How would you rate your bp/reptile knowledge level?

[starmom]

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

[JohnNJ]

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!"

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

[janeothejungle]

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

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

~Kat

[mainbutter]

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 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.

[littleindiangirl]

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

Do snakes complain openly?

[Muze]

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

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.

[wilomn]

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

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.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

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.

[JohnNJ]

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

Your PETCO guy knows something about snakes?

[broadude]

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.

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.