Better as a pet????

[Hillsberry]

Okay wasn't sure where to put this but for some reason I am deathly in love with Reticulated pythons. I love the Burmese but something about the Retics I love. Now in your opinion which one is a better pet. What I mean in like which one is more friendly. Something I wont have to worry about if it is going to attack me when I got in to the tank? Tell me which one is the better one out of the two. Thanks! If you don't understand what I mean just tell me and I will try to explain it better

[1softkiss]

Okay wasn't sure where to put this but for some reason I am deathly in love with Reticulated pythons. I love the Burmese but something about the Retics I love. Now in your opinion which one is a better pet. What I mean in like which one is more friendly. Something I wont have to worry about if it is going to attack me when I got in to the tank? Tell me which one is the better one out of the two. Thanks! If you don't understand what I mean just tell me and I will try to explain it better

WOW!!!! Tough call. They are both incredible and have a VERY aggressive feeding response for sure.

I've never owned a Burm but from all I've come to know as far as I have learned they both have similar aggressive behavior when upset or feeding.

I would have to say in an everyday situation the Retic is a lot less laid back and calm than a Burm because a lot of Retics are very flighty and want to go, go go.

Just my opinion and if you are thinking about getting either better get a long hook and learn to step aside real fast. LOL

Sorry, just thought I'd add a little humor but seriously they both strike hard and fast.

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

I haven't "owned" either actually but from my experience so far, I would say it all depends on how you raise the animal and hook train them because they're both large constrictors with very large feeding responses like Carla said.  When I was visiting at Donnie's and held both the retics and burms, I can definitely say that his burm was a huge teddy bear and more "calm"/"slow moving" then like Reign was.  Now I will have to say that you have to take into consideration when I'm saying this, Reign has had excellent care and hook training, but still is extremely smart and moves rather fast for her size lol.  In the end, it all depends on how you raise them, house them (enclosures, temps, humidity have a big impact on their behavior too), and train them.

[Donnie_K]

1st off, ask yourself... are you really ready for a snake big enough to kill you? Both burms and retics will get big enough to take your life. Now that doesn't mean either species is aggressive at all, just means they are capable. All it takes is one wrong move. 2nd... neither is going to do well in a "tank". Hold off on any more advanced species until you're past the tank phase. And remember... NOTHING over 10 foot is to be handled alone... the last thing we need with all the fire we're getting from poiticians and the media is for someone else to get killed or hurt by a large constrictor giving them more ammunition to use to get our pets banned.

That being said. They're completely different animals. The only thing they have in common really is feed response, and the fact that they both get huge. Burms are alot less active, and generally (but not always) alot more laid back outside of the cage. They don't really seem to care which tree they're stuck in. But they're alot thicker and heavier than a retic. They're awful garbage disposals. Anything that doesn't get eaten in my snake room, my burms will take without hesitation. Though since the only other animals down there are retics it's not so often that someone refuses food. Retics on the other hand... while not as thick and heavy, definately seem to be alot stronger and faster. More agile. And their feed response is off the charts. It's not unusualy at all for one to shoot out of the cage and grab the rabbit before I can get it into the cage to offer it to them, leaving me to push a 16 foot snake wrapped around an 8 pound rabbit back up into the cage... lol.

I love my retics more than anything. But I'm not your normal reptile keeper, they're just not for everyone. Though the horror stories you hear that all retics are aggressive and mean is rubbish. Just look through some of the pics I've posted of mine. But I'll always have a soft spot for burms so I've always gotta keep 1 or 2 around. Tara hit the nail on the head when she said my big male (lil D) reminds you of a big dumb teddy bear.... lol.

Again. Both snakes get big enough to do serious damage, especially if you don't have any experience with them. Take your time, get around some PROPERLY cared for burms and retics to get some experience under your belt, and go from there. I had been keeping reptiles for 11 years before I got my first burm. And 21 years before I got my first retic. But I started at a very young age.

[Hillsberry]

Thanks again guys. I am not thinking a getting one for awhile even if I get one. I for some reason love the Retics. I know they are very very large snakes. And could take me out really fast. I would love to have one now, but my best bet is to get more experience with snakes. Burms I think would be my best bet I think. It will be hard to say be I love Retics so much. They are both beautiful animals.

[Donnie_K]

Retics are amazing. My true passion.

[TKR Reptiles]

Okay wasn't sure where to put this but for some reason I am deathly in love with Reticulated pythons. I love the Burmese but something about the Retics I love. Now in your opinion which one is a better pet. What I mean in like which one is more friendly. Something I wont have to worry about if it is going to attack me when I got in to the tank? Tell me which one is the better one out of the two. Thanks! If you don't understand what I mean just tell me and I will try to explain it better

ok first and foremost i want to say i am a huge retic guy... i love them to death... i will never not own at least 5 or more lol... i couldn't see myself with out them... they can be amazing to work with and keep... they aren't the monsters some people lead them to be... nor are burms...


with that being said... to be honest neither of them are going to be a "pet" for their entire life... they may be a animal you can look at and such, but let's face it... a 20+ foot snake isn't something you are gonna sit around with on you neck or in your lap... as a baby they can be both be great to handle all the time... both can be nippy as babies and you aren't gonna wanna just reach in an grab either of em... you will wanna hook train em and such... retics are much smarter than burms... they are more active than burms... burms are more predicable than retics as well... if you have a bigger aggressive burm they usually do the samething every time you mess with em... they will strike the same way, and so forth... retics constantly change up their patterns... when they start hitting that 12 + foot mark burms get a lot heavier than retics and can be a bit tougher to physically pick up... to me it honestly sounds like you want a snake that you can handle a lot, and have as a pet not a display snake... if this is true i would recommend a red tail or a dumerils boa... something along those lines... if you are ok with the fact that when you snake gets bigger you can't hold it a lot and what not then i would recommend finding someone local with adult of each species and spending some time with them to get the feel of how they can be... just keep in mind that just b/c one persons retic or burm is one way it doesn't mean the one you get is gonna be like that... hope this helps...

[Brandon]

My advise as for a first big snake as a best pet if you still want to own a big snake my advise is getting a boa they only get 9 to 10 foot that to me would be a better first pet as far as going big goes a columbian red tail boa they very beautifull and decile they not as fast or anything like a burm or a retic but to me that be your best way these boas can give you experince you need for a burm or a retic i got two burmese python's though they are garbage disposal but they can be stubborn eater's as well depends what you get

[Donnie_K]

yeah brandon. it does vary. But when it comes to comparing burms or retics to BCI (boa constrictor imperator or "columbian red tail boas"), they're really nothing alike. You really need to find someone well versed in burms and retics to get some experience under your belt. Where are you located Hillsberry? I'm sure some of our awesome retic keepers here would be more than happy to show you around their world a bit.

[Hillsberry]

I am in New Jersey. I have seen them at the Expos. Question I know you can get super dawf retics how big do they get? I am going to wait a long time and think about this. I am still kinda new to the snake world I only have to snakes. One will get like 7 feet or 8. Which isnt big to a retic or burm. What I meant like handling is like you would be able to take them out and put them on the floor like some people do and let them stretch out. Personally to me Retics are alot prettier then Burms. But I do love the burms. But the colors that the Retics come in are beautiful.