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

[Sonny1318]

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!

I hope not. Yeah that’s a lesson you don’t need to learn twice. And considering it happened almost thirty years ago. I kinda know better now. Least I hope, Lol.

[redshepherd]

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.

Right?? Thankfully I only had a ball python who definitely wouldn't eat a mouse popsicle. If I had a ravenous boa or carpet python who actually might go for it, it would've turned out really badly!

[Bistem]

Yeah that’s a lesson you don’t need to learn twice.

I have always loved this old picture and it almost applies to this quoted text.

[Team Slytherin]

Weeeell, I also nearly had a stroke the other day. It’s getting warmer here in Southern California, so when I got home, I went to my room to check on the kids. Although their heating elements are on separate thermostats, both enclosures were much hotter than normal (coolest area in both was 85 degrees!)

As this was the same day another forum member lost his boa due to an overheat, I quickly looked for my scrub to make sure he was ok. Tucked up inside his favorite dinosaur egg hide, he felt warm to the touch as though he had been basking. He recoiled from my hand, made a huffing sound, and wedgedhimself in further. That is his normal speak for, “don’t bother me right now.” I remembered the advice given on the forum that day of allowing the snake to cool off gradually. So I turned off the lamps and removed him from his enclosure. I set his hide on my bed with him inside and covered it with a towel for darkness. I also checked the Dumeril’s and turned off her light. I opened the front doors to her cage to let the warm air out and left her sleeping in her hide. I shut the door to my room and started doing chores.

I checked in several times, as I was folding clothes, etc. About the fifth time I walked in, I shrieked like a banshee and ran over to find my scrub in the Dumeril’s cage! It happened so fast, I didn’t even get the chance to assess the situation. I reached my hand in to grab him (which I NEVER do, but instinct wins!) and he bolted through the door hinge.

It it seemed like he had just gotten there, but it was hard to tell. She was half out of her hide, puffed up in protest and he just looked like he was trying to find a basking spot. I think I scared the poor guy, cause he just looked at me like, “why’d you make that scary sound?!” I’m sure he just saw the open door and was like, “that’s my old room! Waaait a minute. There’s someone in here! Why is someone in here?!”

Anyway, everything was fine and I acted like a lunatic. But talk about a rookie mistake 🙄

[Bogertophis]

I'm glad nothing bad came out of that awful afternoon, Team Slytherin! I'd probably have acted like a lunatic too...I'm not big on "surprises"!

[Spechal]

Buying more expensive snakes from box stores before knowing about local breeders.

Buying too many live rodents at once and then they grow up before fed, but at least I have breeders now so I don’t buy so often.

Not knowing how to treat for mites and check for mites pre-purchase.

Feeding mice instead of rats.

Feeding soft furs instead of rats.

Not knowing how to pop before making a purchase to make sure it’s the sex I wanted.

Buying feeders from box stores instead of finding local rodent breeders.

Forgetting to latch tubs.

Buying hides instead of cutting plastic flower pots.

Buying water dishes with and upward curve that got tipped over.

Buying tanks instead of tubs. Luckily they were repurposed for my geckos and dragons.

Knowledge is power and cost savings can become key with a bigger collection. BHB tips and tricks video for larger collections as a good watch.

Instant gratification and extra funds lead to mistakes that need corrected which could have been spent smarter and on more snakes. Ask a breeder if they will hold for a deposit so you can mull it over before pulling the trigger and someone else snatching it up from under you. Just be 95% sure so you don’t lose that deposit. Some will even hold with deposit or take payments prior to delivery ... for those $$$$ snakes.


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[John1982]

