wots the worst piece of reptile advice you've ever been given??

[Gintha]

I don't have a picture of any of the horses, so I can't possibly provide one. I don't think there was even a place to develop film where I grew up We don't even have pics of my little bro as a baby, let alone the animals.

 

[rushrulz]

The reptile pet trade has actually improved tremendously in the last couple decades with information readily available to all who take the time to seek it. The information you can so easily find by typing in the search box now, many people here had to learn by trial and error when they started keeping herps. In a perfect world all stores and their employees would have great knowledge of the items they sell. But in the real world we just have to hope that new owners will find sites such as this, and do what we can to increase awareness and knowledge amongst the people we come in contact with and do business with. JMO

Well put. People should research purchases, particularly expensive items (like computer equipment) and living items (like snakes). We don't need to do extensive research on, say, candy bars, but with some stuff, it's totally worth an evening poking around the web or looking through a book (like Kathy's) so you know it's all going to go according to plan. I mean, snakes usually live for at least 10 years--30, maybe, with some species. It's not like it's an animal that's going to kick off in a couple years and you can just replace it. Assuming it's not being fed lettuce (*erp*), it's going to live quite a long time and get to quite a respectable size, and you don't want to get in over your head.

Of course, the snake's lifespan is partly why I think it may very well be worth it to fork over $40+ for shipping. I mean, save up a buck or two here and there, whatever it takes. Because then you'll know it's a healthy snake, and you can be sure of getting the morph and sex you want. You're going to have this creature living with you for years. I'd rather fork over the extra in shipping (or in my case, drive for a couple hours each way to meet the breeder) so I know I'll have the snake I want for the next 10+ years--and a snake that's in good shape. I mean, I could have gone to the reptile store in town and picked up a juvenile normal, but instead I chose to wait a couple months to get a nice Abbott's Okeetee from a reputable breeder ("Here, pippy pippy!" Heh, I suspect he's hatched by now...?).

I went to my Petco a little while ago, and they had a red tail boa and a bunch of balls. I don't remember seeing a lot of hides in the balls' viv, but it seemed clean and well-regulated and all. The snakes were active, slithering around and looking out of the glass and all. One had wrapped itself around the humidity gauge in the cutest little coiled spiral. I just died.

 

[Baba-Lou]

Really and you grew up where? I've NEVER heard of an arab over 16.5 hands. So 21 sounds like total BS to me

 

[Gintha]

Northern Alberta, near the Yukon. I always assumed he was purebred, since we called him an arab, but maybe he was a "mutt" horse. I dunno. He was just huge and black, turned white as he got older tho O.O

 

[Baba-Lou]

Wow northern alberta near yukon....you obviously you don't know your geography of Canada very well. No part of northen alberta touches the yukon. only the NWT where I live.

 

[Adui]

Dad burned it Gintha, I was all ready to defend you.. Then I decided after my last fiasco to read on and research.. Here is what I found out about your arabian story..

This excerpt is off the website linked at the bottom:

"Barek, another Arab stallion, foaled on the ranch in 1938, also is a favorite "cowpony." He was ridden not only in the round-up last spring, but was used on cattle trails throughout most of the summer by Pack. The way Bob cocks his ten-gallon hat each time he sits astride Barek is a signal of the pleasure and pride he has in this young son of the desert. He, personally, trained Barek as a roping horse. And Bob (sic) also has the distinction of being the tallest Arabian ever recorded. Standing 16 hands, one quarter inch, he "shades" the previous record-holder, Nureddin, owned by Lady Wentworth of England."

http://wiwfarm.com/VanVleet.html


Either you havent a clue about horse sizes or you really are the liar they say you are.. Too bad, I enjoy defending the underdog..

 

[Adui]

Went in the pet store at the mall.. Wanted to cry..

three or four Baby (Hatchling size) corns in a tank, no thermometers lights for heat, no real jhides, astro turf.. one looked dead but I didnt have the heart to ask about em.. I just left..

 

[Gintha]

I was 6 people, I got his size off the papers from the Calgary Stampede... go harass them for a little instead. They measured him, not me. And I said NEAR the Yukon, not beside it We were up in the NW corner of Alta, the part of Alta NEAREST the Yukon.

 

[MegF.]

Really and you grew up where? I've NEVER heard of an arab over 16.5 hands. So 21 sounds like total BS to me

Folks. Just for reference, a hand is equal to 4". You can only go to whatever amount.3 and then it's another hand. 16.5 Would be equal to 17.2 hands. 16.3 hands is as high as you go before going to the next hand. I've never seen an Arab taller than 16.2 hands which is the height of my warmblood. Even Polish Arabs rarely get that tall and are crossed with something like Thoroughbred to get it.

 

[MooreSnakes]

Let's see . . . some of the worst reptile advice . . .
Well, not exactly advice, but I've been told that because all the rattlesnakes at Camp Pendleton that rattle have been killed, only the ones with broken rattles reproduce, and therefore all the rattlesnakes there have no rattles. I know this is not true, because if a snakes breaks it's rattle, it's broken rattle is an acquired trait. Acquired traits are not passed on genetically as they do not affect DNA. The first theory of evolution was that species evolve because they get acquired traits, which are then passed on to their offspring. This theory was proven false. (I knew that biology class would come in useful)
Also I've been told that snakes can't grow out of their cages.

 

[Baba-Lou]

I was 6 people, I got his size off the papers from the Calgary Stampede... go harass them for a little instead. They measured him, not me. And I said NEAR the Yukon, not beside it We were up in the NW corner of Alta, the part of Alta NEAREST the Yukon.

