First large constrictor?

[JoshSloane]

I think you will find that frequently on this forum that the OP actually ends up taking a back seat in the discussion, or gets bored and stops responding.

I think my main point for this thread is to warn people against making the decision on purchasing their next snake based on what is 'next up' size wise. I feel it has become an unintended circumstance of internet fourms like this one that propagate the notion that BPs and colubrids are starter snakes, and that retics and burms are only for a select few, with all other snakes falling somewhere in the spectrum between.

Boas are wonderful animals, and I love mine to death. Yet I still dont think one should buy a boa, and negate a retic or burm, just because a boa is bigger than a BP and stays smaller than retics.

[Rob]

I would agree with Josh for the most part, choosing a snake just because it's the next snake up on the size chart isn't always the way to do it. But that being said, I do think retics and the larger snakes are going to attract a smaller demographic than most other snakes. So I would say they are in a sense for a select few. There's just not as many people willing or have the means to keep 15-20 foot snakes as there are people willing to keep smaller ones. As we know they require a lot more ummm everything, they are not cheap to keep. Besides the initial investment of the snake. Everything bigger means bigger $$$ Bigger caging, bigger prey items, bigger tools of the trade, I go through more F10/cleaning materials than I can count. Bigger snakes, bigger responsibility all the way around. Now all that being said, I'm obviously not trying to talk the OP or anyone else out of getting into retics. They are to me anyway, the most rewarding animal you can keep. You just need to consider everything that comes with keeping them, and if you still want to get into them I'm sure it will be an awesome experience and the retic will quickly become your favorite snake.

Now if you read all that let me pounce on this cheap opportunity to share a pic of one of my gals

How could you not want to keep one??



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[BWB]

Are there not laws concerning the size of snake that you are allowed to keep, as well? Here, in Nova Scotia, there is a vague written law that a snake cannot be bigger than 9 feet (I believe that is what it states). I'm not sure who enforces it, probably Natural Resources. Most people around here are terrified of all snakes - evacuating a floor of an apartment building because a ball python escaped! But also, in our neighboring province, two little boys were killed by a Rock Python a couple years ago. To most people a snake = a snake, big, scary,killer, etc. When people see my 62 gm JCP they are amazed that snakes are ever that small. To me, my Hog Island will be as big as I want to deal with (try putting that 4 foot buggar back in his enclosure when he's not done exploring - brat!). I also can't afford much more space for big snakes.

[JoshSloane]

Are there not laws concerning the size of snake that you are allowed to keep, as well? Here, in Nova Scotia, there is a vague written law that a snake cannot be bigger than 9 feet (I believe that is what it states). I'm not sure who enforces it, probably Natural Resources. Most people around here are terrified of all snakes - evacuating a floor of an apartment building because a ball python escaped! But also, in our neighboring province, two little boys were killed by a Rock Python a couple years ago. To most people a snake = a snake, big, scary,killer, etc. When people see my 62 gm JCP they are amazed that snakes are ever that small. To me, my Hog Island will be as big as I want to deal with (try putting that 4 foot buggar back in his enclosure when he's not done exploring - brat!). I also can't afford much more space for big snakes.

Sorry to hear about the laws in your area. In the US, most of us at least, are attempting to keep big government out of our homes and out of the decisions that we make. There are already ludicrous laws regarding the transport of various large species across state lines, and some local ordinances are popping up here and there. However, on a whole, no there arent laws in most places regulating the size of snake can be kept. A few areas have licensing and other restrictions, but as a whole size is currently not an issue.

[bcr229]

Are there not laws concerning the size of snake that you are allowed to keep, as well? Here, in Nova Scotia, there is a vague written law that a snake cannot be bigger than 9 feet (I believe that is what it states). I'm not sure who enforces it, probably Natural Resources. Most people around here are terrified of all snakes - evacuating a floor of an apartment building because a ball python escaped! But also, in our neighboring province, two little boys were killed by a Rock Python a couple years ago. To most people a snake = a snake, big, scary,killer, etc. When people see my 62 gm JCP they are amazed that snakes are ever that small. To me, my Hog Island will be as big as I want to deal with (try putting that 4 foot buggar back in his enclosure when he's not done exploring - brat!). I also can't afford much more space for big snakes.

IIRC the rock pythons in that incident were eventually exonerated.

Also I'd rather deal with a ten foot snake that's chill than a five footer that wants to tag me every chance it gets.

[Andylee11]

I would agree with Josh for the most part, choosing a snake just because it's the next snake up on the size chart isn't always the way to do it. But that being said, I do think retics and the larger snakes are going to attract a smaller demographic than most other snakes. So I would say they are in a sense for a select few. There's just not as many people willing or have the means to keep 15-20 foot snakes as there are people willing to keep smaller ones. As we know they require a lot more ummm everything, they are not cheap to keep. Besides the initial investment of the snake. Everything bigger means bigger $$$ Bigger caging, bigger prey items, bigger tools of the trade, I go through more F10/cleaning materials than I can count. Bigger snakes, bigger responsibility all the way around. Now all that being said, I'm obviously not trying to talk the OP or anyone else out of getting into retics. They are to me anyway, the most rewarding animal you can keep. You just need to consider everything that comes with keeping them, and if you still want to get into them I'm sure it will be an awesome experience and the retic will quickly become your favorite snake.

Now if you read all that let me pounce on this cheap opportunity to share a pic of one of my gals

How could you not want to keep one??



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im guna pounce with you man . Nice ivory ,)

[Rob]

im guna pounce with you man . Nice ivory ,)

Nice!
Lol this thread is going all over the place, I don't think the OP would mind. I could talk retics all day.


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[Yodawagon]

I trust my retic more then my ball. Just saying.

[JoshSloane]

My male retic and male burm are a breeze. Female retic strikes the front of the tub, but is a puppy once you let her know food isnt coming.