Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering (for those who care to answer) what is everyones background and experience in snake handling/breeding, etc, because everyone has an opinion on everything, and from what I see a few of you here contradict each other and I was just curious whose opinion should mean more to me (no offense)
And as for care sheets/manuals, personally I trust talking to people who have/do/and always will own and love snakes, not just an author of a pamphlet. I generally ask the owner of a local reptile shop just about everything that pops into my head, even if it doesnt affect me (just one of them annoying people with alot of questions)
I'm very new to snake owning, but have been around them alot. (My brother had a Ball and a Burm for years) I've only actually owned snakes for about 2 1/2 years now, so I wont have many opinions, only questions. This is only my second post here, so I was just wondering who I'm talking to. And thanks for those who replied to my last post (and this one), it's very much appreciated.

I have 3 BP, and a Kingsnake. Yes, it's alot for a newbie... butI'm not getting anymore, just want to keep these guys living a long and happy life, so if I sometimes ask stupid questions... it's just because I want to be safe.
-adam

>>
I'm new to posting on these forums but i've been reading for sometime now. So I guess this could be a round table intro.

So.... I started off studying reptiles about twenty years or so ago and have owned them for the past fifteen. I'm no expert in the educational sense and by no means professional. It's a passion and that is what drove my long journey for knowledge before ownership.

In my opinion every one can give good advice and some of us can give can give great advice the key is that some of us out here have more experience and knowledge in more than one or two species. And ALL animals differ regardless of species and number of animals cared for.

So in summation try to learn from all of us, if you feel the advice or discussion is contradictory ask why, I think all of will be more than willing to explain our sides to the issues. As amature and professional herpers alike our main goal is the peservation of our passion and well being of the animals.

Hope this helps and keep asking.
-----
Chris, my wife Mary
a dog, two cats, two birds, four snakes
oh and three kids

Especially about the part for asking about clarifications. You will receive varying information in EVERY field but the key is to figure out (learn) what the best approach is. Keep in mind, the best approach today may change tomorrow as we learn more about our subjects.

After you have been on this board for a while and read posts regularly, you can quickly figure out who is knowledgable (Randy Remington, Scott Michaels, etc.), who's opinionated, and who's just new to the BP world.

My background:

* Graduate Master Of Reptilia (UCLA)
* 15 years in-field study of reptiles
* 10 years DVM, specializing in reptiles

Really?

No, not really, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.
-----
Jay A. Martin