How to keep retics on the smaller side? (Mainlands)

[Chaoticpythons]

Another thing to consider OP is that you're 15 correct? If you decide on a mainland do you plan on moving away to college/living in the dorms? Add the costs of feeding and the space involved also. Super dwarf I think is the way to go.

I am 17. I was sharing this profile with another person up until last night. But I get where you are coming from. Although I do not plan on moving away to college/living in a dorm room. But I get what you mean.

[OctagonGecko729]

Pretty important points brought up already.

I'd like to add that this is a 10+ year time investment your taking on. So do you have folks that for 10+ years can be there everytime you interact with the animal? This isnt just handling, this is any interaction.

Super Dwarfs that are 100% from Travis Kubes are like $300-500 so thats pretty cheap as snakes go. Also as an above poster mentioned, that mainland might be $100 or less initially but in the end your talking lots of big rabbits and a 10ft cage for females. I'm sure someone on here knows more then I do but I think a 3lb rabbit is like $7-12.

Of course, personally i dont really dig the super small retics. I like retics in the 8-13ft range which still command tons of respect, you can never allow yourself to forget what the animal is capable of should it choose to.

I totally dont mean to put down your idea of getting a retic, they are very rewarding animals but there is a lot more to consider. It looks like your taking the initiative to ask these questions though .

[Chaoticpythons]

Pretty important points brought up already.

I'd like to add that this is a 10+ year time investment your taking on. So do you have folks that for 10+ years can be there everytime you interact with the animal? This isnt just handling, this is any interaction.

Super Dwarfs that are 100% from Travis Kubes are like $300-500 so thats pretty cheap as snakes go. Also as an above poster mentioned, that mainland might be $100 or less initially but in the end your talking lots of big rabbits and a 10ft cage for females. I'm sure someone on here knows more then I do but I think a 3lb rabbit is like $7-12.

Of course, personally i dont really dig the super small retics. I like retics in the 8-13ft range which still command tons of respect, you can never allow yourself to forget what the animal is capable of should it choose to.

I totally dont mean to put down your idea of getting a retic, they are very rewarding animals but there is a lot more to consider. It looks like your taking the initiative to ask these questions though .

I have people that would be around most the time but over a 10+ year period, there is bound to be time when I am alone. $300-500 isn't bad. I also cannot bring myself to feed rabbits period. It would have to be chickens, rats, quail, or guinea pigs. This would be because I breed Netherland Dwarf rabbits. I love how the big ones look and such 10+ feet. But being a girl who is not even 5 feet. I know that I alone would be no match at all should something ever happen. Not that many people would be. But a bigger person would stand a better chance so to say. The biggest snake I have owned and handled myself was a 7 1/2 foot BCI. Which I have to say I kept myself very much on my toes because she was a big girl. I always try to leave very little room for error. I tried to make sure somebody was always around when I had her out. In case something were to happen. Regardless, I think due to my size and stuff I may be better with a super dwarf. Even though I like the big ones better.

[WarriorPrincess90]

My issue here OP, is that you claim to have all the means to care for a mainland - that is a very expensive animal. Housing over the years, feeding...those things are very costly for an adult retic. Much more so than the difference of a couple hundred bucks for an SD. If you can't afford an SD, you definitely can't afford a mainland. I don't mean to sound brash, but you clearly didn't think that through too well.

I would say to save up for the SD, which in the long run will be much less expensive. Definitely.

Edit: Good choice. The SD makes more sense. It's all the personality at a more manageable size.

[reptileexperts]

*kicks myself in the head* why must Jay continue putting this idea out there . . . its marketing . . . as has been said. The topics been covered I just wanted to drive that home. ITS MARKETING.

If you like big snakes, get a big snake, but don't try and force it to stay small. If you can't properly take care of a big snake, get a small snake and visit a big snake at reptile shows or a friends place when you can.

