Retics

[bcr229]

Wow! This thread has been so interesting. I'm happy having 1 low maintenance normal ball python but think it's totally amazing that people keep rectics! From reading your description it sounds like they require a confident and clever owner who can handle them, I admire your knowledge and experience. You must have the patience of a saint lol ... 2x a week full enclosure clean wow

How big is/was your largest?! And through all the hard work is it totally worth keeping them? Did you ever get a bad bite? Sorry I'm just so curious about the giants.

My husband helps and we take turns on who cleans versus holds the snake or takes it outside if the weather permits - unless it's a really big mess, then it's who gets to clean the enclosure versus who gives the snake a bath.

Never been bit once they're past the baby nippiness. For feeding the adults we always have both of us present and we use three foot long field tongs to offer the f/t rabbits so we can stay well out of the way.

While the pure SD's are manageable, I would not keep a mainland retic as a single person.

ETA: for the OP, I was unaware of Ohio's laws. I would sell the two babies if they are mainlands, and get a pure or high-percentage super dwarf so as not to hit the 12 foot size limit. I looked into the cost of that type of liability insurance when WV was considering changing its law to require it, the cheapest quote I found was $1000 per year for the premium.