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Member Comment
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11/11/2008 11:50:18 PM
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aaron
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The pillowcase thing is very dangerous, and hence, not a myth. Just wanna make sure that's clear... lost a beautiful high white aru to that. :( Stupid Aaron....
HUGE myth is that chondros are typically aggressive... 95% of mine are totally manageable.
I dunno if thats really a myth care question, but whatever. I can spawn my own points. Yes, spawn. LOL
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Accepted Answer
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11/11/2008 11:55:52 PM
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Jeffriey
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Coating a snake in olive oil will not get rid of mites....great for salad dressing though
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Assisted Answer
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11/12/2008 12:13:59 AM
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FyreFocks
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Reptiles will grow beyond the size of their enclosure. Ive seen it with my own 2 eyes.
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 12:25:43 AM
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Jeffriey
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Oh good one Nate!! I have a turtle wanting a jacuzzi and hot tub added to his inground. The cost of additions and expansions....I heard if you tape up feet while still young and growing they will stay small....wonder if that would work with a water monitor
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Assisted Answer
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11/12/2008 1:37:28 AM
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magsj387
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I don't really know if this counts but someone once called in and asked me, or rather to be reassured, that it was ok to feed his (pet) tarantula to his (pet) python!?!?
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Assisted Answer
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11/12/2008 1:43:06 AM
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bwaffa
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Great topic, Jennifer... I expect there will be some awesome responses here. A quick comment, Jeff: although olive oil is USELESS on mites, it's a GREAT shed aid! Nontoxic, environmentally friendly, and takes stuck eyecaps off in seconds! Plus when you're done oiling them up, you can get the neighborhood girls together for an old-fashioned greased snake chase!
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Assisted Answer
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11/12/2008 5:21:27 AM
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amarilrose
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haha, in your dreams Brad... ... ... I thought you preferred a candle-lit shower for getting rid of a stuck shed? ;)
A good soak in good clean old-fashioned tap water is my favorite shed-aid. Luke-warm please. There are probably countless methods that have been suggested by other people over the years.
An old pet store myth that I THINK has been thoroughly squashed: they used to say that just about ALL reptiles ate crickets! Corn snakes, rat snakes, ball pythons, iguanas... caring people who bought these animals from the pet store were advised to feed them crickets!! As much as we gripe about PetSmart and PetCo now, they really are the new, educated kind of pet store (relatively speaking of course).
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Assisted Answer
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11/12/2008 9:02:39 AM
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dalvers63
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Another big myth is that a snake will become aggressive if fed inside their enclosure. This is just not true IF you are taking care of your animal properly. An owner will be in the cage more often to clean and handle than to feed.
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 10:45:48 AM
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Krymsan
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I also heard that if you feed a snake inside it's enclosure it wouldn't neccessarily become aggressive, but be more likely to bite because it would mistake your fingers for frozen pinkies. I'm fairly positive that my hand doesn't smell like mouse, and that it doesn't look that much like a frozen pinky.. although, I still feed my snakes in seperate enclosures. But that's mostly because I don't want them eating the substrate.
Great topic by the way. I borrowed myth busters from the library last week.. I'm on Volume 2 right now I think..
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 11:48:25 AM
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ChrisMontgomery
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i once had a guy tell a coworker that water is a good substrate for a ball python.
yes... water... on the bottom of the cage for a ball python.
this advice was given at a Petco, but i don't think it was given by an employee. the problem was that the owner of the snake followed the advice and kept the snake in an aquatic environment for several days. the guy came to my coworker and told him that the snake wasn't shedding. that's when my coworker said, "what bedding are you using?" the guy responded, "water".
oddly enough the snake shed very well after being switched to an appropriate bedding.
sometimes the worst advice is given by one customer to another customer at one of the large chain stores. i have heard some that would make you sick.
i once knew a guy who fed kittens to his burmese python. he would regularly go to the animal shelter and adopt kittens in groups to be fed to his snake. when i pressed him on it, he said, "not adult cats because the stomach acid of an adult cat is corrosive when a snake digests it." this guy, thankfully, no longer keeps snakes at all.
i stopped working at Petco two months ago. i was there for 5 years and i heard the worst advice that could be given.
most of my co-workers were good with reptiles, i just couldn't keep hearing the nonsense that my customers came up with.
great thread, everyone keep up the good husbandry!
like Mr. Maxwell says, "Quality is Contagious!"
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 12:20:05 PM
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Jeffriey
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Not husbandry or care myths but has anyone ever heard these growing up? Snakes can hypnotize you, milksnakes will suck milk right from the cows, Hoop snakes will form a hoop and roll away to escape, snakes swallow their young to protect them, rattlesnakes can spit venom at you and the common one that most people still believe is that snakes are slimey....