Ok then what little town? Not to mention Even if it was near the Yukon. Its always more near the NWT. So I can't see why you couldn;t say what town to clarify me. I hate it but to me your still a lier.

 

[Mrs InsaneOne]

I got several good laughs out of this thread, then I also dern near lost an eye when I sat up to read some of the side arguements that were developing. I'd heard about the 21 hand horse thing briefly, but I thought Tim was pulling my leg to a point.

Arabians don't get that tall. Ever. Not unless they were measured my a child's hand - say an infant of 6 months??? *Shakes head* My life has been filled with horses as far back as I can remember, and while I never owned my own, I've always wanted to. I've done research, I've drooled over pictures, and I've listened to those I know how have owned horses. I own more then 20 books that relate to horse care and horse breeds. And never, in the hundred in umpteen times I've read those very same books, have I seen anything hint that an Arabian can grow to such an outlandish height. Never.

Then there are all the references that other peeps posted in here. I guess experts don't know everything huh? Must have been a Sunglow Arabian.

ANYway... sorry about the off topic rant of sorts... But if someone else mentioned it and I replied to it isn't my reply on-topic because it was in the topic??? *ducks*

Bad advice... I've gotten LOTS...

Common ones:

Corn snakes eat crickets.
Corn snakes eat fish and wild caught lizards.
Corn snakes need UV lights.

Some not so common ones:

Corn snakes are not good beginner snakes. <-- that one made me laugh, especially when the pet store owner said that Red Tail Boas are good starter snakes. He went out of business in less then a year.

I was advised by one Petsmart Associate that snakes do not make good pets because they bite. I blinked several times before snorting loudly and retorting: "I'd rather be bitten by a snake then by a rat." He wasn't too impressed with my lack of immediate promise to give up my slythering friends.

Some peoples children...

Oh, and a word about PetCo. I've only purchased 3 snakes from the one closest to us and all three had terrible mite infestations and were severely dehydraited (sp??). All three are thriving today, including our lucky find: Granite, our Aztec normal corn. I won't buy rodents, fish, birds, or any other animals from them though. The 3 above were a fluke and we've learned to be wary of PetCo.

The assoicate Tim mentioned, the one that said the snakes don't bite, he won't even talk to Tim anymore. Ignores Tim when we go there, because he always tries to be helpful and contradicts the clerk's bad advice to customers. lol.

Jenn

 

[Mrs InsaneOne]

And because I couldn't resist adding a little research of my own:

World's Record - Tallest Horse

Complete w/ picture I might add, but the hieght on the horse could just be from the flash used to take the picture.

Not sure how reliable this one is, but it does have a lot of info:

Guiness Records (sp?)

Enjoy!

Jenn

 

[LittleViper]

OK ME ME ME!!

I've had a snake for a week but because of everyones help here I think i know a LITTLE more than the guy in the petstore.......

me: I need some forzen pinkies for my snake

guy: what kind of snake?

me: he's a cornsnake

guy: you'll have to come back some other time, our mice haven't had any pinkies yet....

:eek1: At this point I wanted to gag cuz he wanted to sell me live pinkies! uke01: .....I mean HELLO, he's suppose to know they carry frozen pinkies right? WELL, this lady walked up to me and.....

Me: can I get some frozen pinkies for my baby cornsnake please?

lady: sure how many?

guy: we have frozen pinkies?

:grin01: I could have died because of how the lady went off. She was like "You're suppose to know these things!". Turns out he was a n00b.....and well, thats my crazy little story!! :crazy02:

 

[cornsnakekid92]

OK ME ME ME!!

I've had a snake for a week but because of everyones help here I think i know a LITTLE more than the guy in the petstore.......

me: I need some forzen pinkies for my snake

guy: what kind of snake?

me: he's a cornsnake

guy: you'll have to come back some other time, our mice haven't had any pinkies yet....

:eek1: At this point I wanted to gag cuz he wanted to sell me live pinkies! uke01: .....I mean HELLO, he's suppose to know they carry frozen pinkies right? WELL, this lady walked up to me and.....

Me: can I get some frozen pinkies for my baby cornsnake please?

lady: sure how many?

guy: we have frozen pinkies?

:grin01: I could have died because of how the lady went off. She was like "You're suppose to know these things!". Turns out he was a n00b.....and well, thats my crazy little story!! :crazy02:

Feeding a snake a live pinky is not that big of a deal.

 

[MooreSnakes]

Feeding a snake a live pinky is not that big of a deal.

I think Littleviper just doesn't like live mice :shrugs:

 

[Kailaa]

My turn!

I was holding a tiny fresh hatchling *albnino* (snow) corn, and I asked what it ate, well I ws thinking small pinks ,but he said they probably feed them crickets!!!!!( hope not)

And a few days ago after seeing the Yellow bellie ball at petco ,when i was trying to prsuade my mom into letting me have it the petco guy interupted and said that he would recomend a RTb over them becuase there not as nippy!!!!! He also said that balls got 6ft 4inches plus!!

Other than that my Petco has very healthy herps.

if you ask me, i find it entirely true
when i worked in a petstore i came across a lot of snappy ball pythons
not a single snappy redtail though

 

[MooreSnakes]

if you ask me, i find it entirely true
when i worked in a petstore i came across a lot of snappy ball pythons
not a single snappy redtail though

Do you mean that as that you find everything the PetCo said was true, or just the fact that RTBs are less nippy?

 

[Kailaa]

Do you mean that as that you find everything the PetCo said was true, or just the fact that RTBs are less nippy?

just that rtbs are less nippy

 

[PureNightAir]

cornsnakekid92 just so you know it's illegal to feed snakes live food in england. Can kill your corn snake anyway.