Snakes

[Randy]

hey there.. i just got into the snake keeping hobby and i can be considered a newby towards snakes.. i bought one python today but not quite sure what species is that.. if anyone can help me id this snake..

any other information would be appreciated as well..thanks in advance!!

 

[Randolph XX()]

riticulated python

 

[TroyMcClureOG82]

That's quite the snake for a beginner. HUGE and AGGRESIVE

 

[Randy]

can u guys tell me more ? do u often handle them ? do u wear any protective gear?(gloves etc..) does it usually roam around the tank and how often do you feed it? it was still shedding its skin when i got it..

 

[Randy]

also any specific care for this species ?

 

[Crotalus]

You just bought a Python reticulatus, as adult it can reach a length of 10 meters, around 30 feet.
Most snakes of this species are highly defensive, bites hard and very difficult to manage (impossible when it reach around 5-6 m on your own). You need a spare room of good size to proper house such a snake, and feed it with piglets, rabbits, lamb etc.
This is not a good beginner snake at all.

Return the snake, get your money back and buy a book on snakes and figure out what kind you get interested in and suitable for beginners before you thinking of getting another snake. I´d recommend a corn snake, Elaphe guttatus, before you start with pythons.

/Lelle

 

[Lasiodora]

I agree with Lelle. The pair of retics at our local zoo are 21ft adults. They get fed 30-40lb pigs and require at least 5-6 people to move them one at a time if it is required. Unless you know someone who has extensive experience with these snakes and can work with you on learning how to keep such an impressive animal, I would not keep it.

Take a look at one of the females that used to be on exhibit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2504719.stm
Mike

 

[Iktomi]

I agree wholeheartedly. I am not a beginner to snakes, and I don't want a retic. Basically, if you don't have TONS of snake experience, you could easily end up on the news with a bad boy like this. I'm very sorry to burst your bubble, but if I were you and you want a "big" snake, go get a boa. They can get pretty big. (Though not in comparison to what you have currently.)

 

[Randy]

they were given to me by a friend.. so there's no one to return to! LOL! guess i would have to give it up to someone experienced!

 

[Randolph XX()]

that one is as mean as Lelle described...a 2 metre one can nail a guinea pig for sure...

 

[Randy]

but from what i heard, is it true that it can be tamed ?

 

[pategirl]

Snakes merely tolerate being held and things by people. Even if it was "tame", a snake that reaches that size would be hard to manage. I agree with Lelle.

 

[Snakeorama]

LOL...the orange eyes are the most obvious giveaway that what you are attempting to raise as a "pet" is a retic python..beautifal snake, but in my opinion quite foolish to obtain a snake you no nothing about, and considering this is the largest species of snake in the world, one day he might have you for breakfast. (and i am not lying)...that was very cruel to the animal for you to take it in without even knowing what species it is! no offense or anything, but i would take this snake to every place possible to get rid of her. i feel sorry for the little guy, if only you lived close to me, my rescue could take her in. good luck in finding a retic a home.

 

[Washout]

I'm sorry but I find this extremely funny. Probably the worst first snake you could ever own. I think having this is probably worse then going for a cobra or something, just because it will reach such a crazy huge size. I thought my cousin was kind of screwed when he bought a RTB not knowing how big it would get..

 

[Archangel]

Yea, at least a cobra can be deglaned to make it a bit safer. You can't chop a retic down to 3 or 4 feet to make it more managable.

 

[Randy]

anyway seems u guys say its so not proper to have this as a beginner snake, i think i'd just let it go into the wild dense forest, what do u guys think ?

 

[MeteoRa]

nice 1 Randy.......

 

[Crotalus]

anyway seems u guys say its so not proper to have this as a beginner snake, i think i'd just let it go into the wild dense forest, what do u guys think ?

If its recently been captured you could let it go, but if its been in captivity for a longer period you shouldnt set it free cos it could have bacteria/virus that can do harm on the wild population.
Try find a animal shelter of some kind that accept snakes.

Washout & hjlantern: you must be joking about this is worse then a cobra as a first snake. If not... oh my. A bite from a large retic is a serious matter, you get severe laceration but a hit from a cobra makes you go into a life support machine at your nearest hospital. If no serum available you most likely die.
Still think its worse?

/Lelle

 

[Randy]

instead of telling me to give up, why dun u guys tell me how/what should i actually do to keep it and/or make it happy and still keep myself safe .. ?

 

[pategirl]

Instead of getting an animal you knew nothing about, why didn't you research it first? It's not fair to such an animal to be in the care of someone with no experience with snakes. Are there other people in your household? Can you devote space the equivalent to a room to the animal? Can you afford the larger prey items it will consume? I'm not trying to be rude, but it's not a good idea to take an animal on that you haven't researched, especially one that gets that large.