Reticulated Python - the locales explained

[PrimalUrges]

Hi guys, I am constantly asked about Retic locales and more specifically the sizes that they attain, so I have decided to write this thread to help people understand the different forms of Retic that are available on the market today. I will also try to include morphs where possible. Please note that I haven’t owned many of these locales / morphs so much of the information is through my own research and is by no means a one stop shop for Retic info! This thread should help point you in the right direction if you want to get into the wonderful world of Reticulated Pythons... Remember that for each locale, females will generally get bigger, and for the giant locales, they get truely massive:

Dwarfs:

Jampea 6-12 ft the largest dwarf locale

Kayuadi 6-10ft these ARE NOT ‘Super Dwarves’!

Madu 6-10 ft

Kalatoa 5-8 ft these seem to be the smallest dwarf locale, and I have read Bob Clark say on this forum that these are the island that the ‘Super Dwarves’ originated from, they also seem to be less commonly available than the other locales...

‘Dwarf Morphs’ are in their infancy, commonly in Tiger or Albino, comibinations of these morphs are very rare at the moment...

Genetic stripe is a true dwarf morph, which hasn’t been crossed with mainland types like the above mentioned...

More perspective on the true size can be seen on this thread:

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/snake...rf-retics.html

Mid Size 10-15 ft:

Bali yellowhead

Thai yellowhead

Selayar

Bicol – this is a new locale and not much is known about them. They are from the Phillipenes and so far seem to have the growth rate of a mid sized retic... We will only really know how big they are when the first generation reach adulthood...

Golden Child – this morph is said to have come from Selayar island...

The Big Boys – these snakes will attain massive sizes, up to or even over 20 ft:

Borneo

Java

Ambon - will reach 16-18 ft, an attractive yellowhead locale...

Sumatra

Sulawesi / Makassar – Makassar is a port on Sulawesi, which is why I have put these together

Tiger – this morph is known to get very large indeed. The largest snake in the world is a tiger, named Fluffy, which was bred and raised by Bob Clark...

Sunfire - the sunfires I have seen have a quick growth rate, but I haven’t seen any examples over 17 ft...

Albino – these get large, but don’t tend to break the 16 ft mark for some reason...

Please note that many of the commonly available morphs have often been bred to large locale femalesin order to yield large clutch sizes, unless told otherwise, expect your morph Retics to get BIG!

Vivarium Sizes:

Dwarf Retics at adult sizes a 4x2x2 would be adequate for most snakes, although a large female may need a 5x2x2 or 6x2x2 for an exceptoinally large female...

Mid Sized Retics will require a 6x2x2 or 6x3x3...

The Big Boys will require a 6x3x3 or 8x4x4...

retics are active snakes and will appreciate a bit more room. Obviously the size of the viv needs to be easy to maintain for the sake of the keeper, and therefore a compromise between the two should be met...

I hope this thread helps a few people out, my aim is to show that retics come in many different shapes and sizes, and shouldn't all be thought of as 'monster snakes', many of them don't get much bigger than a coastal carpet python.

Thanks for reading, if anyone has anything to add, such as pictures or corrections then they are more than welcome, but lets keep this thread on topic people!

[girlsnotgray]

Does anyone have any photos of dwarf morphs at all?

[ryanr1987]

Thank you mate this is brilliant! i get asked this on a daily basis also so you saved me some work nice thread mate sticky????

[Demonlude]

Great thread Primal. Lots of answers in one place, which really should be a sticky - although people will still keep asking the same questions......

[ryanr1987]

going to show a mod now to recommend a sticky

[PrimalUrges]

Originally Posted by ryanr1987

Thank you mate this is brilliant! i get asked this on a daily basis also so you saved me some work nice thread mate sticky????

I get asked about their sizes etc all the time, I thought it was about time a thread like this was created to save people like us repeating ourselves on a daily basis! by all means make it a sticky!

[PrimalUrges]

Originally Posted by Demonlude

Great thread Primal. Lots of answers in one place, which really should be a sticky - although people will still keep asking the same questions......

Lucky I tagged it eh?!

[ryanr1987]

Originally Posted by PrimalUrges

I get asked about their sizes etc all the time, I thought it was about time a thread like this was created to save people like us repeating ourselves on a daily basis! by all means make it a sticky!

I agree 100% really good thread mate

[Ian.g]

nice one mate, good to see some decent info on retic morphs and locales!....i always thought the thai yellowheads were the bigger yellowhead locale and the ambons were between them and balis! see i have learned something already!

[dazook]

Great thread...