Now about that greased snake chase Brad...what species are you referring to?
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 12:43:04 PM
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FyreFocks
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I have never found a slimey snake. They arent pleasant when they musk, however.
I think if we're gonna grease a snake, it should be a retic. Who has the biggest retic?
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 1:36:47 PM
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magsj387
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Lol, I cant get past how many times ive heard someone say "its not slimey like i thought id be" when i finally get them to touch a snake. Coming mostly from people who are "afraid" of snakes, or at least have never touched one before.
And on the note of snake wrangling, i say jackass style with an anaconda or two in a ball pit....anyone?
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 4:46:24 PM
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amarilrose
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Jeff: Those old myths are just good to know because it tells us where most of the wacky common names came from (milk snakes were found in dairy barns -- obviously because they were stealing milk from the cows; corn snakes were found in corn cribs -- I can only assume they were accused of something too)
Although I do think it is hilarious that my father-in-law came across a hognose snake in northern central Wisconsin and is completely convinced that he saw a COBRA!
...but I really like feeding my snakes in a separate enclosure, and not in their cage. My reasoning is not that my animals would be aggressive if I didn't, but that most animals (and humans) can be easily conditioned. Mine are conditioned to expect food when they are placed into their feeding bins. It works beautifully. I also use that opportunity to clean the entire cage (if it hasn't already been done that week). For someone who didn't regularly handle their animal and clean the enclosure, then yes, there would also be a concern that the snake would get conditioned to expect food when the cage is opened. But it isn't feeding in the enclosure that causes aggression... it's how your animals may or may not be conditioned for a feeding response -- and if you feed your animals in their cage AND open the cage daily to handle, or clean, or whatever, then you are not using any conditioning whatsoever; your snake doesn't have any particular ideas about what is going to happen when the door opens this time. To each their own on this one, I know people pretty often split 50/50 on this.
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Member Comment
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11/12/2008 5:00:41 PM
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dalvers63
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amarilrose said:
"But it isn't feeding in the enclosure that causes aggression... it's how your animals may or may not be conditioned for a feeding response -- and if you feed your animals in their cage AND open the cage daily to handle, or clean, or whatever, then you are not using any conditioning whatsoever; your snake doesn't have any particular ideas about what is going to happen when the door opens this time. "
I feed all 40+ snakes of mine in their enclosure and they ALL know when it's feeding day and when it isn't. I swear they can smell the frozen rats when they come out of the freezer in the other room, behind a closed door. I know that a lot of people also prescent the room to let the animals know it's feeding day. All of these work and I can't tell you how my guys know, but they do.
You're right about conditioning though, which is why I don't feed my guys in a tub. Since I do a lot of outreaches, most of the snakes travel to and from the venue in a tub and/or pillowcase. If I were to feed them all seperate, they'd think they were getting fed when I was actually taking them somewhere else.
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Member Comment
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11/13/2008 6:14:22 AM
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MegF
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I know two people for a fact have had snakes smother in pillow cases. Not a myth...fact.
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Member Comment
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11/13/2008 5:14:37 PM
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Ben Team
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That poisonous snakes exist. Although lately some Rhabdophis species have been documented to sequester bufo toxins.
My favorite non-snake myths are that Daddy Long Legs are the world's most venomous spider. They aren't even a spider-lol.
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Member Comment
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11/13/2008 10:01:51 PM
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FyreFocks
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Fact or Fiction: SPAM (Shaped Protien Approximating Man) tastes like humans. Ive always wondered....any volunteers?
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 12:00:27 AM
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 12:25:54 AM
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FyreFocks
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Anybody wanna volunteer to bite Jeffrey???
*volunteers should know that after biting Jeff, you also have to eat SPAM.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 12:33:13 AM
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dalvers63
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I'm up for it..I LIKE Spam.....and I think I could handle biting Jeffrey
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 1:04:48 AM
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FyreFocks
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Phew....glad i dont have to do it. Well Jeff, when will you be visiting Amerika??
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Author Comment
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11/14/2008 9:15:44 AM
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LokisKafka
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i will not eat green eggs and spam i will not eat them nate-i-am. I will not eat them in a house I will not eat them with a frozen mouse. I will not eat them with snakes on a plane or with a turtle in a train. I will not eat them with a fox I will not eat them in a heated shipping box. I will not eat them with a snake but I might eat jeff with a steak. I will not eat green eggs and spam I will not eat them nate-I-am
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 9:24:23 AM
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FartherAway420
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"My favorite non-snake myths are that Daddy Long Legs are the world's most venomous spider. They aren't even a spider-lol."
Actually...
"One rumor states that daddy long-legs spiders are not spiders. This rumor arises due to the multiple uses of the name daddy long-legs. The harvestman, which is called "daddy long-legs" in parts of the world, is an arachnid but not a spider, and the Crane fly which is an insect. However the Pholcidae (daddy long-legs spider) is a true spider."
