SD Retic

[jmcrook]

Sticking with boas or carpets isn't a bad idea. I actually find them easy and rewarding. My retic displays a bit better and is more fun to watch in the cage. But my boa and carpet are fairly active in the evening.

I wouldn't consider a dwarf retic small or anything "easy" to keep or handle. For instance, this is my SD x Dwarf X Mainland Tiger's spec sheet.



He doesn't have a huge percentage of SD or dwarf separately in his genes, but combined the dwarf and SD make him only 18% mainland. On paper he should be a smaller snake since he's male. The male/female sexual size dimorphism concept doesn't always apply or work out the way people imagine. There are male mainland animals that are 18 feet long.

Wallace will be 3 years old the first of June. As I stated earlier in the original post, he is larger than I was anticipating and I really would like to see his growth slow to a trickle soon.

This was a few months ago and he's grown since the photo surprisingly, longer and much thicker. While not huge or even big by retic standards, folks that are looking at SD X dwarf crosses should think hard about their potential size and plan for it.




I'd say by now Wallace is 9 to 10 feet. He's nice and lean and much larger than he is in these photos. I usually feed every 3 weeks and the meals are not larger than a large rat or quail. He still grows even with moderate feeding levels.

This is NOT a lap snake. He's very active, relatively strong and somewhat irritating to handle. I will let him go over my shoulders and the back of my neck occasionally but I don't like him up by my neck when I'm solo and I never let him get even a loose loop by my neck. I'm not small and I'm very capable of taking care of myself, but snakes don't always broadcast their intentions. A little slip, or a bout of nerves and they can tighten up quickly. It's something you have to be ready for.

He's not a bad snake, I'm just reiterating what others have said here about their activity levels and handling characteristics. They like to move generally and the larger they are the more involved the handling gets.

This is the latest photo I have of him. The cage is 6' wide 30" deep and 2' tall. He's wrapped and spread out on the top perch system so you can't really see his length.



If you have a passion for one of these go for it, but if you are on the fence stick with your boas, they are fantastic snakes.

Very well said, Gio!

I still have a deep appreciation for retics, but I must say mine were the combined equivalent of caring for probably a dozen boas. NOT a lap snake by any measure.

OP, I’d turn my back for two seconds cleaning cages and find the big girl (pure SD and still hit 10’ in under three years) tearing the blinds from the windows, knocking pictures off the wall, climbing my bookshelf... they’re an all attention all the time snake when handling. And don’t get me started about the amount of cleaning they required. Piss about every other day, would paint the walls with excrement, tear the cage apart regularly. Also, do some serious research into their “pushing” habits. NO. FUN. AT. ALL.

Amazing snakes, but I may have just been dealt the wrong hand in terms of high maintenance animals. I still love the species but for me, for now, I’m finding much more enjoyment from boas. Much more laid back so far, though my Argentine is a mouthy little thing when I first get her out hah!

I sincerely hope not to come across as discouraging. I just feel that folks interested in retics should know as much as possible, both good and bad, before taking the plunge. Cheers!


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