Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a few different species of reptiles and am researching a few more so I visit 5 different Kingsnake forums. This is one of the nicest forums around. Everyone here from the least to most experienced is so kind and even takes the time to answer "newbie" quesitions without demeaning the individuals. It is always a pleasure to visit this forum and not be afraid to post a question without being slammed. I won't mention names but one of the forums I visit which begins with an "M" has a few of the nastiest people I have ever witnessed. It is a shame that these people do not have anything positive or useful to post because they are too busy belittling everyone, fighting amongst themselves and acting superior. It really defeats the purpose of these forums. Thanks to all the Tegu forum participants for sharing your knowledge, expertise and just plain old opinions. Keep up the good work!

Pam

As someone who has had their share of the fun and games of the "M" forum, I too have noticed this forum is made up of people who just adore their Tegus. So what I've found is fewer people willing to debate the merits of who is right or wrong about keeping their Tegus and thus content to simply share information and experiences.
Funny, isn't this what public forums are supposed to be about?

So I'll throw in my big Thanks to everyone who has shared and communicated with me, yes all of you are really the nicest folks I have ever had the pleasure of working with on Kingsnake.

Thanks!

-Kit

Having lizards that begin with an "m," I've spent time on that forum, as do a number of people here. You're right. It's not the sort of environment that encourages people to ask questions. I was actually in the process of deciding on another M lizard to acquire when I wandered over here out of curiosity about tegus. Everyone was so nice, so enthusiastic about their animals, and so generous and kind in answering questions and offering encouragement that I was really sold on tegus. I felt that as a new tegu owner, I'd get the kind of support and encouragement someone new to tegus would find helpful. I bought a tegu and acquired another as a rescue a few months later.

One issue to consider is that with regard to the "M' forums, and "M's" in general is that there are many people who are passionate about these creatures in the extreme.
With that said there are many personalities and egos involved that get in the way communicating meaningfully. At the core though, there are individuals who want to help new "M" owners progress past the years of misinformation about owning these animals in captivity and get frustrated when their guidence or advice simply gets thrown back at them or ignored.
Frank Retes who operates Goanna Ranch and has worked with monitors for many years said something recently that really made alot of sense. Basically he stated there are few long-term results in keeping monitors, people state "my monitor is happy" as a result, rather than mating, eggs and finally a few generations of healthy offspring as being long-term positive results in keeping and caring for captive monitors.
The point being, if you need information, and someone with long-term positive results is sharing with you their experiences and advice it would get frustrating when a horde of individuals with "happy monitors" dismisses what you are sharing and leads an inexperienced person down a path where at best, they may keep their new animal alive and little else.
If Bert from Agama International came in and corrected some aspect of your Tegu husbandry would you heed his knowledge and experience, or allow someone without Bert's results to justify your ill-advised practice?
From my perspective that is somewhat at the heart of why the "M" forum maintains such a host of aggressive personalities, when you constantly shout and yell to make your point heard you begin to start thinking and acting as though you must always shout and yell.
Does this justify the name calling and insults? No. But in my opinion this is likely why things are so "nutty" over there and why newbies get little benefit from participating.
Why this does not happen here I really have no idea. Do Tegus just attract nicer people? Or possibly are there enough individuals with long term positive results that have saved many of us from the pitfalls of Tegu care unlike that of monitors?
Food for thought.

-Kit

n/p

I agree!!
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Yours,

NiCoLE

"Trying to save someone from their own stupidity is like trying to teach a pig how to dance: it wastes your time, and annoys the pig."

- Robert
Heinlein

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You are so right Pam. We have been keeping Tegus for only about 4 months (and we already have 2....so far.) We feel like we have become rather well educated and competent to keep these amazing creatures, due in large part to the people and their knowledge & advice on this forum.

I spent several months lurking on this forum (as well as the "M" forum) before deciding that we were ready for a Tegu (and that we did NOT want a Monitor.)

The generosity of the people who freqent this forum, and the respect and acumen with which they answer questions and offer the benefit of their experience, is what prepared us to bring home our first one.....and then the next.

Thanks to all who continue to make this (learning) exerience such an enjoyable one. The bickering and attitude does not help our animals, and ultimately, isn't that what why we come here?

Thanks.

MAP

I agree, being a member of many of the different forums on kingsnake, this one definitly feels like home, and it is only because of the kindness and friendship we all have here. I am proud to be a member of this group

Ley x

I agree! This is a very friendly forum, and I've learned a lot here the past few years. I lurk on several other forums, but rarely post. The open exchange of ideas and suggestions here helps me take better care of my 'kids' and I simply adore being around all you nice tegu addicts.