What to do when things go wrong? Discussion.

[zina10]

1. Even with binder clips, snakes can still escape tubs. It happened with my ones with a slim head and my ball python. With enough persistence and time, they will get out. So I learned to put the slim snakes (ie colubrids) in lockable glass tanks like Critter Cage or a pvc cage like AP. Or if I choose to continue to use the tub, add more clips and keep the room door (keep the room clutter free and snake proof) closed in case it gets out again, I can find it.

Or go rack.

On a side note, depending on your state/city laws, as the home owner, you may be liable for injuries the worker sustained from your property. For example, in FL, if you hired a contractor who had no insurance to work on your roof, he slipped and fell, he can file a claim with your home insurance. Without going into too much details, just know what it may seem obvious (like he should not be working on a roof while raining) may not free you from being liable.

Whether or not he gets any money depends on how much fault the insurance company thinks he has on his part vs your part as the owner, and how hurt he is or how the injury contributed to aggravate his existing injuries. So it is always recommended to hire licensed contractors who are almost always insured. So if their employees were hurt, they would file the claim with their employer's insurance.

Ok, back on track.

He was licensed and insured, not independent, either. I told him explicitly that I didn't think it was a good idea to get on the roof in the rain. I told him I wouldn't mind re-scheduling. He had a attitude to begin with, did NOT want to reschedule and all but insisted to get the job over with. He also seemed rushed. Short of ordering him off of my property, there was nothing I could do. Me nor my insurance had to pay a penny and he had to come back and fix my gutters. Which he did a crappy job of, because they leaked from that day forward.

Back on topic, I agree about snakes being escape artists. If a lid even gives a tiny bit, they will sqish their way out, even if it means they cause themselves harm by getting scrapes or even getting stuck. Seen it all !!

I also had one get loose in car while driving. That was bad...especially since I couldn't pull over or stop right then. I was on one of those long drawn out bridges. I held on to him with one hand and was driving with the other. He was just a small russian ratsnake, but he had hooked himself around the headrest post, and there was no getting him off while driving. As soon as I could, I pulled over and wrestled him off of there and back into his tub

Since then I double and tripple check when traveling with snakes !!!