-Source wikipedia
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 9:26:04 AM
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FartherAway420
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And for the record, I hate spiders. Gives me the heebie-jeebies!
And GREAT thread Jennifer!
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 10:02:22 AM
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MegF
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That snakes will chase you down and bite you.....some stories of mambas getting pissed and doing this, but I've never encountered a wild snake that did this unless you're running in the only direction of escape....RUN FOREST RUN!!
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 12:14:12 PM
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FyreFocks
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>>I will not eat them with a fox. I will not eat them in a heated shipping box.
My middle name is Fox (fo reals). You sure you dont wanna change your mind?
>>That snakes will chase you down and bite you.
I was watching a documentary last night, Meg, and one of the gentlemen in the footage (i cant remember his name), who was studying bushmasters, said that the one that bit him did actually chase him down. If he werent a herpetologist, i might dismiss his claim. But he is.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 12:57:32 PM
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Jeffriey
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Nate "The Fox" Peterson huh...for the amount of times I've gotten bitten by a dog you would think I tasted like SPAM . Whenever I do get down there I'll bring a can of it with me for the taste test....I mean how hard could Deb possibly bite, can't be any worse than a retic no? ;)
Jenn, Green eggs and SPAM, that was brilliant LOL loved it. How can we tell you have kids...ps: remember that I should be the main entree and not the steak ;)
Jarred...surprisingly I still get people giving me a strange look like I was crazy when I tell them that Daddy Long Leg isn't a spider and they don't believe me...mind you it doesn't help that they think I'm crazy to begin with.
Meg I have only seen this once and that was when a friend's nasty WC blood python chased after him with it's mouth wide open when he tried to pick it up and get him back in the cage. I didn't know whether I should have kept laughing so hard or jump up on the table.He offered it to me for a giveaway price right then and there but I said no thank you. That was one crazy snake LOL. Although there was the space I think the snake must have felt cornered or something to do that otherwise I couldn't see it ever happening if there was a path for escape.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 1:13:14 PM
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FyreFocks
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It would be cooler if it was "the fox", but alas, its just fox. Nathaniel Fox Peterson. *sigh*
ps- i love dr suess.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 1:58:04 PM
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Ben Team
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Wikipedia is not what I would call a reliable source.
From the University of California, Riverside's Entomology page:
The creatures most correctly called daddy-longlegs are in their own separate Order which is Opiliones. Common names for this Order are 1) daddy-longlegs, 2) harvestmen and 3) opilionids. They are characterized by having one basic body segment
There are dozens of other sites backing me up on this, Wikipedia not withstanding.
You are probably referring to another animal that is commonly called a daddy long legs which is in fact a spider.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 2:00:18 PM
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Ben Team
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Regarding the Bushmaster chasing someone, it is likely Dean Ripa. I would imagine that he was giving into a bit of drama. The animal likely 'pursued him' (as he says in the video I saw) for a very short distance just to get him to back off.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 2:08:32 PM
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FyreFocks
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Sounds about right Ben Team. Whether he was exaggerating or not, he was pursued and bitten. Im not saying that its typical and i dont think he was either. I just thought id add that in for contraversy.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 2:27:13 PM
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Katie M
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God Nate... quit with the freaking controversy already!
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 2:32:26 PM
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Jeffriey
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You tell him Girl!! Snakes only chase people in the movies......
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 2:34:19 PM
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Katie M
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I don't know - could be kind of invigorating to play a game of tag with a snake or two - just not Jezzabelle - she's a poor sport
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 3:00:19 PM
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Ben Team
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I don't think that was the instance he was bitten during. If memory serves, he was attempting to freehand a bushmaster into his suitcase when he was bitten....which is how I caught all of my bushmasters. I could be off though, my memory is not very reliable.
It is probably on his website...pretty cool, and worth a look.
:)
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 3:01:49 PM
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FyreFocks
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I could also be wrong. I want to watch it again. I didnt know about the site. Thanks.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 3:43:57 PM
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FartherAway420
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I was referring to the family Pholcidae.
You are referring to the Harvestmen. Which is where I was confused.
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Author Comment
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11/14/2008 4:11:24 PM
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LokisKafka
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Foxy Foxy like a rob zombie song....Ill eat green eggs and spam with you nate if you really want but I highly suggest you leave the cooking to me and my trusty white apron....mango habenero glazed chicken is just the begining, Im talking shepards pie, tender roast, home made soups and southern buttermilk flaky biscuts, cookies cakes cobblers pies, aromatic vegtables covered in sauce and cheese. Potatoes prepared in every way you ever imagined from cheese and chive scallops to tender broiled baby reds bathed in buttery garlic sauce....Green eggs and spam can wait.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 4:18:16 PM
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FyreFocks
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If youll kindly excuse me, i need to go eat something.
