Reticulated Python or Burmese Python?

[Wiggles92]

Couple things about Dwarfs that I am leery about.

1. The Price. Nuff Said.
2. How does one know their a Dwarf until they've stopped growing?
3. Everything I've read on them says that their Spastic at best. Not so much biters, But real runners.

My Half dwarf is a sweetie when he's out of the cage. He's a bit hissy and stuff when you're picking him up, but then again that's not uncommon even in full sized burms. I got him for $250, which I think is a very good price considering how much you end up saving due to lowered food/caging/electric bills.

As far as how to know it is a dwarf, There are actually some very noticeable differences in both pattern and anatomy, mainly around the head as far as anatomy goes.

Mavrick813, good points, especially the ones about the cost and temperament. As for knowing if the snake is legitimately a dwarf, the only real way to tell if it is a dwarf (other than the differences mentioned by A. gigas) is to get it from a trusted breeder. Even then, it seems that some dwarfs will still get to be around 15' or so (which is fine by me) which might not make them seem like a dwarf, but that's still nothing in comparison to the size that a normal adult of either species can attain.

A. gigas, any ideas where to get a half-dwarf or dwarf burm? I have done some searches, but I haven't turned up anything. If I can't find a reasonably priced dwarf of either species (although I just found a super dwarf retic for $300), I think I'm going to go with either a albino/green/albino & green burm or a tiger/super tiger/albino retic; I'm leaning more towards the burm now because of the overall opinion that they are more mellow as adults in comparison to retics.

To be honest, the only large snake that I have had and liked was an obese sunglow red tail. She was approximately 9 feet in length and weighed around 100 pounds.

One that I am really fond of, however, is the black headed python, Aspidites melanocephalus. They grow to large sizes, and are probably one of the best looking large snakes I have ever seen, including all morphs. It looks like a woma python with a black head (duh). They are also apparently very tame and rarely bite.

The major con with blackheads is the high price, but I have spoken to 2 people who are now breeding them in the US, so the price should drop soon. I held a 9 footer at the hamburg reptile show in February, and have been in love ever since. I was told by someone breeding them that he could sell me a baby female for $600 at the next show, so either me or my friend will probably have one soon.

I agree with you on the black headed pythons: They are really cool snakes but are also a bit expensive.

I like the Boa's myself.Had a Peruvian.

Boas are cool, but the cool morphs are unfortunately a bit on the expensive side plus I want something bigger.

 

[davo]

Of the larger snakes I prefer the look of scrub/amethystine pythons... not because I haven't worked with the others but because I think that the Morelia genus in general are the most beautiful of the pythons and seems like not as many people keep them in comparison to retics/burms.

 

[A. gigas]

Mavrick813, good points, especially the ones about the cost and temperament. As for knowing if the snake is legitimately a dwarf, the only real way to tell if it is a dwarf (other than the differences mentioned by A. gigas) is to get it from a trusted breeder. Even then, it seems that some dwarfs will still get to be around 15' or so (which is fine by me) which might not make them seem like a dwarf, but that's still nothing in comparison to the size that a normal adult of either species can attain.

A. gigas, any ideas where to get a half-dwarf or dwarf burm? I have done some searches, but I haven't turned up anything. If I can't find a reasonably priced dwarf of either species (although I just found a super dwarf retic for $300), I think I'm going to go with either a albino/green/albino & green burm or a tiger/super tiger/albino retic; I'm leaning more towards the burm now because of the overall opinion that they are more mellow as adults in comparison to retics.

Those 15' ones are the jampeas, I really don't consider them dwarfs, just a locality..

Mine was produced by Tom Reagan, The first guy to produce the half dwarfs, he'll probably hatch more out this season.

 

[clemsonguy1125]

The thing with large snakes is yeah 500 bucks is an expensize snake but the cost over time for food will probably be in the thousands.

 

[krzr3000]

The thing with large snakes is yeah 500 bucks is an expensize snake but the cost over time for food will probably be in the thousands.

This is a good point. Expenses for larger snakes are much higher. Price of the animal is really negligible in the long run.


Though dwarf vs regular is really personal preference anyways. They are very different obviously.

