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Grrrr....FB groups!
This is why I NEVER listen to FB groups.
Sunnys reply to post: all heat sources must be regulated! All of them.
reply to my post: far from true.
im so done!
This is is why animals get burned and die! Stupid!
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
I told someone in another one that they needed two hides in a tank, and they said you didn't need two hides and that BPs would only use one. There are some nicer ones but I generally don't like to bother with them.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnieskys
Sunnys reply to post: all heat sources must be regulated! All of them.
reply to my post: far from true.
how on earth can you possible justify this?? what was their response?
the reason these old forums are still active is that exact type of behavior that's plagued every hobby-specific page on social networks: everything is up for debate, everyone thinks they know better than you, and they will nit-pick you alive to find something wrong and to justify why you're a crappy person whose snakes deserve to die.
at least you tried. most of us don't, lol.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by tttaylorrr
how on earth can you possible justify this?? what was their response?
the reason these old forums are still active is that exact type of behavior that's plagued every hobby-specific page on social networks: everything is up for debate, everyone thinks they know better than you, and they will nit-pick you alive to find something wrong and to justify why you're a crappy person whose snakes deserve to die.
at least you tried. most of us don't, lol.
I didn't respond to their comment of far from true. I'm like, nope....done and even more done. I only joined because if I have a snake in store I need to adopt out that's what they are there for.
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And I wanted to type. All breeders have their racks hooked up to thermostats. You see them in every video. A responsible pet owner would regulate and set their temperature. Why would you not? Ok burn your animal dimwit....
i didnt. I just left lol
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I’m coming here from the aquarium hobby and the same holds true there as well. I’ve been a discus keeper for a decade and after a divorce it was time to get all the things I was told no about... guns, motorcycle and a snake! So here I am!
but the same holds true for sure. I frequent and even moderated a forum
just like this for discus and that’s where the best info comes from the kindest people. People who are here to help those succeed and give good info. Not troll...
sure there will be debates and corrections but in a respectful manner.
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I un-joined a FB BP group after I was almost lynched for telling someone that moving a snake to feed IS bad, but if you decide that is what you want to do, then you MUST wait for a couple hours after and move as gently as possible, or better yet, put the feeding tub inside the enclosure so the snake can crawl out on their own.
I did mention several times in my post that it was unnecessary and stressful and could result and being bitten, but for my sentence on how to do it more safely, they said I was "encouraging moving to feed".... ugh. Same group also said that having any light in a BP enclosure would stress the snake... we're talking about light on a natural light cycle with an animal with hides..... yes, because the sun never shines in Africa. After that, I was done lol.
I think in many of those groups, you get a small number of moderators that think they know everything, but because anyone can start or mod a group, you get people in charge that don't know what they are doing. In an established forum like this, you have to prove your chops before you are given mod reins. There are some good reptile groups on FB, but it is hard to find them lol.
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Also, totally OT but Phillydubs , I used to moderate on a FW aquarium forum when I was in college (fishgeeks). I kept planted aquariums, mostly dwarf catfish-centric, but also some rainbowfish and dwarf shellies. I always wanted discus, but couldn't ever commit to the frequent water changes, etc. Then I lost most of my fish due to a callamanus infection (red parasitic worms) and decided to leave aquaria for a while. Then I found reptiles and haven't kept fish since. One day, if I ever need to move away from reptiles, I want to setup a large discus tank, but that will be a LONG time in the future lol.
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That’s awesome !! Feel free to pm me with questions or if you need help!!!
i neeeed discus in my life but something tells me snakes may take
over !!
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phillydubs
That’s awesome !! Feel free to pm me with questions or if you need help!!!
i neeeed discus in my life but something tells me snakes may take
over !!
LOL. Yeah, I will let you know when I decide to get a tank setup. It will be quite a while though lol... Not only do I have the reptiles (and planning on a BP breeding project), but I also recently got into caged birds and have some canaries and finches... If I ever get out of those, then I might have space for a large tank setup. If I do ever do it, I want to do it right and maybe get a 120gl fully planted setup... So many choices though and so much conflicting opinions on how to do it correctly (bare tank vs. planted and mixed species). My gut says planted with some high-temp tolerant corydoras catfish would be the way I'd want to go, but I know there are a lot of bare-tank advocates out there for a reason lol.
