Thinking of getting a retic

Ever since our trip to Ben Renick's facility and seeing all his gorgeous snakes, we've really been wanting a retic. Actually, the one in my avatar is the one my wife really wants (hint, hint, Ben!)...

Everything I've read says they are an advanced snake, and all we have is the one BP.

Questions for the experienced giant owners:

What exactly is it that makes a retic more difficult than a burm?

What are some of the difficulties in general of having a giant? (Ben told me a little about musking... :puke:)

Any other information about having them, handling them, etc. is welcome! :)

Difficulties....

Compared to a Burm, Retics are considered smarter, faster, etc. They grow at a more rapid rate. Their intelligence is out of this world. Clean-up is a big deal. These snakes can really go!

Ontop of that, feeding response! Feeding response is what makes these snakes somewhat difficult, and dangerous to keep. They could be the most docile snake in the world, but once they flip into feeding mode, normally anything that moves is considered prey...

I couldn't help you too much when it comes to Retics. Thats more of Ben, and Kara's deal...

As far as Retics being advanced, I would say so mainly for like what Drew said with the feeding response, fast acting movements, and of course overall size. As for musking, I doubt you'll have too much to worry about, the only Retics I've ever been musked on by were Super Dwarves. :gj:

There are a lot of things to consider with owning large snakes, for one, time... Takes a lot longer to clean an 8' cage vs a 41 qt ball tub... Space can be an issue for a lot of people as well...

I don't own burms anymore, but I overally found out I liked Retics more... I don't know what it was about burms, they just hissed at me too much. :rofl:

Overall, I found Retics to be rewarding to own though... They are a lot of fun...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...s/DSCN4442.jpg

im not no expert but i do give my 2 cents. only expert im at is shooting rifles and firing missiles :P anyways.
my "experience" is that giants are great! i got a burm who i love to death. like stated earlier burms are different then retics. everyone i know who has a retic says they are beautiful and magnificent, but they can be pretty aggressive. all my friends who tend retics say they would be considered the more aggressive of the giant species. all i know from handling retics from babys all the way up to 16 feet is, WOW their eyes and pattern is so awesome, but their attitudes are not the nicest! every single one was disturbed at any movement and was striking. dont believe all that junk on national geographic about retics. not THAT bad as they say. they just need more patients and time to work with to try and settle them down a bit.
only other thing is.... buy a dust pan and a small broom just for urates/ poop HAHAHA... my burm came out of shed and left a poop/urate mix bigger then my labrador! YUCK! but i love her and she's my favorite out of all of my snakes... i would buy a retic, only if i had the space and a few $$$ for the cage i'd have to build. they do grow fast! be prepared to spend quite a few more bucks for food as well. dont know how much you have handled giants, especially retics, but if you can i'd find a few pet stores or friends or whoever who has retics/ burms at 10+ plus and get a feel for what its like.

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Originally Posted by Ben_Renick

I don't know what it was about burms, they just hissed at me too much. :rofl:

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HAHAHA i feel ya! jesus, burms love to hiss and its not a little hiss. its loud and long! once she is out the tank, all is fine. but when im in her home trying to pull her out its a constant hiss, accompanied by fast movements and more hissing! not a retic owner, just handled a few. but retics dont hiss? never had one hiss on me before but i was just wondering.

Retics can hiss, but man, I've never had one hiss at me like a burm would. But then again, I had a lot of meany burms. lol.

hell yeah, the 1st time i went to grab her, she hissed so loud i jumped back and was like what the hell?! it was like me going to grab a snake thinking its a constrictor and then hearing a rattle going. AHHH RATTLESNAKE! lol but burms do make alot of noises. i'm about to take my burm to the vet next week. im taking her twice a month for 3 months to make sure all is well. every night i hear a YACK or like she's spitting or something. she doesnt drool or have bubbles or have any signs of a RI or IBD. it still troubles me. went to vet already and the dude said she's fine. but im going back again for a culture. she doesnt show any other signs, but still got me worried. so im going again. but any who HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

So as long as I:

a) Don't get constricted, and
b) Buy an industrial sized pooper scooper

I should be ok? :D

Do you guys think having a giant smart snake is better than having a big dumb one? I mean, on the one hand the smart one might be able to better discern that I'm NOT food, but on the other hand it might use that extra bit of smarts to plot against me... :)

Does anyone have any retics that are always nice? Is it more that they don't like to be messed with when you're cleaning?

Anybody's that like to be handled? Can most of you handle them frequently?

oh man ben! bro i checked your site. awesome! i was reading about the yellow condas and you said more on the manageable side. whats a common size in yellow condas? i think condas are so beautiful, but ya know.. the common TV makes condas the worst of all snakes! ill get one when i can accomidate it but doing my research now. what did that yellow conda sell for on your site? just wondering so i can save. i'd like to buy one in very near future. *cough 2 months for taxs cough* i've handled a couple. im gonna do my research before though. i have a burm so im used to /learning the giants. i know condas dont get that big in length but are the heaviest.

