reptile book

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December 16th, 2008 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

reptile book
Why do people who post questions here REFUSE to read books about reptile & amphibian care?

I am ABSOLUTELY AMAZED at the questions asked in this section.
Don't people read anymore? They ask why their animal is sick, but don't give any details as to the level of care it's receiving, and expect to be spoonfed a correct, simple answer. Or, they ask something like "tell me everything I need to know about lizards" and expect somebody to crap out a textbook for them.
Don't people care to research the needs of these animals?
Or is the internet, and sites like Yahoo answers, teaching kids that they don't have to think for themselves?
Mystical Star: Don't need books? Come on, you know better.
Did I mention that the vast majority of the Answers people post are WRONG?
This is a GREAT place to get bad advice!
818 & Little C:
The stupidity bothers me so much because I care about herps, and I hate to see them suffer at the hands of the ignorant.

One reason is that many herps are considered disposable pets by many people. They purchase them on impulse, are given incorrect care information by the pet store, and then when something goes wrong and the herp dies, they fool themselves so they can sleep at night by saying they "went on-line to get help and were told XYZ."

Plus it doesn't help that finding a herp vet that has a clue is often extremely difficult and some of the on-line herp forums are so close-knit and snobbish that when a newbie has an honest question, they get ignored, or worse, made fun of because they didn't do their homework first and now have to ask really stupid questions.

Yes, all the information is available on the proper care of most herp species. However, sometimes finding that information can be difficult. I had great difficulty finding information on the care of trans pecos rat snakes. Luckily, I already knew the places to ask for help and eventually determined that they were not a species I could properly care for.

Then, you also have to try and determine if the information you found is actually accurate, especially when even the "experts" can't agree on certain subjects...cohabitation readily comes to mind in that instance.

Believe me, I know how difficult it can be reading all of the questions asked, and then having the patience to even try to answer them while keeping your frustration from showing. I have to keep reminding myself that these people at least have tried to find help, perhaps in the only place they can find to ask. Many other poor herps belong to people that simply release them or kill them when something goes wrong, or the little snake isn't that little anymore, or Johnny's interests have moved onto something else and the lizard is forgotten.