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 4:52:30 PM
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Kaiyudsai
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I've heard of Black Mambas chasing people down
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 6:02:49 PM
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Kim Heller
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Fact:
Evil Womas chase people. If anyone doubts that, refer back to my blog.
Kim
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 6:46:37 PM
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FyreFocks
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Kim, are you suggesting that there are sub species of woma known as the Evil Woma, which will chase people as opposed to the non evil variety of woma python?
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 7:03:52 PM
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 7:32:44 PM
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MegF
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Well, I admit I was chased by one of my cornsnakes....but it was because I had a rat on the end of some tongs at the time and I was stupid and just put him out on the floor to feed. Bugger chased me down with mouth open! I fended him off with a paper towel and the tongs....funnier than hell!
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Member Comment
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11/14/2008 8:05:22 PM
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FyreFocks
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Does this sub species have a name, Kim?
ps- you guys are proving these myths arent myths. SHHHHHHHHH!
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Member Comment
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11/15/2008 2:19:47 AM
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amarilrose
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I have personally seen cottonmouths charge out of a swampy drainage ditch after the car I was a passenger in. They weren't exactly in it for 'the long haul,' so I have no idea how much of that would have carried on for someone on foot -- and I think it was the car itself that really offended them. They were irate though. I would guess they would have been in the mood to bite.
I also suspect that the cottonmouth would be the species for which most of the folklore chasing-and-biting would be blamed on in rural America, just because of their general temperament.
I could be wrong. Anybody with experience with these critters feel free to say otherwise, but I'm pretty sure I saw what I did. :P
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Member Comment
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11/15/2008 5:18:46 AM
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MegF
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I'd be more apt to say a water snake than a cottonmouth. They are aggressive and most encounters here with people who say they had a cottonmouth attack them in their boats or "jump from a tree" into their boats were brown watersnakes. Whit Gibbons did a study on the aggressiveness of the cottonmouths near here where I live and found that most if not all animals he encountered, refused to bite even if provoked. They all tried to escape.
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Member Comment
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11/15/2008 12:25:16 PM
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Sparkle
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I'm with FartherAway, spiders give me the heebie-jeebies.
I had a North American brown water snake once (bought from a pet shop, no clue whether he was CB or not), and he was not aggressive at all. I've also field-herped near the local hunt club lake and caught them wild (then released) and I didn't notice them being particularly aggressive either. But for that matter, neither was the cottonmouth that I accidentally picked up. I don't do that anymore... !! ;)
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Member Comment
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11/15/2008 7:00:22 PM
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MegF
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They do seem to tame down rather well. The ones up at the Columbia show were quite docile. I had a banded water snake come into the ER with someone who had been bitten by it. I had to go down there and ID it. I was surprised it was alive and not a mashed mess, but they didn't kill it. Just captured it and put it in a tub. I later released it when I got off work. It didn't try to bite me, but it obviously had bitten the person who accidently grabbed it while working in leaves in the garden.
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Member Comment
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11/15/2008 8:20:53 PM
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Riain
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I've always thought it was interesting the variety of responses you'll get using the pillowcase trick.. I've only had to use it myself once at work, But i know quite a few people who have been keeping snakes for over 20 years that swear by it.
I think if the precautions are taken and everything is done corrrectly nothing should go wrong..
As for transporting snakes in pillowcases, buy snake bags, There not alot of money, and the snake can definitly breathe through them..
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Member Comment
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11/15/2008 8:27:18 PM
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MegF
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Wet pillowcases are the problem, not dry ones. I ship in pillowcases without issue, but they are never wet. It's just as easy to shed a snake in a tub with a little warm water and a towel sitting in the water and there's no risk of suffocation. Why anyone would want to risk killing their snake is beyond me. It happens, I've personally known people who've lost animals to using a wet pillowcase. You know how air tight they can be. I'm sure as a kid you took a pillow case, wetted it, filled it with air and used it to float around a pool.
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Member Comment
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11/15/2008 8:35:25 PM
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Riain
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The pillowcase should'nt be wet... the towel you put in the pillowcase should be...
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Member Comment
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11/16/2008 7:39:14 AM
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Joseph Jenkins
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As far as cotton mouths and brown water snakes go, I had a little brown water as a pet, which i released after a year, and it was bitey, I have also attempted to catch a cotton mouth, it only opened its mouth in the classic cotton mouth stance and never struck, and believe me, i gave it a hell of a time trying to catch it, but it eventually took off under a rock. Im with Meg on this one.
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Author Comment
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11/17/2008 6:49:52 AM
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LokisKafka
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This was a great discussion thank you for everyone who tossed in something. Great information.
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