Last weekend I was feeding some colubrids. This usually involves me opening tubs and trying to throw food in their faces before they come shooting out. With some snakes, like my indigo, I leave the tub slightly opened because I offer multiple smaller food items and want to track feeding without too much interruption. I've been raising this mexican indigo for almost 2 years now and figured I had her pretty well pegged, she'd take at least a couple minutes to find all three of her meals and scarf them down. I always know when she's finished because she will suddenly rear up, very dramatic, then advance on me while striking at anything that moves - never quite satisfied in the belly, this one. I continue my feeding routine with some of my ground floor animals which are my breeder pits. An adult female bull snake had just snagged a medium rat when suddenly something shiny and black crosses my vision as it flies through the air. The indigo, having finished her meals in record time(talking less than 1 minute for 3 reptilinks), had broken protocol and slithered out quite stealthily. I can only imagine that having sighted the bull snake below(a good 4 times her size, mind you), this indigo couldn't help but launch herself at a meal that might finally satisfy the insatiable. Everything felt slow motion from the passing blur and I was reaching for the snakes before touchdown. Her aim was true, having latched the head of the bull snake before any of the rest of her body even hit the ground, but luckily I was a mere moment behind. I laid hands on them before the inevitable chomping and thrashing could cause any real damage to the bull snake and managed to peel the indigo off her prey without much fuss. The indigo was not pleased that I ruined her super sized meal opportunity and continued to give me the stink eye for the rest of the weekend. The bull snake received some shallow puncture wounds - maybe a little more damage than an enthusiastic male might cause during courtship - but being a typical pit, she didn't even relinquish her hold on the rat and continued her feed like nothing was out of the ordinary.

[Skyrivers]

WOW! This was a fun read. Nice story.

Last weekend I was feeding some colubrids. This usually involves me opening tubs and trying to throw food in their faces before they come shooting out. With some snakes, like my indigo, I leave the tub slightly opened because I offer multiple smaller food items and want to track feeding without too much interruption. I've been raising this mexican indigo for almost 2 years now and figured I had her pretty well pegged, she'd take at least a couple minutes to find all three of her meals and scarf them down. I always know when she's finished because she will suddenly rear up, very dramatic, then advance on me while striking at anything that moves - never quite satisfied in the belly, this one. I continue my feeding routine with some of my ground floor animals which are my breeder pits. An adult female bull snake had just snagged a medium rat when suddenly something shiny and black crosses my vision as it flies through the air. The indigo, having finished her meals in record time(talking less than 1 minute for 3 reptilinks), had broken protocol and slithered out quite stealthily. I can only imagine that having sighted the bull snake below(a good 4 times her size, mind you), this indigo couldn't help but launch herself at a meal that might finally satisfy the insatiable. Everything felt slow motion from the passing blur and I was reaching for the snakes before touchdown. Her aim was true, having latched the head of the bull snake before any of the rest of her body even hit the ground, but luckily I was a mere moment behind. I laid hands on them before the inevitable chomping and thrashing could cause any real damage to the bull snake and managed to peel the indigo off her prey without much fuss. The indigo was not pleased that I ruined her super sized meal opportunity and continued to give me the stink eye for the rest of the weekend. The bull snake received some shallow puncture wounds - maybe a little more damage than an enthusiastic male might cause during courtship - but being a typical pit, she didn't even relinquish her hold on the rat and continued her feed like nothing was out of the ordinary.

My most rookie mistake was years ago when I was a kid. We had a pet king snake. She refused to eat one mouse so I left it in her enclosure for a month. She did eat others during this time but the mouse that lived in there the entire time just was not on the menu. I did not realize the dangers and stress it put on her. I do not have a clue to this day as to why she refused this particular mouse? I don't feed live if I have a choice now. Is much safer.

[Apiratenamedjohn]

WOW! This was a fun read. Nice story.





My most rookie mistake was years ago when I was a kid. We had a pet king snake. She refused to eat one mouse so I left it in her enclosure for a month. She did eat others during this time but the mouse that lived in there the entire time just was not on the menu. I did not realize the dangers and stress it put on her. I do not have a clue to this day as to why she refused this particular mouse? I don't feed live if I have a choice now. Is much safer.

My bp had a 3 legged mouse he refused to eat. Id only leave them in the feeding tank for about 30 mins tops. (Usually takes him 5) But they would just hang out. The mouse would just be standing on top of him or sitting in the middle of his coils cleaning itself. It was ridiculous. Tried to feed him in between other mice he ate for a couple month before i gave the darned thing to a friend for his snake.

[Spechal]

My bp had a 3 legged mouse he refused to eat. Id only leave them in the feeding tank for about 30 mins tops. (Usually takes him 5) But they would just hang out. The mouse would just be standing on top of him or sitting in the middle of his coils cleaning itself. It was ridiculous. Tried to feed him in between other mice he ate for a couple month before i gave the darned thing to a friend for his snake.

I hate it when they become buddies. Off to the next hungry one I say!


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