Thinking of getting a retic

[Swingline0.0.1]

Ever since our trip to Ben Renick's facility and seeing all his gorgeous snakes, we've really been wanting a retic. Actually, the one in my avatar is the one my wife really wants (hint, hint, Ben!)...

Everything I've read says they are an advanced snake, and all we have is the one BP.

Questions for the experienced giant owners:

What exactly is it that makes a retic more difficult than a burm?

What are some of the difficulties in general of having a giant? (Ben told me a little about musking... )

Any other information about having them, handling them, etc. is welcome!

[CeraDigital]

Difficulties....

Compared to a Burm, Retics are considered smarter, faster, etc. They grow at a more rapid rate. Their intelligence is out of this world. Clean-up is a big deal. These snakes can really go!

Ontop of that, feeding response! Feeding response is what makes these snakes somewhat difficult, and dangerous to keep. They could be the most docile snake in the world, but once they flip into feeding mode, normally anything that moves is considered prey...

I couldn't help you too much when it comes to Retics. Thats more of Ben, and Kara's deal...

[Ben_Renick]

As far as Retics being advanced, I would say so mainly for like what Drew said with the feeding response, fast acting movements, and of course overall size. As for musking, I doubt you'll have too much to worry about, the only Retics I've ever been musked on by were Super Dwarves.

There are a lot of things to consider with owning large snakes, for one, time... Takes a lot longer to clean an 8' cage vs a 41 qt ball tub... Space can be an issue for a lot of people as well...

I don't own burms anymore, but I overally found out I liked Retics more... I don't know what it was about burms, they just hissed at me too much.

Overall, I found Retics to be rewarding to own though... They are a lot of fun...

[K80tik]

im not no expert but i do give my 2 cents. only expert im at is shooting rifles and firing missiles anyways.
my "experience" is that giants are great! i got a burm who i love to death. like stated earlier burms are different then retics. everyone i know who has a retic says they are beautiful and magnificent, but they can be pretty aggressive. all my friends who tend retics say they would be considered the more aggressive of the giant species. all i know from handling retics from babys all the way up to 16 feet is, WOW their eyes and pattern is so awesome, but their attitudes are not the nicest! every single one was disturbed at any movement and was striking. dont believe all that junk on national geographic about retics. not THAT bad as they say. they just need more patients and time to work with to try and settle them down a bit.
only other thing is.... buy a dust pan and a small broom just for urates/ poop HAHAHA... my burm came out of shed and left a poop/urate mix bigger then my labrador! YUCK! but i love her and she's my favorite out of all of my snakes... i would buy a retic, only if i had the space and a few $$$ for the cage i'd have to build. they do grow fast! be prepared to spend quite a few more bucks for food as well. dont know how much you have handled giants, especially retics, but if you can i'd find a few pet stores or friends or whoever who has retics/ burms at 10+ plus and get a feel for what its like.

[K80tik]

I don't know what it was about burms, they just hissed at me too much.

HAHAHA i feel ya! jesus, burms love to hiss and its not a little hiss. its loud and long! once she is out the tank, all is fine. but when im in her home trying to pull her out its a constant hiss, accompanied by fast movements and more hissing! not a retic owner, just handled a few. but retics dont hiss? never had one hiss on me before but i was just wondering.

[Ben_Renick]

Retics can hiss, but man, I've never had one hiss at me like a burm would. But then again, I had a lot of meany burms. lol.

[K80tik]

hell yeah, the 1st time i went to grab her, she hissed so loud i jumped back and was like what the hell?! it was like me going to grab a snake thinking its a constrictor and then hearing a rattle going. AHHH RATTLESNAKE! lol but burms do make alot of noises. i'm about to take my burm to the vet next week. im taking her twice a month for 3 months to make sure all is well. every night i hear a YACK or like she's spitting or something. she doesnt drool or have bubbles or have any signs of a RI or IBD. it still troubles me. went to vet already and the dude said she's fine. but im going back again for a culture. she doesnt show any other signs, but still got me worried. so im going again. but any who HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Swingline0.0.1]

So as long as I:

a) Don't get constricted, and
b) Buy an industrial sized pooper scooper

I should be ok?

Do you guys think having a giant smart snake is better than having a big dumb one? I mean, on the one hand the smart one might be able to better discern that I'm NOT food, but on the other hand it might use that extra bit of smarts to plot against me...

Does anyone have any retics that are always nice? Is it more that they don't like to be messed with when you're cleaning?

Anybody's that like to be handled? Can most of you handle them frequently?

[K80tik]

oh man ben! bro i checked your site. awesome! i was reading about the yellow condas and you said more on the manageable side. whats a common size in yellow condas? i think condas are so beautiful, but ya know.. the common TV makes condas the worst of all snakes! ill get one when i can accomidate it but doing my research now. what did that yellow conda sell for on your site? just wondering so i can save. i'd like to buy one in very near future. *cough 2 months for taxs cough* i've handled a couple. im gonna do my research before though. i have a burm so im used to /learning the giants. i know condas dont get that big in length but are the heaviest.

[K80tik]

So as long as I:

a) Don't get constricted, and
b) Buy an industrial sized pooper scooper

I should be ok?

Do you guys think having a giant smart snake is better than having a big dumb one? I mean, on the one hand the smart one might be able to better discern that I'm NOT food, but on the other hand it might use that extra bit of smarts to plot against me...

Does anyone have any retics that are always nice? Is it more that they don't like to be messed with when you're cleaning?

Anybody's that like to be handled? Can most of you handle them frequently?

eh a and b are awesome! um im out the question for the tics though bens gonna have to answer those

oh you can handle all of them. just they arent as docile. i mean tics are smarter and faster but they dont strike for food * i believe * more of a "get away"