with Socratic Monologue's post: in a "perfect world" your first snake would be easy to feed, and everything would go as planned. That you're still trying so hard & searching for answers bodes very well for both you and your snake. Some snakes are easier than others to start off with...but look at the bright side, we ALL learn much more from our mistakes than when everything is too easy. We've all been new keepers at one time & most of us have had difficult snakes that were made more difficult by our own inexperience. At least you've got the internet to go to...I've kept snakes for many years & I had no such source of information back then. Forums like this are a real gift, and the only "dumb question" is the one you don't ask.