I have gotten over the sticker shock with discus though... I remember back in the day thinking "what in the heck? I can't pay $55 for a single fish!" Now that I'm spending hundreds on single reptiles, $55 doesn't look so bad lol.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phillydubs
I’m coming here from the aquarium hobby and the same holds true there as well. I’ve been a discus keeper for a decade and after a divorce it was time to get all the things I was told no about... guns, motorcycle and a snake! So here I am!
but the same holds true for sure. I frequent and even moderated a forum
just like this for discus and that’s where the best info comes from the kindest people. People who are here to help those succeed and give good info. Not troll...
sure there will be debates and corrections but in a respectful manner.
LOL. I got divorced and kept my guns, sports cars, reptiles, and dogs! She got a lot of $$$$ though. :(.
Oh well, good for you! Partners are supposed to support your passions (within reason) and not inhibit you. I am learning that now with my Fiancé Katie.
In any event, I do not have FB, but there are trolls everywhere. I can only imagine how bad on FB. This site is very good and there are many people who have both your well being and your animal(s) well being in mind at all times.
I used to breed Frontosa in a 240G aquarium. Spent lot of time on cichlid-forum.com, and found it to be a good site.
When I was sick from renal failure, and after I had my kidney transplant, I had to choose reptiles or fish. Only so much energy, time, etc. The fish were just too much work with little margin for error. If I had a bad day, and couldn't do a 2 hr water change, no good. If a snake poops and I have to pick up the next day, not ideal, but not the end of the world either. I also enjoy the interaction with my reptiles.
Anyway, I digressed.
Enjoy the forum and best of luck with your new life!
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Actually, this reminds me of this girl that was in a chat one of my friends moderates. This girl put her leachie in a wheel. I'm not joking, I even have the video she sent to it. She put it in there pretty regularly, because it was "jumpy".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR8tl5E3DUU
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I too have found that I want to move on from my fish tanks. I have always loved snakes, but for a while snakes where a no-go with the girl.
She decided after seeing how well I cared for the two tanks and the ferrets that I could get a snake. Now I have 4 and want more, but the girl wants me to keep what I have and put a limit on it. I certainly respect that and appreciate that she's been so supportive of my animal passion. She gradually went from a one cat household to... one cat, a 75 gallon and a 55 gallon tank, 4 ferrets and 4 snakes. So she supports me and I respect the limits she wants for the house. I have already told her I'm not going to add any more fish and when the day comes that they pass I will be knocking the tanks down to make room for more snakes.
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The beauty of facebook :rolleyes:, is that everyone is an instant expert (even those that had 1 snake for 2 weeks) their knowledge is rarely questioned and if it is people just get banned, I have a few friends that have been breeding for years that have been banned from some of those groups, including Justin Kobylka which is laughable.
I don't belong to any of those group the only one I belong too are morphs specific not about advice (so it mainly picture sharing), when it comes to advice I would rather share my knowledge here.
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Reminds me of one of the many reasons I deleted my Facebook account about a year ago. haven't missed it one bit.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Godzilla78
Reminds me of one of the many reasons I deleted my Facebook account about a year ago. haven't missed it one bit.
Deleted mine probably 4 years ago. Haven't missed it at all.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deborah
I have a few friends that have been breeding for years that have been banned from some of those groups, including Justin Kobylka which is laughable.
That's priceless.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Godzilla78
Reminds me of one of the many reasons I deleted my Facebook account about a year ago. haven't missed it one bit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by craigafrechette
Deleted mine probably 4 years ago. Haven't missed it at all.
i deleted mine over 5 years ago and it was one of the best things i ever did for my mental well-being. :) i encourage everyone to step away from facebook; this thread being one small example.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Never joined FB.
Sounds like I am not missing much!
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Ya I'm going to leave the groups. And I tell all my reptile people to not join FB reptile groups either. I tell my snake people to come here. I have three so far here lol.
im not leaving this group! I love it here!
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Preach it!!! There’s this one chick in not to be named fb group that no matter what I say, I am wrong. I just giggle about it at this point.
