Your thoughts on Dwarf and SD retics?

[Sauzo]

If you think that snake is big take a look at this video. It will make you think twice before getting a full blooded Mainland retic. It's one of the reasons I've decided to stick with Dwarf and Super Dwarf retics, my 50% dwarf may get as big as 100 pounds at the end of her life but no where near the size of this beast.

That snake, Twinkie, is freakin morbidly obese. Look at how the tail looks so thin while the rest of him looks like a stuffed sausage. It's like the tail was cut off a smaller snake and glued onto that huge snake. A snakes tail should be in proportion to its body.

[Gio]

That snake, Twinkie, is freakin morbidly obese. Look at how the tail looks so thin while the rest of him looks like a stuffed sausage. It's like the tail was cut off a smaller snake and glued onto that huge snake. A snakes tail should be in proportion to its body.

Absolutely correct!

That snake is in terrible condition, and has been pushed for growth. There is nothing impressive or healthy about that animal.

Seeing it is actually sad and if it isn't dead already it will be soon.

I mentioned in my initial post that a lot of the keepers in the UK. feel we tend to over feed here.

I think generally most snakes in captivity are fed rather generously, which isn't necessarily good or bad, but it can waiver toward bad quickly.

There are some wild type retics that are huge but look nothing like that Twinkie.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ew-record.html

A reticulated python should be lean, very muscular, and agile. It should be able to move gracefully through ground cover and have the ability to climb about anything.

They are said to be the "KINGS" of the constrictors. I don't believe that title is given just based on length alone.

This is pretty telling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Aze5pRETgM

Back to topic.
A male, pure SD or even a male SD X D with a touch of mainland, in most cases will be a very good keep.

Some mainland animals are not huge at all. Not every BCC boa constrictor is 10-12 feet. Some may get that big but most don't . Not every retic be it male or female is a sure thing to be giant.

Find the right breeder, ask the right questions and buy what's right for you.

As Sauzo stated, and I'll echo it; "I didn't want a snake that was going to be 10 feet long." I think 9-10" is doable if the snake stays on the lean side which is a characteristic of SDs and dwarves.

JMcrook's perfect SD beauty.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...heavy-)/page49

Well raised animal IMO. No fat, lean and long. Not too long though. Female SD!

Good luck!