I Want a Big Snake!

[The-Jame]

If you want to keep a large constrictor you need to adhere to a strict set of rules. When you stray from this ruleset you put yourself at risk. Getting lit up by a 14-18 foot snake can require a hell of a lot of stitches.

These are just some of the basics that new owners should look into.

-You will do better if you get your first one as a baby. You will have more time to work with the snake before it gets too large and difficult to manage by yourself. Never handle the big guys when you are alone.

-Hook train your snake, let it know when it isn't feeding time.

-Read their body language, know when to back off. Sometimes they just aren't in the mood.

-When they get big you will generally want to keep their head facing away from you.

-Get a cage that you can easily maintain and will support a heavy constrictor. Some cages come equipped with a divider that allows you to partition off the enclosure without removing the snake. This is a great way for one person to maintain a large snakes enclosure, you just work them over to the other side and slide in the divider from the front.

Thanks, I know what your saying, I don't know where to get a snake hook though around here, none of the reptile shops around here seem to have them I'll have to go in and ask about it when i do get a bigger snake. The plan has always been to get a baby, I love watching them grow, you feel like a proper little daddy I must admit I don't want kid, just give me some snakes haha thanks again.

[Raverthug]

Like every one else has said, I recomend a RTB. Also if you have some one willing to help you take advantage of it. Have them teach you what they can. While the net is great remember that its not always correct. Besides I believe that hands on training with some one who know what they are doing is ALOT better then reading how to do something. Heres a little story for ya to think about tho. A friend of mine has a 17 ft retic thats about 6 years old. When he got her she wasnt as friendly as she could be since the previouse owner didnt spend the time with her that he should. Now because of this, IF he has to go into her cage by himself he takes his .45 cal handgun for safty. You need to relize the work it takes to tame out these snakes so you dont find yourself in a situation like this. Take advantage of the help around you and learn all you can BEFORE you get a monster snake. There are enough snakes that are turned over to rescues, abandoned or set free becouse people dont relise the work they take and the true size they can get. Also since you live with your mom before you get a large snake, explain how big the snake will get so she doesnt force you to rehome it simply because she didnt know how big it might get. Take her to see one in person. Telling some one about a 15ft snake and seeing one in person are two compleatly diff things. The last thing any one on this board wants is to make another person resent the reptile community because of misinformation and things like that

[Slyther83]

Like every one else has said, I recomend a RTB. Also if you have some one willing to help you take advantage of it. Have them teach you what they can. While the net is great remember that its not always correct. Besides I believe that hands on training with some one who know what they are doing is ALOT better then reading how to do something. Heres a little story for ya to think about tho. A friend of mine has a 17 ft retic thats about 6 years old. When he got her she wasnt as friendly as she could be since the previouse owner didnt spend the time with her that he should. Now because of this, IF he has to go into her cage by himself he takes his .45 cal handgun for safty. You need to relize the work it takes to tame out these snakes so you dont find yourself in a situation like this. Take advantage of the help around you and learn all you can BEFORE you get a monster snake. There are enough snakes that are turned over to rescues, abandoned or set free becouse people dont relise the work they take and the true size they can get. Also since you live with your mom before you get a large snake, explain how big the snake will get so she doesnt force you to rehome it simply because she didnt know how big it might get. Take her to see one in person. Telling some one about a 15ft snake and seeing one in person are two compleatly diff things. The last thing any one on this board wants is to make another person resent the reptile community because of misinformation and things like that

If someone has to go in a snake cage with a weapon they shouldn't own that snake. Previous owner or not, most retics are cage defensive and they need to be removed before you clean it out. If that guy doesn't have a way to facilitate that situation he shouldn't own one.

[Raverthug]

If someone has to go in a snake cage with a weapon they shouldn't own that snake. Previous owner or not, most retics are cage defensive and they need to be removed before you clean it out. If that guy doesn't have a way to facilitate that situation he shouldn't own one.

Actually he has her in a cage that is 15ft x 5 ft x 5ft with a built in hide that he can lock her into. She is NORMALY decent but he does it in the off shot that shes in a bad mood. Heres some pics of her cage while we were building it.

[Slyther83]

That is quite an impressive cage!

[Raverthug]

thanks. It used to be a turtle aquarium that that was fiber glassed. We had to cut it in half to get it through the door. the hide has a slide door that can be open and closed from outside the enclosure (that seperates the hide from the main area) with a door on each end that has 2 bolt locks and a paddle lock on each door. Like I said. He is safe but the 45 is for worst case kinda thing

[Jadonh]

thanks. It used to be a turtle aquarium that that was fiber glassed. We had to cut it in half to get it through the door. the hide has a slide door that can be open and closed from outside the enclosure (that seperates the hide from the main area) with a door on each end that has 2 bolt locks and a paddle lock on each door. Like I said. He is safe but the 45 is for worst case kinda thing

