“For instance, raising them together, resulting in both sexes, while it has not failed(yet) for me, it surely would not surprise me. Or raising them together, it surely helps, but is not 100%. Neither was ever meant to be 100%”

I still don’t see how I misinterpreted your statement. The importance of knowing the mechanism is not to have some “science-certified” statement that your findings are indeed TRULY true (yeah, how silly is that?). Rather, to have a more concrete, more founded answer for someone who asks why his/her doing the same as you did not work than “Does not surprise me. Neither was ever meant to be 100% (how do you know that?)”. The incubation issues with regard to temp-dependent turtle eggs aren’t as cut and dry as you suggest, but alas, this is a monitor forum.

You speak of papers as an abused child does parents. Sure, there are many bad ones, even harmful ones, out there with regard not only to captive husbandry applications but with regard to monitors or even biology in general. It still doesn’t hurt to peruse them, though. Heck, it’s no worse than listening to many keepers out there who are just as prone to being full of hooie. The importance is not in a keeper being able to say “yes” or “no” to papers or to other keepers' experiences, but rather, in the strength of a keeper being able to sort for quality in both.

I don’t see you as some monitor mill. You’re usually quick to jump to the defensive on your basis in the hobby; don’t feel the need to be. I understand the general basis of the successful breeder whether it’s with monitors or turtles or whatever. It’s usually the same and it’s almost never based on business. I do think some of your perceptions seem very business-like. When your curiosity extends (or you let it extend) only as far as captive applications, that is based on production (achieving the minimum) and little else. What happened to wondering over natural phenomena? The purpose of science is to explain the unexplained; application potential is secondary.

I understand publications don’t guide the animals they’re about, even though they can guide the people who write them. It does help to periodically reinforce this perception in my head, and a sound way to do that is to come here and get that long dose of anti-publication, hands-on common sense you offer. It’s easy to discuss something with someone who doesn’t want to take anything from the discussion. Tell the person and the person doesn’t listen, his or her original concepts are unchanged. End experience. It’s harder with people like me, because as we learn, we often run in partial circles and ask the same questions over and over, and ask for too many details. It takes time to discuss with people like that. I appreciate the time it takes you. Ben

[ Show Entire Thread ]