Carpet Python or Boa?

[Mike41793]

Mike,

While we have a decent discussion going, how do you feel retics stack up? You are a new retic owner. I was going to mention a SD retic but I just have no experience. It's one on my list though.

I'd say any Colombian/mainland BCI male or female would be great. I also feel carpets get a bad wrap for their initial defensive behavior. They settle very fast, and a few micro bites from a juvey is absolutely nothing. I didn't even bleed in the 3 times I was bitten by my coastal.

I've had my boy for five months now and absolutely love him!

Retics are a great option BUT they keep you on your toes. A high percentage SD or SD/Dwarf will stay comparable to a boa or carpet. Longer and more slender than a carpet, but not as fat around as a boa. Retics grow a lot faster than a carpet or boa. My boy went from sitting in a 6qt tub when I first got him to a 41qt tub now, in only 5 months. Every time you open that tub and have an interaction with the snake, you have to be paying attention. Because the day you're not is the day he'll be hungry and come flying out looking for food haha. Whenever I get him out I always have a roll of paper towels or hook in my hand to tap him out of feeding mode in case he's hungry. It's not them being aggressive, they're just looking for food and excited for it. Once you get him out, he's usually calm and just moves around on you. Likes to climb up onto your head. They have tons of muscle tone so they're great climbers. But even then, you have to keep an eye on them. Because if you let them have the opportunity to escape off your shoulders, they will. And dart up onto shelves or wherever they can get to haha. They like to explore lol. They're great eaters tho. In five months Morris has only refused one rat. He was deep in shed and ate one, then he refused a second one which was a refusal from one of my stubborn bps. So I'd say that's pretty damn good haha.

I'd take a retic over a boa or carpet just because I like the extra challenge that comes with them.