Interesting topic.



I have to admit to straddling the fence on this issue. I know people who've kept snakes as long as, or longer than, I have that I give little credit to and people I know who've only kept a species or two for a year that are more knowledgable due to research plus the actual experience with the animals. I've been keeping snakes for about 13 years, starting with common boas and working my way around from there. I've read about tons more animals than I've actually kept. Even so, I don't consider myself an 'expert' of any sort as there is still so much to learn. There are a few species that I've only gotten into in the last year or so and I know that there is still much more for me to learn other than basic husbandry. Even so, I've felt experienced enough in snake keeping to branch out from those first boas into the collection I have today. I tend to research an animal I'm interested in, even if I know that the purchase isn't expected in the near future - if ever. I like to have a basic understanding of the species I'm interested in keeping first to determine if it would fit my requirements of a pet, and second so that if & when I find an animal that I like, I already know the basic husbandry requirements. Once I already have an animal, I still try to keep up to date on new information and will read more on them as I discover new material - even when some of it may be repetitive to what I've already learned. There's also a certain amount of trial and error, especially with species that aren't as prevelant in the pet trade. With new products and more knowledge, comes more experience...it's a continuing process.



I don't believe anyone knows everything there is to know about a given species. I don't think experience can be directly related to the number of years a person keeps an animal (because who's to say they've kept it well?), or the number of animals a person keeps (quality vs quantity). I think it basically comes down to the quality of care an animal receives and the knowledge of the basic needs for an animal to thrive. There's also differences in theory about keeping animals - power feeding vs maintenance diets, what is a proper temperature range for a given species that may range over vast areas, minimalist or naturalistic enclosures, or whether or not to handle them, just to name a few examples. I don't think you have to raise an animal from neonate to adulthood to understand them and their care, but I also don't think someone who only has a neonate and no adult animals has the experience to give advice on adult specimens. It's all relative.



As for determining a person online and their level of experience? Unfortunately we only have their word to go on...they may be genuine experts or novices who think they are. The best we can do is take advice and then compare it to other sources. The best example I can give of this is a reference to a well-known site (which shall remain un-named) that has information on a number of different species of reptiles & amphibians - the author of the site has not kept most of the animals they give information on, and some of the information is down right bogus (such as corn snakes eat crickets). However, the author is well-known and respected for their knowledge of certain species, despite them having incorrect information posted on their care sheets about species other than those they are known for. It is the 'perceived knowledge' the person has that people go to, regardless of actual fact.

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