So I have to admit...

[qiksilver]

I did not have a great week so far. I went back to NJ this weekend, and when I came back to my place in Boston I noticed my rat was missing. I was a little worried, but I was sick and I had to go to class, so only a quick search and then I had to leave. Later when I came back I realized that it was useless to search seeing as I have had mice come into my apt. before and if she went in one of the holes she was gone. I took a nap since I'm sick, and wake up to her scurrying around on top of her closed cage, she can sure jump!. So I wake up and look, she scurries away, and I'm like well, she'll come back again for food, open it up, go back to doing some work, and sure enough I hear her jumping again, and watch her jump right up onto the top of her cage and down into it again, hooray she's back! So the next morning I wake up to realize that I fell asleep on things, and the I had left a rainbow boa cage cracked to give him some air. So of course he's gone. I search everywhere, under and behind everything, move the fridge, no where to be found. I did however find a hole under my sink, and decided he went there following mouse scent. This was tuesday morning. So last night, right as I was leaving to go watch fireworks, my friend turns around and looks into my kitchen saying, "uh, Mike, that snake you're missing? I found it." It had crawled up onto my friends bike that he rode over that we put it my kitchen, with his tail wrapped around the tire, leaning on the handlebars, staring down lunch, which happened to be my poor freaked out female Uroplatus sikorae, she was in a pretty good defensive posture. So after two days of being out he too decided that food was closer than he was searching. I was really worried though because he is 6 feet, by far the strongest snake I have at the moment, and he is extremely mean, so I was hoping he didn't get too far away from my place, but it seems he never even left.

Not the most interesting story ever, but I thought it was worth telling, especially to think about next time you lose a snake. Sorry it's so long.

[sweety314]

Sorry to hear that you've been under the weather *here's some warm, chicken soup* but congrats on being able to recover both of your escapees!

[McAdry]

I don't know where to begin other then people can be educated beyond their intelligence. The horriable magintude of the stupidty behind needing to admit what happend was that you have pet's in the first place.Do the rest of the responsiable snake keepers a favor and surrender your animals to someone that has an iota of common sense. You don't leave a rainbows cage open so you can get some air it should be vented properly to allow enough airflow if you take the snake out you lock it up when you put it back. Very very simple rules it's not an accident you must be smarter then your pets.

[TheAudOne]

hmm we all make mistakes in life its what makes us human, we do stupid things we know we shouldnt, and we only think about that after something happens. It's easy to sit back now and say "should of"but really is there a damn thing he can do now? Not unless you pull some sort of time travel device out of your butt, then nope...he can learn and not do it again. Does he know that now? I'd hope so...does he need someone jumping on him calling him an idiot and saying to give up his snakes? I dont think so, but that's me. Although I'm sure my opinion will be jumped on by someone And that's alright, the guy said he was sick and what not so really lay off, human error, if he thought for a moment his pets would get out would he do it? I hope not *shrugs* Life is about learning, I'm sure we have all done things as far as our pets go that we wouldnt do today, we learned and know better, imagine making one mistake an having your pets taken away because of it, thats a bit extreme I believe as far as this mistake goes.
Although I have made mistakes as a parent, feel free to come get my toddler But seriously, maybe some wont admit it, but I believe we have all made mistakes, some might not admit to it...but ya have *nods* Live an learn, thats life.

So get better soon sweety, stuffs been going around Let us know how the pets are doing, I'm glad they both decided to not go far, ya got lucky for sure, ours never went far either thank god, granted they are all BPs but still feels horrible AND dont worry, they cant get out now so dont jump all over me.

[MeMe]

I agree with you Aud.

ship happens.

It was a lil irresponsible but a mistake never the less.

I don't think that it requires any type of demeaning.

I also don't believe he should surrender his pets.

I have had my RTB get out twice. And one of my bp's got out once also.

It was a live and learn mistake.

*remember...nobody is perfect.*

glad to hear you got both of your pets back into their enclsures! and thanks for sharing your story with us. Hope you feel better.

all is well that ends well.

[frankykeno]

Look, read the post folks. He cracked the enclosure for air? Why is this quite large, admittedly mean snake in an enclosure without proper air exchange? No one I know that keeps snakes responsibly houses in a way that the snake doesn't get regular and clean air. You don't open a tank unless you are ready to deal with a loose snake...end of story.

Mike and I have faced the heartbreak of a loose snake, our small son's snake Helori last year. I was far too tired and I forgot one of the four clips that kept her safe. My fault, my error, my lesson learned but Helori paid the greatest price. We still have a 6 year old who cries about his snake and wonders if she didn't like him so went away. As a mom, I have to deal with the fact that my mometary lapse caused this. I don't give myself one break here, I don't write it off as "oh I was tired and having a bad week". My son and his snake had a VERY bad week and I posted about it here to help educate folks and warn them. I fully accepted and was ready to take any all all critism of my management of that precious snake with no whining about anyone picking on me.

The next issue is, this is a big snake and one that it's own owner calls mean natured. So what happens if this snake is not properly managed and gets over at the neighbours house? Will you enjoy the new laws that take away your right to own a snake because someone who chooses to house a larger snake doesn't use extra precautions. Sorry but I know I won't. If you are sick, tired or unable to fully manage your snake, then keep it safe in it's home (I still don't get the cracking for ventilation deal). If you have rodents keep them secured. One loose pregnant female rat can cause a major issue and you can end up with the health unit saying hi at your door or the landlord with an evict notice.

Responsibility isn't always fun, isn't always easy but it's what it is when you take on these animals.

[TheAudOne]

oh crappy, I so ruined the image Jamie had of me Now he knows I am -not- perfect

[TheAudOne]

Mike and I have faced the heartbreak of a loose snake, our small son's snake Helori last year. I was far too tired and I forgot one of the four clips that kept her safe. My fault, my error, my lesson learned but Helori paid the greatest price. We still have a 6 year old who cries about his snake and wonders if she didn't like him so went away. As a mom, I have to deal with the fact that my mometary lapse caused this. I don't give myself one break here, I don't write it off as "oh I was tired and having a bad week". My son and his snake had a VERY bad week and I posted about it here to help educate folks and warn them. I fully accepted and was ready to take any all all critism of my management of that precious snake with no whining about anyone picking on me.

But imagine that snake being gone now because of that, no one is picking on anyone...we have a right to voice our opnion like the next guy, and the one before him...I was just saying its a bit extreme...

[qiksilver]

well i opened the cage to change water, and left if open because we're trying to get to know each other because we're trying to work out a mutual understanding (he's much better than when i got him), and i had my eye on him. I had a long day, drove from nj to boston in order to make my morning classes, had a full day of class, and was sick, tried to sit down... about 2 feet from the cage to do some work, and fell asleep at my desk.
Not saying I'm not irresponsible, but it does not make me the anti-christ. I have to admit, it my 10 years of herp keeping this is the dumbest thing I've done. But if I was really worried about getting yelled at I would have kept the story to myself, so have a ball, people do quite often make mistakes, not always of this magnitude, but yes... damn... i fell asleep on the job, quite literally.

and jo, you did pretty much the same stupid thing, lost a snake... it died, and still you're condemning me? how does that seem ok?

[SarahMB]

I fully accepted and was ready to take any all all critism of my management of that precious snake with no whining about anyone picking on me.

Except no one DID pick on you, everyone was very supportive and sorry you lost your snake. And Mike certainly did not say you are stupid and need your animals to go to responsible owners. Much easier to say that to a stranger, right? I'm not one to say people shouldn't judge, as my view is that ALL people judge all the time, it's human nature. But this is a huge double standard, in my opinion.