Reticulated Python or Burmese Python?

[Joe M]

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.

Your make a good point, and I respect your opinion, but what is that based on? Have you kept large specimens of each species? It is relatively well known that your average retic is more aggressive and harder to handle than the average burm. Of course there are exceptions, as there is in any generalization, but for the most part it is true.

And even the fattest burm will have a hold of you before you even have a chance to think about what is happening. They are deceivingly quick, and I know that from doubting their speed in person. I still have the scar on my hand to prove it.

 

[fishguy306]

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.

Good point lol. I have gotten better at guiding where he goes, however he still manages to be a pain. I guess the aborial side or Morelia tends to come out in these situations. It is amazing what those tails can grab onto.

My guy managed to wrap his tail around my pinky, ring and middle fingers on my left hand. From just holding on (tightly as he didn't want to fall), he managed to bruise my pinky and middle finger from crushing them into my ring. I no longer wear my ring when I take him out lol. Dont need to have that happen again.

 

[Tramonte172]

Also, out of curiosity, do any of you have actual firsthand experience caring for one or both species of snake at an adult size? I would really like to hear about some of your experiences with these snakes.[/QUOTE]


I think carpets are a perfect starter python. They are large and active enough to provide a challenge without being dangerous.

I have owned carpets and have cared for monster burms, retics, anacondas and rock pyhons.

 

[Wiggles92]

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.

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.

After doing some reading, it seems that amethystine pythons can still hit almost 20' in captivity which is pretty close to the lengths of the typical captive burm or retic!

As for my previous experience, I have years of experience with snakes, but no experience with snakes over the 8' mark (although there seems to be a gap in the hobby between that size range and the range for these bigger snakes). Of those snakes, I have dealt mostly with some of the more aggressive/ornery large native snakes. Like I said earlier in the thread, I do plan on putting in some time with handling one or both of the species that I mentioned before I make my purchase.

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.

Ah, gotcha. I'll have to email him to see if he'll have any yet.

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.

I planned on building the adult-sized enclosure now rather than later, so I'm not factoring that in since I planned on building it for a full-size burm or retic. As for the food, I'm fine with the overall cost of food in the long run (I figured around $150-200 yearly in food); it's more the initial cost that I want to keep down if at all possible.

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.

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.

Your make a good point, and I respect your opinion, but what is that based on? Have you kept large specimens of each species? It is relatively well known that your average retic is more aggressive and harder to handle than the average burm. Of course there are exceptions, as there is in any generalization, but for the most part it is true.

And even the fattest burm will have a hold of you before you even have a chance to think about what is happening. They are deceivingly quick, and I know that from doubting their speed in person. I still have the scar on my hand to prove it.

So basically both species have similar temperaments overall, but both are still extremely strong and fast when they want to be, so I should never let my guard down?

 

[A. gigas]

So basically both species have similar temperaments overall, but both are still extremely strong and fast when they want to be, so I should never let my guard down?

Yes.

 

[Wiggles92]

Yes.

Okay, I kind of figured that from the start, but I decided that it was best to check with other people rather than going with just what I have read.


At this point, I'm thinking of going with an albino & green burm unless I find a good price on a half-dwarf or dwarf of either species (preferably half-dwarf for the burm; smaller locality [Jampea, etc.] for the retic).

 

[A. gigas]

Your make a good point, and I respect your opinion, but what is that based on? Have you kept large specimens of each species? It is relatively well known that your average retic is more aggressive and harder to handle than the average burm. Of course there are exceptions, as there is in any generalization, but for the most part it is true.

And even the fattest burm will have a hold of you before you even have a chance to think about what is happening. They are deceivingly quick, and I know that from doubting their speed in person. I still have the scar on my hand to prove it.

I personally have not kept any myself, but I know many people who have, and after gathering up all their opinions, this is what most people will agree on.

And yes, I was not trying to say that Burms are too fat and slow to get you, if one of them wants to nail you, you're getting hit unless you're some sort of ninja.

 

[A. gigas]

Okay, I kind of figured that from the start, but I decided that it was best to check with other people rather than going with just what I have read.


At this point, I'm thinking of going with an albino & green burm unless I find a good price on a half-dwarf or dwarf of either species (preferably half-dwarf for the burm; smaller locality [Jampea, etc.] for the retic).

There's a nice half dwarf for sale on Fauna right now, if you choose to go with a Burm.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235358

 

[Wiggles92]

There's a nice half dwarf for sale on Fauna right now, if you choose to go with a Burm.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235358

Thanks for the tip.

I also just saw a 6 month old albino burm for sale on Craigslist near me for $120 plus there's a reptile show near me this coming weekend, so I may need to speed up my plans for building an enclosure.

 

[chloe]

hey fella, tbh id start off with a boa, great animals, still has potential to reach 10ft, usually docile. iv got 5 atm but getting a load more at the wknd, iv NEVER been bitten or hissed at by any of my lot.
stick with a boa for a bit till u get experience then go for a burm. i personally wouldnt recommend a tic for anyone without large snake experience. and dont count a quick handling session with one as experience. id say a couple of years. most tics i come across are angels, but still dont have a problem with turning round and taking a chunk out of u. GENERALLY burms are more chilled out. my boy is AMAZING but hes still bitten. wev had wrestling matches and all sorts and it never ceases to amaze me and remind just how strong he is and how if he wanted to he could take me out easily. because 9/10 hes soppy as anything u tend to let it slide about how strong he is, so when he throws a strop it jolts u back. u must NEVER lose respect for animals of these proportions.
these r us the other day just before show time, i swear u can see how much i love him from these pics.