Just curious.....what do you do with these big snakes?

[reptileexperts]

An 8x3x2 ft enclosure is more than adequate for even the largest retic. If given more space aggression usually becomes an issue as they begin to feel more threatened and stressed.


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[artgecko]

This is very OT (sorry original poster), but reptileexperts- Do you think if retics were given large hides within a larger enclosure, that would help reduce aggression / defensiveness in large spaces? I've seen this topic come up so many times on FB groups it has made me wonder if they simply need a super-size hide.

[bcr229]

This is very OT (sorry original poster), but reptileexperts- Do you think if retics were given large hides within a larger enclosure, that would help reduce aggression / defensiveness in large spaces? I've seen this topic come up so many times on FB groups it has made me wonder if they simply need a super-size hide.

While I realize that the plural of anecdote is not data, I have a nine foot two year old purple male rattling around in a 96"x30"x18" enclosure. His prior owner had him in a 48"x30"x18" and he was fine in it.

I make hides for my larger snakes from plastic restaurant bus tubs, and he has one. He's also not aggressive or defensive in the least. All of my larger snakes do use their hides regularly.

[artgecko]

Great info Bcr! I've often wondered if the increased aggression / defensive behavior in a larger cage simply meant that they needed a hide so that they felt comfortable. I guess you would need to do an "experiment" by putting a hide in with an animal that became cage defensive when put into a larger viv and see if it helped to really see if it makes a difference.

[Alexiel03]

This is very OT (sorry original poster), but reptileexperts- Do you think if retics were given large hides within a larger enclosure, that would help reduce aggression / defensiveness in large spaces? I've seen this topic come up so many times on FB groups it has made me wonder if they simply need a super-size hide.

in my experience with my 11ft male retic, i had him in an 8x3x2 and he did just fine, i have tried giving him a hide but he became more cage aggressive with it in there, he would go into a strike position when i opened his enclosure while he was in the hide and had a couple times where he struck as the door was opening. i took the hide back out and had no further problems after that. some may like hides but in my experience i dont have a hide in the enclosure when they reach a certain size. the cage he was in had good privacy with 2 small windows and no lights and i havent had any problems without a hide in there with him, and when i had my burms in the same kind of cages without hides, they had little to no aggression, my big female burm (12+ft)had never been aggressive in that enclosure. but i guess it really depends on the animal itself if they need a hide or not.

[pbyeerts]

Thanks for your replies - fascinating info.......


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[reptileexperts]

Yeah, hides are hit or miss and all about individual snakes. Just like cage size CAN be correlated to individuals versus the idea as a whole. But these people who claim they need rooms - well that's nice to look at, and sounds good on paper to places like PETA maybe, but in actuality its just not a needed thing - and can be a bad thing.

I've seen people put 10' snakes in a 6x3x2 and it refuses to eat and has aggression. They moved it back to a 4x2x2 no aggression and pounds food normally.

I have a 8' Jampea Goldenchild in a 6x3x2 and he does absolutely fine eating, pooping, shedding, no increased aggression.

$0.02

[pbyeerts]

Setting the possibility aside, do the big guys have as much personality as the BP? Our Ginny is such a sweet girl.

[pbyeerts]

Last question - what do you feed big pythons? Rabbits?

[PassionFruitReptiles]

Rabbits, chickens, ducks, lambs, large guinea pigs and piglets were the main food sources for my large constrictors.