Reticulated Python or Burmese Python?

[Wiggles92]

As the title states, do you think that I should go with a reticulated python or a burmese python? Regardless of the species, I'm going with a morph of some sort rather than just getting a snake with normal coloration.

For the record:
Yes, I do realize that both species can easily hit 10' or more in their first year of life and have the potential to get huge. I am willing to provide the snake with appropriate housing, food, etc., and I planned on regularly handling it to keep it from being overly aggressive. I do realize that either species has the potential to do some real harm to myself and others when it gets larger, so necessary precautions will be taken to prevent it from escaping its enclosure. I have experience with some smaller aggressive snakes such as northern water snakes, so I'm not completely new to snakes with a bad temper (although I wish to keep this one fairly docile, if at all possible).

I have already read a decent bit about the care, natural history, feeding, handling, etc. of both species, but I am always willing to learn more so any and all advice is appreciated.

 

[brooklynboy521]

It depends, I don't have either but from what I have heard Retics are extremely smart and you have to be careful if an adult gets a hold of you. Burms bite a lot when younger but seem to mellow out like most snakes do with age. Personally I would get the burm but as you previously stated you were looking into trying rare morphs so a retic may be the right choice for you. The care for both is similer and it is really just personal preference.

 

[Mavrick813]

Without knowing what other Snakes you've cared for, and or currently care for, Your age, and experience I couldn't honestly recommend either of them to you. Mike

 

[Wiggles92]

It depends, I don't have either but from what I have heard Retics are extremely smart and you have to be careful if an adult gets a hold of you. Burms bite a lot when younger but seem to mellow out like most snakes do with age. Personally I would get the burm but as you previously stated you were looking into trying rare morphs so a retic may be the right choice for you. The care for both is similer and it is really just personal preference.

Thanks for the bit about the retic's intelligence and the burm's aggressive behavior as a young snake.

As far as morphs go, I like pretty much all of the morphs that are out there for both species, but the burm morphs seem to be much more affordable in comparison to the retic morphs so that may play a factor in my choice. As of now, I don't plan on breeding it, so hets with normal coloration are out.

Without knowing what other Snakes you've cared for, and or currently care for, Your age, and experience I couldn't honestly recommend either of them to you. Mike

I'll be 19 in June, and I graduated high school two years ago, so I can guarantee that I'm not going to be careless when it comes to doing my research, caring for it, etc.

This will be my first large constrictor, but I have kept smaller aggressive snakes in the 6' to 8' range as previously noted. I also have a family friend that keeps and breeds constrictors of all sorts, so I can probably get some hands-on experience with at least one of the two species provided that I am allowed to get access to them.

 

[littleg902]

I would definitely gather some experience with something like an aggressive red-tail boa or blood python. A mistake with a retic or burm could be your last. Just because a snake has never struck at you or is "tame", doesnt mean its never going to happen. I can personally atest to this. Ive kept both and breed retics, and still have made mistakes that, without prior experience and knowledge, would have not ended happily. I will say they are a joy to keep and by far retics are, and will always be, my favorite snake to keep.

Keep in mind there are dwarf variants of both species.

 

[Mavrick813]

I would also have to recommend a Blood Python, Very gorgeous, Very strong, and Most mistakes will leave you Bleeding, but Breathing.

If your Determined to go the route your looking in, I'd say go with a Burm because in my experience their the more docile of the two.

Mike

 

[Wiggles92]

I would definitely gather some experience with something like an aggressive red-tail boa or blood python. A mistake with a retic or burm could be your last. Just because a snake has never struck at you or is "tame", doesnt mean its never going to happen. I can personally atest to this. Ive kept both and breed retics, and still have made mistakes that, without prior experience and knowledge, would have not ended happily. I will say they are a joy to keep and by far retics are, and will always be, my favorite snake to keep.

Keep in mind there are dwarf variants of both species.

Okay, I'll see if I can get some experience with handling some other aggressive constrictors and then with one or both of these species before making my purchase. I planned on getting it no earlier than mid-June, so I have some time to get a bit of experience in.

As for the dwarf variants, I would love to get a dwarf of either species, but I hate the $250+ price tag associated with them. Of course then, what's an extra hundred dollars or more when you get the same snake in a smaller package which could help to avoid some of the problems associated with the larger specimens.

I would also have to recommend a Blood Python, Very gorgeous, Very strong, and Most mistakes will leave you Bleeding, but Breathing.

If your Determined to go the route your looking in, I'd say go with a Burm because in my experience their the more docile of the two.

Mike

I'm not a big fan of blood pythons; they seem a bit too chunky for my liking. From what I have read and saw, retics and burms don't seem to get quite as chunky as long as they aren't overfed and are allowed to get some exercise.

Any other suggestions? I'm up for waiting a year or two for getting one of these big pythons in order to get some experience with smaller constrictors, but I'm a sucker for morphs so that's the route I'd be going on any snake.

 

[Mavrick813]

I'm not a big fan of blood pythons; they seem a bit too chunky for my liking. From what I have read and saw, retics and burms don't seem to get quite as chunky as long as they aren't overfed and are allowed to get some exercise.

They're thick. but nothing near the Massive Size of say,

or

Mike

 

[Wiggles92]

They're thick. but nothing near the Massive Size of say,
or

Mike

I was more referring to the proportions of the snake: blood pythons seem to be too thick when comparing length vs. width/weight (in my opinion) and extremely prone to obesity while retics and burms seem to be more proportional. I'm sorry, but I'm just not a fan of blood pythons.

Would you say that a dwarf variant (or super dwarf if I find it cheap enough) of either the retic or burm might be more appropriate? I'm willing to pay the extra money for the dwarf if it's worth it.

 

[Mavrick813]

I'm not a fan of the Dwarfs. I say if your going to do it, Do it all the way. But, be prepared.

Mike