What's the biggest rookie mistake you've made?

[redshepherd]

Sticking my hand into Cake's tub when I brought his first or second mouse home... He was only 100g or so, so the bite didn't hurt at all to the point that I didn't even realize he bit me, until I looked down a few minutes later! And saw a couple drops of blood on my hand!

Second mistake is that on my very first f/t feeding of Cake, I forgot I had to thaw the mouse....... I left a frozen popsicle of mouse in his tub for a couple minutes and wondered why he wouldn't go for it. I gotta say, that felt very dumb and not sure there are many newbies who forget to thaw. LOL

Thankfully, I had no husbandry errors and never did for any of my snakes, and I'm always really proud of that :B *wipes sweat*

[55fingers]

Not having a thermostat, not having a thermometer or hygronometer, offering a thawed but cold and wet rat, underestimating the escaping capabilities of a ball python.

I'll be honest, this was me less than a month ago. I've improved my knowledge and husbandry since then (thanks to all the helpful people on this forum) and I think I'm doing O.K

[RickyNY]

Thinking a ball python could perch like a tree boa. I'm so glad I caught Freddy mid air, it would have been a 6ft drop.

[Cheesenugget]

Went the cheap route and bought fish tanks for the snakes. The tanks were barely used until I switched to tubs.
Never underestimate that a snake cannot leave the tub, even when half of the holes are covered and all sides are clipped. My CP escaped TWICE.
If using tanks, spend the money for a lockable lid terrariums.
After spending years of using loose eco earth, I realize it is cheaper to use bricks, much cheaper.
Snakes will always attempt jailbreaks, no matter how secure the cage is, how big the cage is or how perfect the husbandry.
Feed live or continue whatever the snake's last meal was with its breeder. Switch to f/t later.
Don't trust every breeder too easily, especially the ones at Repticon.

Still learning...

[Zincubus]

Expecting a Royal to eat every 7 days ... I have two who will eat every time as long as it's every 10 days or more ..


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[Craiga 01453]

Second mistake is that on my very first f/t feeding of Cake, I forgot I had to thaw the mouse....... I left a frozen popsicle of mouse in his tub for a couple minutes and wondered why he wouldn't go for it. I gotta say, that felt very dumb and not sure there are many newbies who forget to thaw. LOL

Ok red, this is PRICLESS. It's called F/T, with the T meaning THAWED, hahaha!! Just playing!!

You've certainly come a long way!! Hahaha, it's kinda funny, and a bit sad when I think about how little I knew at first.
Honestly though, this is a great example of us all being newbies once upon a time. Thanks for sharing!! It was both hilarious and educational and reassuring.

[Bogertophis]

Well, this isn't just a 'newbie' mistake, but one we can all manage to do if not paying attention:

I was enjoying the company of my rosy boa one evening: while on the computer, my rosy was around my shoulders and then ended up in my shirt, making
me laugh both from her antics & my being ticklish. But it was in winter, so I knew she was enjoying the warmth as well as the exercise, so it went on for a
while...until all of a sudden there was this warm wet sensation running down my back... yup, she took a big dump that soaked the back of my shirt!
Such a trusting fool was I. Oops! And not her fault either...no way to warn me.
I'm not saying don't handle your snakes, but do consider when they last fed & take a look for a tell-tale bulge above their cloaca...it can save you a cleanup!

[SMTHook]

I engineered my enclosure with the heat lamp inside. I had purchased a cage for it but figured I would buy the snake today because he won't be big enough yet to get to it. So at the reptile show I meet Pi and he's so little. He fits in the palm of my hand with room to spare. He's perfect. No way he can reach that light. Everything's going good until he starts exploring and stretches out. I realize he can get to the unprotected lamp easily. I turn it off. Put him back in the container he came in. Back to Home Depot. I cut a 4in by 4in square. Buy some mesh. Secure light over mesh over hole Poor guy probably thought there was a massive earthquake.

[Sonny1318]

Okay here’s a good one, early nineties. I just bought my first home, had a good job. Already had a couple of boas. But never kept any colubrids. Was really excited to have the opportunity to really expand my collection. Was at Lee Watson’s reptile swap. And fell in love with a California king. Which we all know made me want more. Next swap comes home a milk snake. One day I’m cleaning everyone, and decide hey for five minutes they should be fine together (both they’re cages needed cleaning) They’re well feed, it will just be for five minutes, they only eat snakes in the wild, yeah right. They’re together like 15 seconds when the king latches on to the milk. Well I got them apart and everyone was okay. But I learned one hell of a lesson, let me tell you. Not to mention the small stroke I experienced.

- - - Updated - - -

Okay here’s a good one, early nineties. I just bought my first home, had a good job. Already had a couple of boas. But never kept any colubrids. Was really excited to have the opportunity to really expand my collection. Was at Lee Watson’s reptile swap. And fell in love with a California king. Which we all know made me want more. Next swap comes home a milk snake. One day I’m cleaning everyone, and decide hey for five minutes they should be fine together (both they’re cages needed cleaning) They’re well feed, it will just be for five minutes, they only eat snakes in the wild, yeah right. They’re together like 15 seconds when the king latches on to the milk. Well I got them apart and everyone was okay. But I learned one hell of a lesson, let me tell you. Not to mention the small stroke I experienced.

[Bogertophis]

.... Not to mention the small stroke I experienced.

And now you repeat paragraphs too, lol...

But seriously, never trust a king OR a milk snake. Kings, usually being larger & stronger, are going to win. That was far too close!