Nubes

unsurprisingly kinra nailed it on the head. I won't parrot what she's already written above, but you shouldn't feel timid about chiming in every so often. yes it's true that you learn more by listening than speaking, and you might not have the beneft of experience that many other contributors here have, but that does not vitiate your point of view or make your opinions any less valid, especially in this type of forum where people often ask explicitly for a diverse array of opinions.

and regarding the notion that more snakes automatically bestows more experience, again I'd refer you to what kinra already stated. a few of our moderators here don't keep all that many snakes (aes sidhe and ballpythonluvr spring to mind, although I'm fairly certain I just massacred their usernames). I believe I keep more reptiles than both of them combined, but I'd heed their advice over my own unless I had my own experience to justify a contrary opinion. also unless I'm mistaken, JLC keeps a very limited collection and you don't have to be a member on this forum for more than a few days to know that she gives sound advice, both concerning ball python husbandry and life in general.

Personal experience answers usually mean more to me than anything. I don't post alot because I've only been keeping snakes again for about 8 months after a 5-6 year hiatus. I kept several kinds of snakes for several years before then, but have more knowledge about ball pythons than any other due to the amount of experience with them, and it seems most of that old knowledge is very out of date. Looking back I can honestly say I'm very lucky I had healthy animals, with the exception of a couple of wc balls I had rescued. The husbandry now is so much better!

When you "think" you know the answer, look back and see if it's information you've experienced and not just read somewhere. Then you can always answer, "in my experience...." so you can be more confident in what you know ;) This also helps you become a better keeper. :)

I only own 2 snakes at this time. I have only been a member of this forum for a year and a half. But how can you (I mean a general "you" here - this is not aimed directly at the OP) judge if I have "experience" or not?? You don't know me. You have no idea what kinds of experience I have had throughout my life.

I own 2 snakes now. I have owned many many different snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises since I was very young. I kept my first lizard (eastern fence lizard) when I was six. I have had various reptiles ever since then and I am 35 now. That is nearly 30 years of hands on experience keeping all sorts of reptiles. How would you know that by my signature line which lists only 2 snakes at this time?

No matter whether a person is a "nube" or not, a person's ability to give advice should be determined not by how many snakes they have or by how long they've been a member here, it should be judged by the quality of the advice. Is this sound information? Is the person giving advice that is consistant with the care sheets? Just because advice is given, does not mean you have to take it. Advice always needs to be considered with a grain of salt. If you're not comfortable with the advice given, don't heed it! Continue to ask and learn and back up your conclusions with your own research and a good dose of common sense. And likewise, don't toss aside advice given just because the person giving it only has one or two snakes to their credit. :gj:

(BTW, I wasn't offended by the op - I'm only describing another point of view - sorry if I sound a bit harsh - that wasn't intended) ;)

There is a reason why I don't post up my list of animals that I own.

I know how many I have, I know what my experiences are...
Should you care to find out, there is my website.

People can assume a lot from the lack of information, or from the overflow of information given about a person.

But I offer advice as I can and as I may.

As in many learning situations, you must take all advice with a grain of salt. Reading/writing things doesn't mean you completely can convey or understand what a person is trying to say.

Some nuances have to be seen, or heard... or tried.

Such is the way of the internet.

I do have to admit it is annoying when people post up answers that have 0 practical experience(i.e. no snakes ever) or maybe only a couple weeks worth. I guess maybe what is annoying is the way some people post. If it's something I have no experience with I like to say "I've read" or "I've heard" so that it does not sound matter of fact and just lets them know I'm just trying to help, not sound like a pro! When newbs come on and are trying to learn it is already hard enough to filter what should be done versus not, much less have other newbs sounding like seasoned pros giving you information that may or may not be correct. My experience with this is not even with ball pythons as I am the FNG when it comes to that. My experience is with keeping reef aquariums and I think it is the same for all of these hobby forums. I have to agree though, that like people here said even though it is annoying, as long as what they say is corrected by the community if it is wrong than I guess no harm no foul! So for me I guess it is just a pet peev that I'll deal with!

I think as long as accepted correct advice is given and wrong advice is corrected, I don't think it matters. Everyone has their own ways of doing things, but there is a general guideline when it comes to keeping these guys, I think as long as the important points are given and any wrong advice is corrected (which it usually is quickly), then who cares if the person has one snake or 500? I would treat my one snake the same I would if I had 500. All 500 would need the same temps, humidity, and security no? Also you have to keep in mind that some things that work for you, will not work for someone else. In some instances there is a fine line between right and wrong, because that person trying to tell you it works for them is right, but it wouldn't be right for everyone. One example comes to mind, is the 500r Reptitemp "thermostat". I personally hate that thing, I've personally used it, and it personally did not work for me. It's too much guessing and adjusting, and unless you're going to check your temps 6 times a day it wouldn't work for you, so I usually give advice against it, because a majority of people wouldn't take the necessary precautions to be sure it worked well for them. Just an example I guess.

I'd be in that boat of having "little" experience with actual ball pythons. I've only been keeping them for almost a year because my situation before didn't allow me to. But that doesn't mean I haven't retained all information I've come across over the years, and I've personally tried out multiple ways of doing things and products. I've taken advice from people with a a century (exaggeration...) of experience, and people with some experience. I read...like...a lot on the subject of ball pythons (not on google lol), I retain info very easily. If I'm wrong about something, I always find out why. I can't tell you how many times I've PMed someone on here asking why they thought something or what their opinion was, because I want to learn as much as possible. Like another person said, there are some people on here that only keep a couple snakes, but I'd take their opinion in a heartbeat, because they are knowledgeable. Although experience is a plus, I don't think it trumps knowledge necessarily. Please don't burn me for saying that lol.

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I think far too many people who haven't been there and done that try to help, maybe with good intentions, but with wrong information, I know how you feel :gj:

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I also think so.

I agree with the "it doesn't matter how many you own" opinion, someone could own 50 snakes and keep them completely wrong. You can usually pick out the sound advice from the people that know their stuff, because it sounds reasonable. You obviously wouldn't keep a snake from near the equator in a winter climate with no heat, so when someone states that it should be kept with an "ambient of 80 and a hot spot of 90", that just sounds reasonable. If you do a little species research, your gut instinct will usually tell you what sounds fishy. :)

I have two snakes and I've only owned for a year, but I tell people the advice I've gotten that worked. If I don't feel like I can answer the question, I either try to direct them to people/places I think can help, or I let someone else handle it so I don't just go around sticking my foot in my mouth.

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

I agree with the "it doesn't matter how many you own" opinion, someone could own 50 snakes and keep them completely wrong. You can usually pick out the sound advice from the people that know their stuff, because it sounds reasonable. You obviously wouldn't keep a snake from near the equator in a winter climate with no heat, so when someone states that it should be kept with an "ambient of 80 and a hot spot of 90", that just sounds reasonable. If you do a little species research, your gut instinct will usually tell you what sounds fishy. :)

I have two snakes and I've only owned for a year, but I tell people the advice I've gotten that worked. If I don't feel like I can answer the question, I either try to direct them to people/places I think can help, or I let someone else handle it so I don't just go around sticking my foot in my mouth.

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Well said. :gj: