all of the above if given opportunity even if they try to do it when you are not looking. Love how intelligent and active they are as a species.