How would you rate your bp/reptile knowledge level?

Go with however you feel :D

Should just be interesting to see how people view their knowledge.

I put advanced on mine. I don't think I'm an expert or a 1337 God or anything, but I also don't think I'm starting out. -Smiles.- Advanced is around being in the middle to me.

I put Advanced. I have almost every BP book out, and a few of the general Python breeding books.

Best of all, I have acess to breeders that have been doing this longer than I and they are nice about answering my questions!:)

Alright, you guys get the spanners over here, you two, with the studs, over on the north wall. Who's got the sawsall? Over here with that, this doorway needs to be expanded. Forget putting a new door in, just make the doorway bigger. Nope, take the screen door off entirely, won't need it after we're done, it wouldn't fit anyway.

What??? They didn't put the header on the load? Where am I supposed to get a 4 X 12 that's 6 feet long this time of day. Just double up some 2 X 4s, this job has got to be finished asap.

Any more big heads come crashing through this standard doorway and the whole place will come down on top of us.

Gordo, get off your but and get to it.

I put advanced since ive been into reptiles in & out for 30 years since I was a kid.I have bred corns for many years & also a few species of turtles,but new to BP's & have yet to get eggs.im no expert by far but Im learning quik:D

I put average.......

Had reptiles since I was 7....Im now 23......

16 years and I still dont think that would qualify as advanced

I put average...

Been into reptiles since the early years (it was a Copperhead bite that got me into it), since then it has been 42 years. Read Herbert S Zim's Reptile & Amphibian book from front to back too many times, carried it with me from 1966 (3rd grade) through High School, knew more about herps than my science teachers through school, caught all species of snakes, turtle, frog, lizard, salamander etc in the mid-atlantic area of the states and wanted to be a Herpetologist when I "grew up". I was the kid on your block who always had "the weird" animals in the house, the ones that bit you.

Now I am a project manager with a major auto maker.... but my passion stayed strong for animals and for the cold blooded. School always had bio, sciences, and environment classes available, I excelled in those, but life took a differant path, my generation was about getting a "real" job, making money, starting a family.

Always kept a hand in it however, which led me to become a Naturalist, a docent in our local conservancies and parks. This is my second career, my retirement, my give back to kids. I teach my 6 year old boy about the outdoors, he is quite the tracker :) . I will support his passion whatever it may be, because I learned that you should "do what you love". This I can give to him...

I say "average" though because though I am full of nature information on flora/fauna and especially herps, I have never gotten into breeding, morphs, hybrids, or had a "collection" as some of you have. I was more the outside environment type, sitting and watching the turtles sunning and their social interactions, watching a bullfrog watch me, sitting on a rock for hours viewing raptors.

I came to this site as a newbie "BP" owner who adopted a young BP, get a caresheet, some info and move on. I am a research hound, explored the site, found myself getting involved with others. The knowledge here is amazing. It is good to know, please don't take this wrong, take it as a compliment, that many here are younger and have "the passion".

I put novice. I've only had my BP for 3 months and I feel like I know quite a bit, but definitely still have more to learn!

I'd honestly put average.

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Originally Posted by katiadarling

I put novice. I've only had my BP for 3 months and I feel like I know quite a bit, but definitely still have more to learn!

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That's how I feel... only I've only had my BP for 2 months :oops:

Someone with an "advanced" knowledge of balls or herps in general who gets paid to breed would technically be classed as a pro... wouldn't they?
-Steven

This poll should have been made a public poll..LOL

Interesting to see the people who think they are advanced, pro or expert

I'm not wild about the term 'pro' and placing it seemingly so high on the list. To me 'Professional' indicates someone who deals with the animals as the source of their income or as a supplement to their income (for instance, someone who sells snakes professionally). I've run into far too many 'pros' that know surprisingly little about their animals other then how to market and sometimes breed them.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I'm not wild about the term 'pro' and placing it seemingly so high on the list. To me 'Professional' indicates someone who deals with the animals as the source of their income or as a supplement to their income (for instance, someone who sells snakes professionally). I've run into far too many 'pros' that know surprisingly little about their animals other then how to market and sometimes breed them.

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Very true... I didn't really think about it that way. I can't change the poll now :(

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I'm not wild about the term 'pro' and placing it seemingly so high on the list. To me 'Professional' indicates someone who deals with the animals as the source of their income or as a supplement to their income (for instance, someone who sells snakes professionally). I've run into far too many 'pros' that know surprisingly little about their animals other then how to market and sometimes breed them.

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I'm a PRO in just such fashion. I have no doubt that a bunch of folks here know way more than I do about balls, heh heh heh, but, since I sell them, I'm a Pro.

