What is the truth behind these species?

[carpondro17]

Ok well I am hearing differnt opinions from differnt people about condas,burms,and retics. I usually ask around ( experience people ) about getting a permit in florida for the reptiles of concern thingy and they say the same thing ok I got the point and they ask me why what are you intrested in?
I say well im not sure I like retics ALOT but burms are pretty cool too and condas are intresting and very cool!
Well some say dont get retics they are agressive and mean, plus they grow very fast and it doesnt feel good to get bit by a 10ft snake...
about burms alot say dont get them you will be board of them fast, they begg for food, can be pretty heavy, some are agressive,and soo on...
Now about condas not too much people have them but ive talked to some experience people about them and well I dont hear too much bad things but today I did they told me not to get one because they stink up the place,get real heavy, tend to bite alot and require lots of water... Now lots of conda keeper say ( I usually talk to alot of forum conda keepers lol ) they dont need a huge water tub and keeping humidity up is fine and they are fine with out it ( only a drinking bowl )...
So for you keepers out their of these species what are your thoughts on them?
Now one of the reasons I posted this thread is beacuse im thinking of applying for the permit this year and buy my animals later in the year... ( Im thinking a burm retic or green conda... but what ever I get ill prolly get 2 o and breed them in the future)
Thanks!

[reptigirl1220]

Well i'm new to owning a burm but i can tell you right now that i love mine already! he's very nice and friendly and i just got him and he's older i'd say, but he doesn't beg for food but he does like to be fed and has a very high food response! he loves to just be out and hang around my neck, but at 10 ft and around 45 pounds he can give me quite a sore back. lol i've heard some pretty nasty things about condas, but i can't say much about them and as far as retics go...i've only heard good things, the local reptile store by my house here has a 16ft retic and he only gets handled about once a year and he remains to be a sweet heart! but he does have a huge food response too the instant he sees his rabbit he's ready to eat!

[carpondro17]

Hmm nice to hear! That burm will only grow XD
Anyone alse?

[lorenmps]

I've had all 3 and the retics are my favorite by far. Ya, they all get big fast, but the retics aren't as heavy as a burm or an anaconda. As far as the aggressiveness goes, I think the retic and the burm are pretty close. Of course it's going to depend on how much attention you give them from the start. In my opinion, the retics usually have a stronger feeding response then burms but that can be handeled easilly with some hook training (see Brad). I think the burms ARE lazy and might not be as interesting to observe. You'll probably be happy with either as long as you understand what lies ahead throughout their life.

I like the anacondas too, and it's true that you don't need to give them swimming room as long as they have a decent sized water bowl that they can't tip over and you keep the humidity up. The downside to having anacondas as a pets is that they get really heavy, aren't "usually" as docile and they tend to smell the most out of the 3. They can be a challenge to work with, but if you know what you're doing they can be a lot better than most people make them out to be... even though I would never totally trust an anaconda
Hope that all helps... GOOD LUCK!!!

[lorenmps]

Hmm nice to hear! That burm will only grow XD
Anyone alse?

XD???

[carpondro17]

Thanks on the words lorenmps! What type of condas have you keeped green or yellows?

[Joel]

XD???

Been wondering the same thing myself, LOL!

[lorenmps]

Thanks on the words lorenmps! What type of condas have you keeped green or yellows?

No problem, I hope what I said helped at least a little.
I've a had a few Greens... one nice, one moody and one down right NASTY!!!

-Loren

[bebo]

Loren hit alot of points well. Except I dont consider burms lazy,lol. ;)


All three species get big. They all three can get heavy, and all three can have a big feeding response. As far as being nasty, all three have their days,lol. Though the annies I had were worse at times.

As Loren mentioned, do your homework and be prepared. Pick the species you like the best. our opinions can help, but in the end its your likes that count.

I've kept all three, and like all three. But I love burms the most, I really dig the retics, and annies follow in third. So I put my emphasis on my favorite. Then kept a few retics and annies.

[lorenmps]

Loren hit alot of points well. Except I dont consider burms lazy,lol. ;)


Hey, laziness isn't a bad thing. The big burms I've had in the past were lazy...

And I think it's rubbed off on me. :yawn:

[The Snake Guru]

Well I've kept them all....so I'll throw my 2 cents in on each:

Burms: Heavier bodied, pretty lazy compared to the other ones (sorry Jim..LOL) Just personal opinion there they aren't as fast moving as the others. Definitely a decent snake to test the waters of the "big boys" if your planning on getting into them.

Retics: Still get huge (save the smaller locals) Usually aren't as heavy bodied as burms....however they are alert active snakes, given the room they cruise, they climb and their speed does not slow as they mature....Kiana is 15 feet and when she wants to go.....she can jet like grease lightning which can make them quite a challenge at times, bite wise, these would be able to inflict the most damage of 4 (though bites from any of them when they large will be unpleasant) - I will say though of the 4 these fast became my favorite of the big ones, their alertness, and habits make them a very rewarding species to work with.

Yellow and Green Anacondas: Very pretty if you pay attention to bloodlines.....Yellows "tend" to be a little more scattered brained than greens, though their smaller size makes them easier to work, they also aren't as dependent on a large water source (Which I disagree on some Greens even though I know many have successfully kept them in the manner which you have described) Their strike pattern is a bite different than a lot of biods usually will take side swipes at you which can be interesting at times...LOL For their size I would have to say both the Greens and Yellows are hands down the most powerful constrictors pound for pound, the shear mass of them is extremely impressive. I would agree with Loren on the "trust worthiness" they should always be watched closely I've seen supposedly "tame" anacondas flip out for no apparent reason. The story you heard about the mess they make is no exaggeration...they defecate a lot, and it is probably the most rank smelling stuff I have ever encountered.

~B~

[carpondro17]

Hmmm thanks for the words everyone! Well I had never had any of the three before and I want to make sure im not in for it... I want at least a good experience form the species I get because what ever I get I will prolly get 2 of and try to breed... Some people told me why not get a burm and retic and cross breed them but the only thing is I dont want to start another hybrid project with out finishing the project I have going on now ( witch would be a carpondro project ) and I would like to get a solid pure project!