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Originally Posted by Swingline0.0.1

So as long as I:

a) Don't get constricted, and
b) Buy an industrial sized pooper scooper

I should be ok? :D

Do you guys think having a giant smart snake is better than having a big dumb one? I mean, on the one hand the smart one might be able to better discern that I'm NOT food, but on the other hand it might use that extra bit of smarts to plot against me... :)

Does anyone have any retics that are always nice? Is it more that they don't like to be messed with when you're cleaning?

Anybody's that like to be handled? Can most of you handle them frequently?

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eh a and b are awesome! :D um im out the question for the tics though bens gonna have to answer those :P

oh you can handle all of them. just they arent as docile. i mean tics are smarter and faster but they dont strike for food * i believe * more of a "get away"

With Retics, you just have to keep in mind it's a wild animal, and accidents happen, so you just always want to be on your guard... I wouldn't go as far to say they love coming out to play or anything, but if you work with them, they aren't always out to get you or anything.

Temperments will always vary from snake to snake, but Retics are known for their feeding responses, and that's something to deffinently consider a hook for. I typically don't ever go into my retic cages without a hook (this is a 100% must at night). A lot of mine will pretty much take anything that comes into the cage, including my hands.

In all honesty, I would suggest something a little better starter off from a ball, something like a Carpet Python or Boa might be a little, they stay a little more manageable size and can help out great in a little more advanced husbandry skills. If you are fully convinced on a Retic though, I would suggest a male for them staying a little smaller.

K80tik - Common sizes for yellow anacondas are males = 8'+, females 12'+. The only yellows on my site for sale were hypos, and I can't give prices after they were sold, but they were more than I sell normal yellows for. Just shoot me a PM if you have any questions! I already have males courting, so this season is looking good for them!

I have to agree with Ben-start off with something smaller and easier to handle. I absolutely love my super dwarf retic but compared to the burms I have-the retic is so much quicker and he has an amazing feeding response. That what amazed me about the retics-after having so many burms and then getting this retic-it was quite the learning experience.

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Originally Posted by K80tik

only other thing is.... buy a dust pan and a small broom just for urates/ poop HAHAHA... my burm came out of shed and left a poop/urate mix bigger then my labrador! YUCK!

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I now have a snow shovel with the handle cut down-cleaning up after 13 burms (7 of those range from 6 to 17 feet) can get very nasty!!!

BTW-very pretty burm you have.

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Originally Posted by burmmamma

I now have a snow shovel with the handle cut down-cleaning up after 13 burms (7 of those range from 6 to 17 feet) can get very nasty!!!

BTW-very pretty burm you have.

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HHAHAHAHAAHA snow shovel! haha new one! i know her poop is big now but jeeze 17 ft burm? 13 burms.............. you live in a warehouse?:P

well talked with queen cobra and told her i want a yellow conda:P she was like WTF ANACONDA! i was like ya. she's like those big things that swim in south america and eat hippos! i laughed so hard. anyways i'll be getting a conda to my family as well. wont be for about 4-6 months though. gotta buy the cage/temperatures, read, research, educate myself, go to stores and handle, and talk with people like ben :P w00t w00t cant wait! in next 6 months that makes my list bigger :P 4-6 months=RTB, Pastel BP, Anaconda and gaboon viper ..........NOT HAHAHA cant till kids move out in 20 years LOL. oops there i go jotting down my thoughts :P

Btw thanks. pretty for a rescue i say :P just need vet visit to check her out.

i have a retic she's still just a baby at about 4' btu she is an all around sweetheart. feeding response isn't really a problem for me as long as i put something in front of her head and then quickly scoop her up once she feels that i have a hold of her she knows shes not being fed (thats the smarts part). she loves to be held and after about 15mins of bein held shes very content to settle down next to me in the chair and curl around my arm and sleep. my recomendation is to get one with a lil size (in other words not a hatchling as ive found they like to be a lil more nippy) they do grow quickly but there are ways to keep their size at bay. by no means am i an expert but i do love my retic!:rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by Ben_Renick

With Retics, you just have to keep in mind it's a wild animal, and accidents happen, so you just always want to be on your guard... I wouldn't go as far to say they love coming out to play or anything, but if you work with them, they aren't always out to get you or anything.

Temperments will always vary from snake to snake, but Retics are known for their feeding responses, and that's something to deffinently consider a hook for. I typically don't ever go into my retic cages without a hook (this is a 100% must at night). A lot of mine will pretty much take anything that comes into the cage, including my hands.

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yea i agree with ben my female retic can be bit snappy at times when u open the cage. but once you handle them more. they are cool. but they GROW VERY FAST! and eat like a pig.

i got bit by her once by my stupidity. she was on the other side of the tank and the rat was on the other side and i was goin to pick it up and throw it near her but her feeding response are sooo fast and good she thought i was food and bit me :)


but overall there good big snakes

More aggressive during feeding time. More aggressive all the time it seems like. Some have exceptions, my female is the nicest one i own, but make sure you check your local and state laws because now i have to find away to get rid of my jampea dwarf male and my normal female. I hate the government. oh yeah and your feed bill will double, they'll be eating jumbo rats or small rabbits by the end of a year old, and soon after that will be taking jumbo rabbits or small pigs. But they are great pets when you take care of them and you get one with a nice temperement.