There are many reasons to own a Retic!
If you like snakes, then you will love Retics! Retics
are the queen mothers of all snakes, commanding respect and admiration.
Reticulated Pythons are a mandatory
addition to any snake collection. If you are gonna own a snake, you may as well own the longest breed of snake in the world!
Compared to other breeds of snake, the Reticulated Python has many advantages. The most apparent advantage
is it's desire to eat. Everyone who owns a snake enjoys watching it eat. Most Retics have appetites far stronger than
any other creature alive. A snake can't live if it won't eat. Several other common breeds of snake have a common tendency
to starve to death for unknown reasons. This problem rarely exists with Retics. They may occasionally refuse to eat, but there
is usually an explanation for such a refusal, such as breeding, shedding, or some other serious illness. On the average, Retics
will feed more readily than any other breed of snake, making them more exciting and enjoyable.
The Retic
seems to have a superior immune system compared to most other breeds of snake. I have rarely seen a Retic become sick, and
those who have displayed illness readily rebound to full health once adequate care is given. Retics seem to tolerate coller
temperatures than most breeds of snake. On one occasion, a Tiger Retic was seriously bitten on the neck by a rival male. The
injury exposed every vital organ within this snake's neck, including the spine, ribs, esophagus, artery, and more. The
laceration was more than 50% around this snake's neck. Death seemed certain. With fishing line holding the wound shut,
the snake heeled, and continued to grow, gaining weight while not eating for over a month. This happened well over a
year ago, and this Retic is alive and well today, eating rabbits and chickens. This injury would have certainly killed
any other breed of snake, but a Retic has the raw determination to live.
Variety is another Retic
advantage. Depending on the color or pattern that you prefer, there is a Retic out there that is right for you. The Reticulated
Python is available in a variety of colors and patterns, everything from nearly black Retics to solid white Retics. Stripes,
Tigers, Super Tigers, Sunfires, and Super Sunfires, Granite Backs, Ivories, Citron's, Ghosts, Blonde's. Albinos, Amels,
and so much more. New mutations are emerging every year. The Reticulated Python can rival any other species in their
varieties of morphs!
Size is another great aspect of the Reticulated Python. Retics do commonly
grow to enormous sizes, but dwarfs and Super Dwarfs are also available. From 30 feet long adults, down to 6 feet adults, the
size you are looking for is available in a Retic. Even female Ball Pythons can grow to be 6 feet long.
Price is another great aspect of the Reticulated Python. Some snakes can be purchased whole sale for as little as $50 each,
bought in bulk, and commonly sell retail for about $100 to $125. On the other end, some Retics have been priced on-line
for as much as $30,000 each. These are rare and not for everyone, but individual Retics do commonly price for about $10,000.
Depending on what your spending limit is, and your breeding interests, Retics are available for as little or as much as you
want to spend.
Breeding is another advantage to the Reticulated Python. The males are very driven
in this department, and will breed if big enough by their first birthday, usually around 8 feet long. Most females require
more time, usually 3 years at about 12 to 14 feet long. Females are worth the wait, as they can lay enormous clutches of eggs, usually
15 to 30 eggs for a first time breeding female, and as many as 50 to 75 eggs for larger more experienced females. This
helps to make a return on your investment. Retics are relatively easy to breed compared to most snakes, with their own
set of issues as well. Some Retics will breed throughout the year requiring no conditioning other than feeding. Most
other species require light and temperature reduction in the fall and winter months. When done with Retics, this seems to
intensify the breeding response. These snakes can be allowed to incubate their own eggs. The only real concerns about breeding
Retics compared to other species is the intense breeding aggression that most males display. Females can also be very
protective of the eggs.
Temperament is another concern. As you can see in my Python Presentations
page and my Python Parties page, temperament is often not a concern. Many Retics are of a pet quality temperament and are
very manageable. Retics do have a bad reputation for being aggressive, but this aggression is mostly directed towards
food. This reputation is also earned by wild caught specimens which are usually very aggressive. Wild caught Retics used to
be the only Retics available, but captive breeding has changed this, and aggression is being bred out of the species. The
aggressive Retic reputation is also exaggerated due to the size of the Retic. A large Retic seems more aggressive due to it's
size, even if it isn't as aggressive as a hatchling. Some specimens are aggressive towards people despite all effort
to calm them down, but these can often be returned or resold to breeders or kept as display animals in zoos or serpentariums.
As you can see, the Retic is the ultimate pet snake. If wanting to own a snake, I certainly recommend
the Reticulated Python. I have experience with many other breeds. I have breed other breeds, and by far, I prefer Retics.
Some will recommend a Ball Python as a first pet, simply because they don't get big. Some will say
that they don't bite. All snakes can bite. The difference is that Ball Pythons, and some other breeds are terrible for
starving to death. Retics will eat if they do nothing else!
I would rather your first snake be a
snake that will eat and survive, breed and thrive, and command your respect so that your first snake ownership experience
is a possitive one. This is why I do recommend Retics as begginer snakes, if bought as babies by responsible individuals.
If interested in owning a Retic, please contact
Rob Clark.
Rob@RobClarkPythons.com 
