Reptile & Amphibian Forums

(cross posted to Bob Clark burm forum)
Not a big deal but I wanted to share an SFE (stupid feeding
error for you newbs to the snake/burm world) so no one else makes the same mistake. My female has been in breeding prep for a month and a half but I noticed my male has mild RI from his cool down. I have my male and female in the same room but the male is in a cage, female is not. I went to give my female a few small rats to tide her over until I feed her. Well, I decided to give my male on of the small rats but didnt even think about the effect on the female. Well, as I opened the male's cage to dangle a rat, my female nailed my on the elbow. She realized she screwed up and released but some serious pinpricks (shes 12' ) and some blood later, I wanted to share with y'all. It was just an SFE and my elbow will be sore for a few days. Dont forget about other animals in the area when feeding one...tunnel vision can get you hurt.

I want to reply to this post before any others begin to criticize you for the obvious (people tend to jump all over folks when they admit to doing something less than brilliant in this hobby).

I too get bit quite often and it's really easy to either overlook something that leads to being bitten, or to experience something that one can never expect because it has never happened before. Case in point, it happened to me just yesterday.

I wanted to get some good pictures of some of my snakes so I set up an adjustable halogen light stand (you know, the double lamp, work light?). So I went from cage to cage, each time setting up this very hot double halogen light so as to get great shots.

Now,.. I am used to the retics having an overly enthusiastic feeding response whenever I open their cages. I am always prepared for their enevitable forward thrust, eyeing me hard for any signs of food. And I always "defuse" this feeding response a certain way. It's nothing new.

But this time, when I opened the first tiger retic cage, the female shot out about 5 feet and came dangerously close to my head and face. I was baffled by this given the unusual ferocity of this uncommon and explosive feeding response. Had I not had quick responses and a very good "duck down and back" technique that I am always ready to use instinctively, she would have been on me.

Anyways,. I quickly got over the initial shock and did my defuse technique of allowing her to smell me and I shot some pictures and moved on to the next cage. I was still baffled by this, but have learned over the years that the unexpected DOES happen occasionally, so I might as well just chalk it up to a chance, freak event.

So I open the next cage and WHISH-ZOOM!!, the next female did the same EXACT thing! Again shooting out many feet and again almost getting me. This time I just shut the door as she backed up so I could think about what was happening. Twice in a row made me want to figure this thing out. It hit me as soon as I began to wonder what was different about last night from any other night. The lights! They're very hot and undoubtedly give off an instant heat signal to the retic's heat sensing equipment, which they take for a warm blooded animal cruising by and WHAM, they shoot for it without even having to see it.

So I advise anyone using hot lights to take pictures to be especially careful around the boids that have heat sensing equipment.

>>cross posted to Bob Clark burm forum)
>>Not a big deal but I wanted to share an SFE (stupid feeding
>>error for you newbs to the snake/burm world) so no one else makes the same mistake. My female has been in breeding prep for a month and a half but I noticed my male has mild RI from his cool down. I have my male and female in the same room but the male is in a cage, female is not. I went to give my female a few small rats to tide her over until I feed her. Well, I decided to give my male on of the small rats but didnt even think about the effect on the female. Well, as I opened the male's cage to dangle a rat, my female nailed my on the elbow. She realized she screwed up and released but some serious pinpricks (shes 12' ) and some blood later, I wanted to share with y'all. It was just an SFE and my elbow will be sore for a few days. Dont forget about other animals in the area when feeding one...tunnel vision can get you hurt.
-----
"If I had 365 enemies it would only take a year out of my life to settle all scores. Heck, much less if some live in the same states as others" Mia Myselfani

"All deeds be they good or bad shall be repaid one hundred fold." Yers Troolie

I am glad both of you are OK and nothing serious happened. I always try to be extra careful anytime the cage door is opened.
Accidents can and will happen.

So Brian we expect to see some of those pics you have taken.