Thanks raver,


I am said owner of this retic, first off 30 years experience with reptiles, to include venomous, gives me every right to own this snake. Bertha is the pride and joy of my collection, She is a fluffy baby, and an awesome snake, I have worked with her over the last few years since I got her to get her to calm down,(Had I not taken her she would have been put down). When I clean her enclosure she is blocked off in the hide to keep her from getting to me on one side or the other. I have used her in educational shows with plenty of ppl around for help. When I have to get into the enclosure I have a few items besides the gun to go in with me (and let me say that if someone is with me I NEVE TAKE THE GUN IN, it is only done when I am ith myself.) Anyways these items are, Listerine, Hand Sanitizer, a poke stick, and tongs, Then my gun, the gun is a last resort, She gets a hold of me then I have but a little bit of time to decide if its her or me. I do use all other things before the gun. I own this snake because I am the guy who gets called to take in aggressive snakes, and believe me when the snakes are born in captivity, and become aggressive due to lack of knowledge or just being plain scared, then most would be put down, I take these snakes in rehabilitate then give a new home. There are ppl on this site who know me personally, and know I know how to work with the large snakes, know how to house them and also know that if they don't pass the test to be allowed to move on to someone else to live out their life then they stay with me and I care for them, By the way she is the biggest snake i own but not the most aggressive. I do what I can to care for these animals, and hopefully find them knew homes. Bertha won't find that home b/c she is staying with me because of her size, strength and my dis-trust for mst ppl to be able to house her properly. As stated above her enclosure is 12 ft x 5 ft x5 ft, RAVERTHUG helped me build it, it has turned out minus size to be perfect, for her and me. It allows me to have a safe area to house her in and also contains the hide 3 ftx5 ft, to put her in with the slide down door to keep all safe. Bertha has come along way from when I first got her, to now actually letting ppl touch her and pet her compared to a few years ago, waiting to not be touched and just left alone.


So in lighter things, I do what I can, I still ask questions when I need help, she is locked up in this enclosure with padlocks as stated above. I do ask for help when handling her and moving her from enclosure to soaking tub or to a educational show. Raver knows this. THE GUN IS A LAST RESORT, A last resort for me just as it was in Afghanistan and Iraq, Didn't wanna use them but did, when it was either me or them.

Thanks raver for your help with all of it


I am said owner of this retic

[Raverthug]

Jay, Thanks for comming in and clearing up.

[The-Jame]

Thanks raver,


I am said owner of this retic, first off 30 years experience with reptiles, to include venomous, gives me every right to own this snake. Bertha is the pride and joy of my collection, She is a fluffy baby, and an awesome snake, I have worked with her over the last few years since I got her to get her to calm down,(Had I not taken her she would have been put down). When I clean her enclosure she is blocked off in the hide to keep her from getting to me on one side or the other. I have used her in educational shows with plenty of ppl around for help. When I have to get into the enclosure I have a few items besides the gun to go in with me (and let me say that if someone is with me I NEVE TAKE THE GUN IN, it is only done when I am ith myself.) Anyways these items are, Listerine, Hand Sanitizer, a poke stick, and tongs, Then my gun, the gun is a last resort, She gets a hold of me then I have but a little bit of time to decide if its her or me. I do use all other things before the gun. I own this snake because I am the guy who gets called to take in aggressive snakes, and believe me when the snakes are born in captivity, and become aggressive due to lack of knowledge or just being plain scared, then most would be put down, I take these snakes in rehabilitate then give a new home. There are ppl on this site who know me personally, and know I know how to work with the large snakes, know how to house them and also know that if they don't pass the test to be allowed to move on to someone else to live out their life then they stay with me and I care for them, By the way she is the biggest snake i own but not the most aggressive. I do what I can to care for these animals, and hopefully find them knew homes. Bertha won't find that home b/c she is staying with me because of her size, strength and my dis-trust for mst ppl to be able to house her properly. As stated above her enclosure is 12 ft x 5 ft x5 ft, RAVERTHUG helped me build it, it has turned out minus size to be perfect, for her and me. It allows me to have a safe area to house her in and also contains the hide 3 ftx5 ft, to put her in with the slide down door to keep all safe. Bertha has come along way from when I first got her, to now actually letting ppl touch her and pet her compared to a few years ago, waiting to not be touched and just left alone.


So in lighter things, I do what I can, I still ask questions when I need help, she is locked up in this enclosure with padlocks as stated above. I do ask for help when handling her and moving her from enclosure to soaking tub or to a educational show. Raver knows this. THE GUN IS A LAST RESORT, A last resort for me just as it was in Afghanistan and Iraq, Didn't wanna use them but did, when it was either me or them.

Thanks raver for your help with all of it


I am said owner of this retic

Fair play to you mate, one day I'd love a retic and that's something else when it comes to housing that one, what an enclosure.

[Muddyredneck]

-Read their body language, know when to back off. Sometimes they just aren't in the mood.

-When they get big you will generally want to keep their head facing away from you.

-Get a cage that you can easily maintain and will support a heavy constrictor. Some cages come equipped with a divider that allows you to partition off the enclosure without removing the snake. This is a great way for one person to maintain a large snakes enclosure, you just work them over to the other side and slide in the divider from the front.

this is great advice, the only thing i would have changed is when talking about retics u really cant let a babys mood define wether it comes out or it will remmmember that and be even harder to handle as an adult, in most cases however a cbb baby wont have these problems and as long as you hold it enough as a baby it shouldent have any problems (shed mood aside) when its an adult

, IF he has to go into her cage by himself he takes his .45 cal handgun for safty. You need to relize the work it takes to tame out these snakes so you dont find yourself in a situation like this.

this is seriously scarey, does your friend realise that if the snake where to attack him he wouldent have time to pull the 45? it would coil him long before the thought ever crossed his mind. now i say this having lemon juice and a pocket knife within arms reach when i have out my giant but seriously a .45? sounds to me like an excuse to hold a gun especially when any alchohol or lemon juice or god forbid that didnt work a knife would do just fine and not have the publicity of "man attacked by 17ft pet snake, resulting in hail of gunfire and endangerment of loved ones"