Housing for Male Retic?

[A_Kap]

I'm a bit confused on what the acceptable dimensions would be for an adult male mainland retic. Some people have told me a 6'x2' is the bare minimum while others recommend the 4'x2' vision 400 enclosures. I can buy that being acceptable because although retics get long, they're not as heavily built as other large boids. I'd love to use the vision 400 obviously but I'm more inclined to go for the 6'x2'. Thanks for your answers!

[reptileexperts]

I have an adult white albino male het genetic stripe that is around 9 ft, housed in a Vision 400 just fine.

I have a 50% Jampea dwarf Goldenchild het albino adult male that is around 10 ft and he was housed in a V600 up until last week when he started getting too excited about breeding and began thrashing around too much in his cage trying to escape, leading to cutting his back. I moved him into a V400, and he's calmed WAY down and now sits in a coil, and stretches as needed.

It's up to the individual keeper what they use. And it also depends on how large your male will get. While many males can start content and breedable / healthy in the 8-10' region. Some mainland males can exceed this by a large fold reaching 14-16'. These larger males will require a V600. Where yours caps off at is what ultimately will be the final deciding factor. My V600's currently only house my females and at the moment 1 male that is 50% SD (yet my largest male at 11' HAH).

Hope this gives you some guidance. If you want some pics, let me know and I'll try and snap some when I clean today or tomorrow.

[A_Kap]

Ok. Thank you for the information! Does feeding typically effect the size they can grow to as adults or does it only slow/speed it up? Also I will be getting a baby male so I had some concerns about either starting it out in a tub or in a 20 gallon glass terrarium. The problem is that I'm afraid using a UTH will melt the plastic even with a thermometer controlling it. I've modified the 20 gallon terrarium by wrapping plastic around the screen lid that it comes with to keep in humidity/heat but I'm afraid it won't get as much circulation compared to the tub where I can just drill holes into the side without losing too much heat.

[bcr229]

My platinum tiger male breeder is up to 13' now. He's in an 8'x30"x18" enclosure but could fit in a six footer. A 4x2 would be way too small.

No matter what size you get, make sure it is very secure.

For a baby I would go with a tub over a tank, a properly-regulated UTH won't melt the plastic.

[A_Kap]

A 4'x2' Too small? Reptileexperts says he houses his adult male in a vision 400 just fine

[A_Kap]

Also would the plastic wrap on the screen lid of the 20 gallon terrarium work as a last resort?

[bcr229]

A 4'x2' Too small? Reptileexperts says he houses his adult male in a vision 400 just fine

There is a difference not only in length but also in thickness between a 10 foot long 50% jampea dwarf GC male and a 13 foot long mainland male. If my adult mainland male were in a 4' enclosure he would never be able to move away from the warm side.

[A_Kap]

"I have an adult white albino male het genetic stripe that is around 9 ft, housed in a Vision 400 just fine."

^I think he meant a mainland but I didn't know there was a noticeable difference in their thickness. I'm trying to look for inexpensive dwarves but I'm coming up empty.

Anyway, I'm going with the 4'x2' when he's ready and I'll make the proper accommodations if needed. Hoping that v400 lasts though.

Thank you for your help!

[reptileexperts]

There isn't... A mainland and dwarf male will have the same thickness. Males can get obese quick though since much of their metabolism does not go toward length addition. I stand by my statement. A 13 ft male though is a big difference between a 10'. And yes my 9' is mostly mainland with a touch of dwarf genes in there. Sorry haven't been monitoring this thread to close so there are delays.

A 4x2 is very manageable for mainland males pending they do not get obese. And pending they are not grown to larger than normal lengths. Paul, the retic keeper, also houses most of his males in v400, Shane with SCconstrictors also uses these setups for his males. But there will be size exceptions...


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