 

[fishguy306]

Of the larger snakes I prefer the look of scrub/amethystine pythons... not because I haven't worked with the others but because I think that the Morelia genus in general are the most beautiful of the pythons and seems like not as many people keep them in comparison to retics/burms.

Scrubs are great snakes, however they are not for a beginner snake keeper in my opinion. This is the approach I took when I got mine. He was already about 7' or so. Thankfully he is pretty mellow for a scrub. As it is I had a hard time controlling him out of the cage. That said, I love my Scrub and will take another before I get a retic or burm any day.



I am not sure how many snakes the OP has kept, however dont just jump into the giants. Keeping a couple small snakes does not prep you for the big guys. I got my scrub after keeping a 4' rtb and throught that I was ready. One of the first few nights I took him out I had issues controlling him. He would get into things, under things, and wrapped around things. It took me over half an hour to get him unwrapped from a bike wheel that he managed to get himself into. As soon as I got the head out, the tail would be around something, and vice versa.

I would try and find someone who lives in your area with the snake you want to get, just so you can get some hands on experiance. This way you can tell if that is really the snake that you want. You may discover that holding a 15' retic scares the crap out of you and you may reconsider. At the very least it will help you decide which one you want.

I know retics and burms are not the same as a scrub, however they all reach big sizes and have the potential to be agressive. Whatever you decide please be careful. It will become a very large snake that has the potential to kill you or loved ones. They are great animals, they just deserve respect and knowledge. Hope this helps a bit.

Edit- Just saw the part about where to find a dwarf burm, I would watch kingsnake.com. I see them on there from time to time, however be warned, they are usually very pricey, as in close to or over $1000. It has been a while since I last looked though, so maybe prices have come down.

 

[A. gigas]

I got my scrub after keeping a 4' rtb and throught that I was ready. One of the first few nights I took him out I had issues controlling him. He would get into things, under things, and wrapped around things. It took me over half an hour to get him unwrapped from a bike wheel that he managed to get himself into. As soon as I got the head out, the tail would be around something, and vice versa.

Heck, that's not so much the size but the species. getting tangled up in stuff is what Morelia specialize in..
You should have seen the time I took my 6' Carpet to the pet store to show him to a friend who works there, and he thought that an (empty) rabbit cage looked like an awesome climbing structure.

 

[Yellow_Perch]

i am not a fan of big snakes but if you are, i would say go for a burm, they are more mellow and easy going than retics. It will be much better if you have never had a big snake before. they are more of a handful than you may think.



this x10

i know your the snakeguy but with my expierence i have seen retics more mellow in most cases than burmese having or wanting nothing to do with anyone..

 

[Joe M]

i know your the snakeguy but with my expierence i have seen retics more mellow in most cases than burmese having or wanting nothing to do with anyone..

Then you have seen a very rare case or two. Retics are just more aggressive and harder to handle in general than burmese. Of course there are exceptions, and I don't want either, but if I was choosing based on attitude alone, I'd take a burm any day. I've had several of both, and I never will again. But the nastiest burm I've ever had couldn't even touch the aggressiveness of any of my retics. The burms would at least stay in they're cages, but the retics would fly out and try to eat your face anytime the cage door opened.

 

[A. gigas]

Then you have seen a very rare case or two. Retics are just more aggressive and harder to handle in general than burmese. Of course there are exceptions, and I don't want either, but if I was choosing based on attitude alone, I'd take a burm any day. I've had several of both, and I never will again. But the nastiest burm I've ever had couldn't even touch the aggressiveness of any of my retics. The burms would at least stay in they're cages, but the retics would fly out and try to eat your face anytime the cage door opened.

I don't like to stereotype, I've seen some extremely tame retics as well as burms, and some extremely aggressive individuals of the same. The fact of the matter is this: Burmese tend to be fatter and slower moving, which means that if they suddenly do something unexpected, you will have more time to react in a way that won't startle the snake and cause an aggressive/defensive response. Retics on the other hand are skinnier and faster moving, and a sudden unexpected change in their behavior will give you less time to react in the right manner, instead of having a miniature spaz attack.. So the result can be a frightened retic, which can turn aggressive/defensive.
As far as their general temperaments though, they are about even in my eyes.