>>I want to reply to this post before any others begin to criticize you for the obvious (people tend to jump all over folks when they admit to doing something less than brilliant in this hobby).
>>
>>I too get bit quite often and it's really easy to either overlook something that leads to being bitten, or to experience something that one can never expect because it has never happened before. Case in point, it happened to me just yesterday.
>>
>>I wanted to get some good pictures of some of my snakes so I set up an adjustable halogen light stand (you know, the double lamp, work light?). So I went from cage to cage, each time setting up this very hot double halogen light so as to get great shots.
>>
>>Now,.. I am used to the retics having an overly enthusiastic feeding response whenever I open their cages. I am always prepared for their enevitable forward thrust, eyeing me hard for any signs of food. And I always "defuse" this feeding response a certain way. It's nothing new.
>>
>>But this time, when I opened the first tiger retic cage, the female shot out about 5 feet and came dangerously close to my head and face. I was baffled by this given the unusual ferocity of this uncommon and explosive feeding response. Had I not had quick responses and a very good "duck down and back" technique that I am always ready to use instinctively, she would have been on me.
>>
>>Anyways,. I quickly got over the initial shock and did my defuse technique of allowing her to smell me and I shot some pictures and moved on to the next cage. I was still baffled by this, but have learned over the years that the unexpected DOES happen occasionally, so I might as well just chalk it up to a chance, freak event.
>>
>>So I open the next cage and WHISH-ZOOM!!, the next female did the same EXACT thing! Again shooting out many feet and again almost getting me. This time I just shut the door as she backed up so I could think about what was happening. Twice in a row made me want to figure this thing out. It hit me as soon as I began to wonder what was different about last night from any other night. The lights! They're very hot and undoubtedly give off an instant heat signal to the retic's heat sensing equipment, which they take for a warm blooded animal cruising by and WHAM, they shoot for it without even having to see it.
>>
>>So I advise anyone using hot lights to take pictures to be especially careful around the boids that have heat sensing equipment.
>>
>>
>>>>cross posted to Bob Clark burm forum)
>>>>Not a big deal but I wanted to share an SFE (stupid feeding
>>>>error for you newbs to the snake/burm world) so no one else makes the same mistake. My female has been in breeding prep for a month and a half but I noticed my male has mild RI from his cool down. I have my male and female in the same room but the male is in a cage, female is not. I went to give my female a few small rats to tide her over until I feed her. Well, I decided to give my male on of the small rats but didnt even think about the effect on the female. Well, as I opened the male's cage to dangle a rat, my female nailed my on the elbow. She realized she screwed up and released but some serious pinpricks (shes 12' ) and some blood later, I wanted to share with y'all. It was just an SFE and my elbow will be sore for a few days. Dont forget about other animals in the area when feeding one...tunnel vision can get you hurt.
>>-----
>>"If I had 365 enemies it would only take a year out of my life to settle all scores. Heck, much less if some live in the same states as others" Mia Myselfani
>>
>>"All deeds be they good or bad shall be repaid one hundred fold." Yers Troolie
-----
Thomas Jones
aligatorhunter@earthlink.net

No one is to be trusted

JDP,
Not to start the criticism but I personnaly think it is bad husbandry to allow a snake, especially a large python to roam a room. In my opinion all snakes should be kept in enclosures and that when its keeper comes to do maintenance or whatever you are not having to enter its enclosure. I think it is amazing that accidents like that has not happened for you before. Especially with other snakes also in the room. Everytime you feed the other snakes you are entering her enclosure with prey items that are not for her. Another reason I think it is improper is from an experience an aquintance of mine had in the 80's. He had a 15' retic that he let live in a room. Well one day someone broke into his house and just so happened that he picked the snake room to break into. Well upon seeing the large snake the burgler abruptly left leaving the window open. The snake crawled out the window and went exploring. Later it ate something, and was sleeping in a ditch by a road and the county mowed that day and ran teh snake over with the brushhog. Anyway, I just wanted to express my concern on this matter. Todd

I understand your concern. However, those on this forum who know me know that I am a responsible keeper and this would be an isolated incident. She is only in that room for now because its kept at a constant 87 degrees. She has an enclosure but with my breeding project, I wanted to get her and the male somewhat used to each other for a short period of time and do the pre-breeding warmup in the same room. Granted it was an easy oversight that I should have taken into consideration, I admit that. I do believe we all get nailed from time to time, no matter how experienced we are. A wise man learns from his mistakes and by sharing my experience hopefully someone will remember it and not make the same oversight.

I understand and I agree that if we all can learn form others mistakes then it is one less mistake we ourselves will make. I am sorry if you took my post as rudefor that was not my intent. I was just voicing my opinion on what I read. I myself do not know any of the members personally but would like to change that over the next few years as I get more involved in this business. Anyway, good luck with all your future indeavors and I hope you didn't take what I said personally, Todd

Added a pic in case anyone wants to see the damage. Not too bad, just sore.

At least that mistake wasnt with an adult croc monitor. You would have some badly severed tendons, and major lacerations from the same little love bite.

...sorry, couldnt resist. Feel free to hush me. hahahaha! Damn monitor people!