Pattimuss, it is ever fascinating when you see what really goes on in the minds of others when the subject is themselves.

Oops, there's the Maitre De, calling a table is ready for the Hubris Party, Hubris, party of one, your table is ready....

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I'm not wild about the term 'pro' and placing it seemingly so high on the list. To me 'Professional' indicates someone who deals with the animals as the source of their income or as a supplement to their income (for instance, someone who sells snakes professionally). I've run into far too many 'pros' that know surprisingly little about their animals other then how to market and sometimes breed them.

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Hey Mark, way to step on my above post. Haha.
That is exactly what I was referring to.
-Steven

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

Interesting to see the people who think they are advanced, pro or expert

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That reminds me of another poll I saw one time where over 90% of the people polled considered themselves to be above average drivers. Hmmmm, think about that one for a minute.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

That reminds me of another poll I saw one time where over 90% of the people polled considered themselves to be above average drivers. Hmmmm, think about that one for a minute.

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Kinda reminds me of a joke and I think it was George Carlin.... Somewhere, someplace, is the worst doctor in the world. He is licensed, trained and certified, but there is always a worst of something.

'Average' is misleading. Average by reptile folks? Or average by the average person. I would call my self UBERADVANCED if it was by the average person. Next to Brian Barczyk? D: Psh. Not even Novice.

Average, you never stop to learn when it comes to animals.

I placed myself as a beginner.
The snakes are always teaching and so what else could I be?
In fact, the older I get the more I realize I am a beginner with all things... and I'm thankful for this :)

Maybe a better question is how much does a person need to know to keep a ball python as a pet. Some of the advice on this forum is extreme.

None of the snakes I had when I was younger ever complained. And none ever had a hide, aspen, uth, moss, t-stats, etc. None ever bit me, or even tried, and they never saw a vet. They lived in glass tanks with screen tops at room temp with zero humidity and a light bulb and a stick for basking.

Best advice I've received here so far is "don't drive yourself nuts!" :rolleye2:

That said, I'll still be asking stupid questions that have been asked a million times before and I expect all of you to provide as much advice as is humanly possible. :)

Thanks.
JohnNJ

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Oops, there's the Maitre De, calling a table is ready for the Hubris Party, Hubris, party of one, your table is ready....

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Sorry I'm late. Is the party still on?

~Kat

above average for knowledge of keeping herps, I haven't worked with too many species to consider myself "advanced" and certainly I'm no professional, I don't get any money from doing this.

Though certainly advanced in my knowledge of field herping, different kinds of knowledge about reptiles :D Of course that's very regional, I'm experienced in Texas on east to florida, but anywhere else in the US(or world) and I'm out of my element.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

None of the snakes I had when I was younger ever complained.

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Do snakes complain openly? ;)

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Average, you never stop to learn when it comes to animals.

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Exactly!!! Everytime I turn around & there is something new to learn. I've been keeping reptiles for over 15 years, but there still a ton of stuff out there that is brand new to me.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Average, you never stop to learn when it comes to animals.

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Yeah, you never stop to, hey...wait a minute, that doesn't make sense.....lol

I've said it before, and will do so again, if you're not careful you can larn something new every doggone day.

I chose advanced... I consider myself to know a little more thanks to this site then the average Ball Python owner that gets all their knowledge from the petco guy.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

...gets all their knowledge from the petco guy.

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Your PETCO guy knows something about snakes?

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Alright, you guys get the spanners over here, you two, with the studs, over on the north wall. Who's got the sawsall? Over here with that, this doorway needs to be expanded. Forget putting a new door in, just make the doorway bigger. Nope, take the screen door off entirely, won't need it after we're done, it wouldn't fit anyway.

What??? They didn't put the header on the load? Where am I supposed to get a 4 X 12 that's 6 feet long this time of day. Just double up some 2 X 4s, this job has got to be finished asap.

Any more big heads come crashing through this standard doorway and the whole place will come down on top of us.

Gordo, get off your but and get to it.

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No need for any major carpentry yet. I think most of us graded ourselves on our progress; Where we are now in our learning process compared to where we were when we first got into the hobby/breeding.

I think most of us know more than someone new to snakes, and certainly do not ask the common average questions of the "newbie." Most of us may have gone on to focus on genetics of the animals or the "whys" of any aspect of breeding. Grading yourself this way is not having a swelled head but knowing what you are capable of in the here and now.

If the comparison is to a breeder that's been in the game longer; if we are to match up against another PRO breeder, our estimation of ourselves would be reduced by say..Kara? How would I rate myself compared to her...of course, I am a NOVICE.

BUT when we are making our own milestones, marking our own progress, only we know where we are compared to where we began, and it shows by how we respond to inquiries on breeding, genetics. etc.

