Opinions on housing a pair of large pythons in a VERY large cage?

[AK4900PA]

The problem with a cage that size is that it is very hard to maintain heat and humidity.

If you are just wanting to get one, why not start with a male. A male of either species can reach 10 -14 feet with a respectable feeding schedule.

Humidity may be an issue, but the cage would be built into a dedicated herp room which is kept at 78-80 degrees so heating shouldn't require much more than a few heat lamps and maybe a large heat mat in the floor.

I mentioned a few times that I would be getting a male. Seeing as how breeding isn't really in my plans for this, if I did decide to get a second large python I may just get another male. I believe that by the time I actually get around to doing all this I will be plenty ready for a potentially 18ft, 150lb snake, but a potentially 28ft, 300lb snake is a whole different story! I take my snakes out of their cages at least once, usually 2-3times, a week. I would feel comfortable with a male, but I'm not sure I would feel to safe taking out a 200+ pound female all by myself and I don't have many friends willing to help on a regular basis.

Like I said before, since this will be purely a display animal/pet I'm pretty confident that I will be more than happy with just a single specimen. I was just curious so I figured I'd get some opinions. At this point I'm leaning towards a male tiger retic. I know they are not known for having quite the sunny disposition that the burms tend to have, but I really like the look of them and since I plan on a fairly tall enclosure with some large climbing branches I'd like a snake that will actually make use of them. I haven't seen a whole lot of tree climbing burms!

[joepythons]

Humidity may be an issue, but the cage would be built into a dedicated herp room which is kept at 78-80 degrees so heating shouldn't require much more than a few heat lamps and maybe a large heat mat in the floor.

I mentioned a few times that I would be getting a male. Seeing as how breeding isn't really in my plans for this, if I did decide to get a second large python I may just get another male. I believe that by the time I actually get around to doing all this I will be plenty ready for a potentially 18ft, 150lb snake, but a potentially 28ft, 300lb snake is a whole different story! I take my snakes out of their cages at least once, usually 2-3times, a week. I would feel comfortable with a male, but I'm not sure I would feel to safe taking out a 200+ pound female all by myself and I don't have many friends willing to help on a regular basis.

Like I said before, since this will be purely a display animal/pet I'm pretty confident that I will be more than happy with just a single specimen. I was just curious so I figured I'd get some opinions. At this point I'm leaning towards a male tiger retic. I know they are not known for having quite the sunny disposition that the burms tend to have, but I really like the look of them and since I plan on a fairly tall enclosure with some large climbing branches I'd like a snake that will actually make use of them. I haven't seen a whole lot of tree climbing burms!

I wish more people would THINK ahead when they are interested in any large snake like you are doing here .Hey maybe by the time you want to get one you will be able to buy dwarf tiger retics or such .

[AK4900PA]

Please don't breed burms. We have too many in rescues already that were dumped off on unsuspecting or even unexperienced people. If you love the species, don't breed them.

I had thought of that before also. I don't think retics are that far behind them either as far as being abandoned. I was just looking at a reptile rescue site the other day and they actually had a male tiger retic up for adoption. I would have jumped on that in a heartbeat, but I want to make sure I have EVERYTHING set up and ready to go before I even start looking at babies. I'm really not interested in breeding retics or burms I just love the look and size of them. I'm currently putting together a very nice collection of BCI morphs that I will be breeding, but they are mostly going to be pets also. The main reason I am breeding them is because it is the only way I'll ever afford my rediculously expensive taste in morphs! If I can make enough extra cash to pay for all the cages, rats, vet bills, etc. that would be awesome too!

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Agreed about retics. I will probably get flamed for this too but I'll say it. I don't like the idea of people breeding retics either. They are soon to be where burms are as you said, not to mention they are bred far more commonly and are prone to being nippy as babies. If you think about it, there aren't thousands and thousands of people than can care for adult retics, there are at least that many being born each year! I'd probably go for a monitor of some sort instead of a giant python personally if I had that kind of room. Make sure you get up pics soon though. I plan to get a pair of green tree monitors that will be in a giant cage as well.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I wish more people would THINK ahead when they are interested in any large snake like you are doing here .Hey maybe by the time you want to get one you will be able to buy dwarf tiger retics or such .

You already can, they just aren't as small by the time they get done crossing them all with mainland morphs.

[AK4900PA]

I wish more people would THINK ahead when they are interested in any large snake like you are doing here .Hey maybe by the time you want to get one you will be able to buy dwarf tiger retics or such .

Thank you. I've wanted an albino burmese python since I was a little kid. I just got into the retics a year or so ago, but I'm well aware that owning a snake of this size and power is definitely NOT a decision to be taken lightly. I could buy a dwarf tiger no problem (bob clark has them for $750). I just don't really see the point of them unless it was a female. In the case of a female retic I would definitely consider a dwarf, but I want something that is going to get up around 15' or so, so a dwarf male would probably be a little smaller than I'd like. I think a male mainland retic or burmese should end up at right around the size I'm looking for (at least 12ft, but no more than 20ft).

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Even most dwarfs females will get about 15' over time, especially if you get a dwarf tiger of some sort since they aren't pure dwarf blood.

[joepythons]

You already can, they just aren't as small by the time they get done crossing them all with mainland morphs.

I know you can buy them now i was just refering to when he is ready.If you know the correct people you can buy true dwarfs and not mixbreeds.

[AK4900PA]

Even most dwarfs females will get about 15' over time, especially if you get a dwarf tiger of some sort since they aren't pure dwarf blood.

If I'm only looking for a single animal the dwarfs don't really make sense for me. I could get a male tiger for $200 or a female dwarf tiger for $750 and they both grow to a similiar size. Not really worth the extra money.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I know you can buy them now i was just refering to when he is ready.If you know the correct people you can buy true dwarfs and not mixbreeds.

But as far as I know, there are no tigers that are pure dwarf. Tiger is only a mainland morph correct?