Oh snap!

[Reediculous]

Well, I'll never be back at this pornsnake forum again so you dont have to worry and get your panties in a wad anymore!!!!!!!!!!!
Y'all can enjoy your wittel baby snakes without me.

don't let the door hit you.................

[nsiepert]

This is the father to my babies after a good sized meal!!!

Credit for that pic goes to Ryan Achenbach, my good friend and breeder!!

[mischevious21]

This is the father to my babies after a good sized meal!!!

Credit for that pic goes to Ryan Achenbach, my good friend and breeder!!

What did you feed it? A goat? I mean that seriously, by the way- Im curious.

[8b8ll]

This is the father to my babies after a good sized meal!!!

Credit for that pic goes to Ryan Achenbach, my good friend and breeder!!

What would be to big of a meal in your opinion?

If that is a "good sized" meal?

Just curious.


Mike

[mischevious21]

**nods head** yea, I honestly cant see how the snakes mouth opend THAT wide...

Well, I can but... That seems almost painful...

[frankykeno]

Well, I'll never be back at this pornsnake forum again so you dont have to worry and get your panties in a wad anymore!!!!!!!!!!!
Y'all can enjoy your wittel baby snakes without me.

Well since you are leaving, on the way out consider yourself cautioned, both for the multiple attempts to use inappropriate language and for the general disrespect to anyone who owns any snake other than a giant.

[Emilio]

Well, I'll never be back at this pornsnake forum again so you dont have to worry and get your panties in a wad anymore!!!!!!!!!!!
Y'all can enjoy your wittel baby snakes without me.

Ball python envy I love it sorry man they will be at the top for a long long time.

[AjBalls]

Ball python envy I love it sorry man they will be at the top for a long long time.

Only because almost anybody can own them...

[AjBalls]

I just joined and was browsing and came across this post ...the prey item this gentleman posted isn't overly big. Retics should not be fed like a boa or ball. They are designed to ingest a prey item 1/4 both their weight and length. That barely left a bulge in that retic in the post feeding photo, indicating a suitable size, in fact...a perfect meal.

^ Agreed 100%. I've owned and bred Retics for 10 years and HAVE NEVER had a retic die from eating a good sized prey item. I am new but going to say this

It's not proper to comment on something from an uneducated opinion on a species. What works for one species more often then not does not work for another

I just joined and I want to point out that this prey item is in no way whatsoever too big for a retic, they arent bp's or boas and can ingest much larger prey than either of those animals can.

Pretty much what I've (and others) been saying from the start. But... some people think they know everything... what can ya do?

[Kara]

Yes, retics are capable of handling enormous meals. It's up to the discernment of each individual keeper to judge what is and isn't appropriate for their snakes.

What bothers me here is not the fact that retics are being fed large meals, but the "showboating" mentality that some people are using...showing off rather than educating fellow keepers who do not keep giants. This is a learning forum. If you're going to be a jerk instead of helping other people learn, then maybe this isn't the correct venue.

This is the father to my babies after a good sized meal!!!

Credit for that pic goes to Ryan Achenbach, my good friend and breeder!!

Folks, keep in mind that snakes do swell up remarkably after consuming a large meal - there's a lot going on in the gut digestion-wise at this point, and it can make a snake very bloated & gassy...I doubt what you're seeing in that pic is *all* prey, but probably a combination of prey + "digestive atmosphere" going on. We've fed substantial prey items to some our big retics, and they swell CONSIDERABLY after eating a large meal, giving the appearance of having consumed an item larger than what was really fed. This is where the discernment part comes in - it is critical to monitor temps & correct environmental factors when you do feed a snake a meal of this size...if your temps are off, you're inviting problems.

Personally I don't see a huge problem with the meals those retics are being fed...yes, they are capable of eating & quickly digesting large meals, especially as younger, growing animals. I do caution against making retics exceptionally huge, fat animals (it is possible to do, especially as they mature), as obesity seems to have a very negative impact on lifespan with this species.

Also Nick, I'm a little disappointed. Usually this hasn't been your typical forum behavior, so I'm confused as to why you'd come over here & start acting like a smart@$$. You know that Ryan is also a good friend of ours...frankly I'm kind of bummed to see you toss his name in with this rash of brazen posting that doesn't seem to give a lot of thought to the subject at hand. Nick, keep in mind that this forum is primarily made up of ball python keepers. They don't have experience with retics, but they're interested in learning about herp husbandry in all aspects. Why don't you try to help everyone understand retics better, instead of belittling folks for their lack of experience? Come on...big snake keepers are facing enough problems with anti-giant legislation without having to add stuff like this to the mix. Let's do what we can to IMPROVE the keeping of large constrictors, not hurt it.

Just my $.02

K~