Hope this helped.

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Originally Posted by broadude

No need for any major carpentry yet. I think most of us graded ourselves on our progress; Where we are now in our learning process compared to where we were when we first got into the hobby/breeding.

I think most of us know more than someone new to snakes, and certainly do not ask the common average questions of the "newbie." Most of us may have gone on to focus on genetics of the animals or the "whys" of any aspect of breeding. Grading yourself this way is not having a swelled head but knowing what you are capable of in the here and now.

If the comparison is to a breeder that's been in the game longer; if we are to match up against another PRO breeder, our estimation of ourselves would be reduced by say..Kara? How would I rate myself compared to her...of course, I am a NOVICE.

BUT when we are making our own milestones, marking our own progress, only we know where we are compared to where we began, and it shows by how we respond to inquiries on breeding, genetics. etc.

Hope this helped.

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Thank you. That's what I was thinking when I chose.

I rated based on what I know that I've learned on the proper keeping and care of the individual species which I keep. If we're talking general reptile knowledge that goes WAY down. I've been devouring every bit of info I can get my hands on for the last couple years regarding BPs, corns, kings and most recently hognoses and feel that I have a fairly good handle on what I need to know in order to keep healthy happy snakes.
However, if you were to ask me anything but the most basic questions on keeping lizards or turtles I would be totally lost!

obviously very few of us at BPN(if any in fact) are even vets qualified to work with reptiles, and I think that alone is something to consider when judging your expertise.

I'm often surprised though how little the "average" person, or even the "average well-educated" person knows about reptiles.

I always get all the reptile Qs correct and faster than just about all contestants on jeopardy(not the best standard to judge things on, but at least you know you are "competing" with knowledgable people!), but the contestants hardly ever get any, on top of being what I would consider extremely easy questions. Totally my favorite category.. except possibly dinosaurs :-P

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Originally Posted by broadude

Hope this helped.

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Did someone ask for help? I must have missed it. Pattimuss, did you ask for help? I know I certainly needed no help though I am ever so grateful that it was so unsolciticiously offered, indeed I am, but I never asked for any.

Anyone.....anyone at all?

I put average. I read everything I can get my hands on to feel that I am knowledgable (for he snakes' benefit). I am very comfortable handling my animals, and feel they are healthy, but have not bred any of them yet. We have 5 different species of snakes too. But I feel like there is still a LOT to learn and experience! Good thread!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by broadude

No need for any major carpentry yet. I think most of us graded ourselves on our progress; Where we are now in our learning process compared to where we were when we first got into the hobby/breeding.

I think most of us know more than someone new to snakes, and certainly do not ask the common average questions of the "newbie." Most of us may have gone on to focus on genetics of the animals or the "whys" of any aspect of breeding. Grading yourself this way is not having a swelled head but knowing what you are capable of in the here and now.

If the comparison is to a breeder that's been in the game longer; if we are to match up against another PRO breeder, our estimation of ourselves would be reduced by say..Kara? How would I rate myself compared to her...of course, I am a NOVICE.

BUT when we are making our own milestones, marking our own progress, only we know where we are compared to where we began, and it shows by how we respond to inquiries on breeding, genetics. etc.

Hope this helped.

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I agree, and think that this poll should be more specific in what way your looking at your knowledge.
In my progression of how much I have learned and how much I feel I can give to other people, I am much more advanced then when I first started.
However, when it comes to how much I have yet to learn, how much I know I need to experience, I would be very much a beginner, as this is indeed the beginning of many of our long journeys.
I would consider, a true professional, to be a herp veterinarian with multiple snakes at home and experience not just in the class room, but with breeding and keeping as well on a large scale.
That to me, is a rare professional of reptiles.

I put average, You're always learning something new


1.1 normal
0.1 pastel

can someone really be advanced at another species if they are just avg at their own?

i put average i guess

I put advanced. Definitely above average, but not pro or expert.

I put myself as advanced, but not just in ballpythons. I also could set up right now a beardie, leo, turtle, tortoise, iguana, and a few other reptiles setup correctly if I had the stuff. I cant see anyone being experienced because it seems like were always learning something new:)

I'm not sure what to put. I consider myself having a pretty good KNOWLEDGE of BPs. I read the books and lurk on the forums daily trying to absorb as much as possible. I would consider my knowledge no less than average.

But my EXPERIENCE is still at the level of a beginner or novice. Gaining experience comes from taking the knowledge you have and applying it to real world situations.

For instance, I learned about what to do if a BP won't eat, and tips for picky feeders. I have knowledge of that. But until I have an animal that won't eat, and have to put that knowledge to use, I don't have any experience with it.