I have a super dwarf platinum retic girl who is 10' and I just gave her a bath . . . it's a handful and I'm 6'3. Not to mention tomorrow's feeding day so she half expected food when I opened the cage and lunged out a solid 4' from the cage. Retics are a beast of their own, super dwarfs are no exception! Make sure you go visit some adults before starting this venture. I'd suggest picking up a pure superdwarf female. Will get big enough, look nice enough, and will gladly stay on rats its entire life.

[Gio]

Hey OP,

I dig the enthusiasm. I've seen a few of your posts on the RTB forum here. Here's the deal, and again take NO offense because its just advice. Snakes, as you know are very complex animals. More so than most know. The species you are looking at here is IMO one of the most "hands on", full attention required types out there.

I'm not by any means an expert, but,,, at 17, and 17 is not a bad thing, you just can't possibly know where and what you'll be doing 2, 3, 10 years down the road. School, boyfriend/girlfriend, new interests, new hobbies, jobs or lack of work and the possibility that the people that say they'll help you with the snake will not always being there, are all things to consider.

You made some intelligent comments on the RTB forum in regard to the 19 year old that popped up for about a month, then had snake medical issues, money trouble and after several people said "reptile vet", they never posted again. I wonder why??

I'll say this about any snake, or pet in general: IF, you don't have ALL of the means, money, equipment, time, and help to take care of a certain animal, don't get it. Reptile Experts made a great point about going to visit a big snake instead of owning one. It might be the way to go.

Now, after saying all that, you still may be able to go the SD route. The front end expense VS the lesser down the road feeding cost surely balances out.

And $300-$350 (if I read that right) for something like that is a nice deal.

Good luck.

[Bluebonnet Herp]

But I can't handle more then 10-12 feet of snake (I am not even 5').

Good thing there's at least 30 or more species of pythons and boas that are under 10 feet long, amirite? If you really want a retic, you'll find it worth your time to save up some money for the dwarves.

[Expensive hobby]

I fully hope my female gets to be 25', and that's why I got mainlands. I have yellow anacondas for kinda big, boas for smaller snakes, and balls and bloods for even smaller yet. If you want a small snake, stick with the smaller snakes. If you want a monster, get a retic or green annie.


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[schoch79]

I hate to put this out there, and in no way am suggesting it is ok, but in situations like this I wonder how many people keep knives or whatever near when they handle their large snakes alone. Not that anyone would ever want to harm their pet but when it would come down to them or the snake the answer would be obvious. Again I'm not suggesting that it is ok, nor do I or would I own a large snake unless I could get someone else to be there with me to handle it. Just kinda putting it out there as I'm sure it happens more than people would like to say. On that note the pet store I frequent recently stopped buying from one of their local breeders because, long story short, word got to the pet store that the breeder got bit and wrapped up (to an unknown extent to me....possibly just his arm) by one of his larger boas and he ended up slamming the boa against the wall a few times until he thought it was dead....well it turns out it never did die. Sorry for dragging that out but I just thought it was worth mentioning the mentality of some snake keepers.

[Expensive hobby]

I hate to put this out there, and in no way am suggesting it is ok, but in situations like this I wonder how many people keep knives or whatever near when they handle their large snakes alone. Not that anyone would ever want to harm their pet but when it would come down to them or the snake the answer would be obvious. Again I'm not suggesting that it is ok, nor do I or would I own a large snake unless I could get someone else to be there with me to handle it. Just kinda putting it out there as I'm sure it happens more than people would like to say. On that note the pet store I frequent recently stopped buying from one of their local breeders because, long story short, word got to the pet store that the breeder got bit and wrapped up (to an unknown extent to me....possibly just his arm) by one of his larger boas and he ended up slamming the boa against the wall a few times until he thought it was dead....well it turns out it never did die. Sorry for dragging that out but I just thought it was worth mentioning the mentality of some snake keepers.

He did that with a boa?? I don't think even my biggest girl could cause me a big enough problem where I would have to physically harm her. Now maybe my biggest anaconda, ya, she's capable, but I only solo handle her, not home alone. Always someone capable in the house...


I like my Dubstep to go Wop Wop Wop Wop