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There are a few good groups out there... There are a couple Kenyan Sand Boa groups that are frequented by Warren Treacher (sp?) among others, that are big breeders in the KSB community. Both of those groups were very helpful to me when I got my first snake, a KSB.
The 2 leachie groups I've found have been fine, for the most part (except for the random trolls who think housing a leachie in a tub is torture).
I also really like one of the GA local groups (I think it is Georgia royal python kingdom). Many of the GA breeders will post on there.
Most of the BP groups, the geckos groups, and the beardie groups, however, are toxic lol.
It is unfortunate that most sales seem to be moving to FB. I'd love for people to go back to posting clutches and for sales ads on forums like this one more.
One of my best experiences was getting my first boa after seeing litter posts from a breeder on the old boa forums... which I don't think are around any more.
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I'm also done with keeping fish! And facebook...I deleted my account 8 yrs ago and my stomach problems went away. :D
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
I joined the largest one I could find last week (Members wise). My first Reply to a question was deleted by a Moderator. The reason was ( we don't suggest anything that isn't cookie cutter here). The OP question was what could she do in the mean time for a Respiratory infection. She could not get a appointment for a while..there are times you cant dig into everyones personal life and pin them down as to why the Vet Appointment isn't sooner.. All we can do sometimes is suggest things that might possibly help the immediate situation in hopes it helps the animal some.
--anyway I said to raise the heat some etc.. and posted a link to a Nebulizer that Brian did a video for on Animal Bytes. Ohh boy that was a NO NO [emoji23][emoji23][emoji375][emoji375]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0355aca980.jpg
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickyNY
I'm also done with keeping fish! And facebook...I deleted my account 8 yrs ago and my stomach problems went away. :D
How long have you managed with keeping fish ?!
I think the longest I ever managed was about 2 years ..
I get some of my snake food from the local pet store and I have to walk PASSED the tropical fish !!
They probably do that on purpose ... like the supermarkets putting their best sellers in strategic places ..
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deborah
The beauty of facebook :rolleyes:, is that everyone is an instant expert (even those that had 1 snake for 2 weeks) their knowledge is rarely questioned and if it is people just get banned, I have a few friends that have been breeding for years that have been banned from some of those groups, including Justin Kobylka which is laughable.
I don't belong to any of those group the only one I belong too are morphs specific not about advice (so it mainly picture sharing), when it comes to advice I would rather share my knowledge here.
Lol Justin was banned? He could run circles around just about anybody and possibly everybody .
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CALM Pythons
I joined the largest one I could find last week (Members wise). My first Reply to a question was deleted by a Moderator. The reason was ( we don't suggest anything that isn't cookie cutter here). The OP question was what could she do in the mean time for a Respiratory infection. She could not get a appointment for a while..there are times you cant dig into everyones personal life and pin them down as to why the Vet Appointment isn't sooner.. All we can do sometimes is suggest things that might possibly help the immediate situation in hopes it helps the animal some.
--anyway I said to raise the heat some etc.. and posted a link to a Nebulizer that Brian did a video for on Animal Bytes. Ohh boy that was a NO NO [emoji23][emoji23][emoji375][emoji375]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0355aca980.jpg
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Animalbytes? Bah ...
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
This is one of the reasons I have ZERO desire to get my Facebook account back up and running. I hate the idea of everything going to Facebook, I like old school forums. As for the crappy info, that happens on all Facebook groups. I never touched the Mitsubishi Evo Facebook groups because they were full of people with ridiculous claims and horrible info. I stick to my forums :)
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by artgecko
There are a few good groups out there... There are a couple Kenyan Sand Boa groups that are frequented by Warren Treacher (sp?) among others, that are big breeders in the KSB community. Both of those groups were very helpful to me when I got my first snake, a KSB.
The 2 leachie groups I've found have been fine, for the most part (except for the random trolls who think housing a leachie in a tub is torture).
I also really like one of the GA local groups (I think it is Georgia royal python kingdom). Many of the GA breeders will post on there.
Most of the BP groups, the geckos groups, and the beardie groups, however, are toxic lol.
It is unfortunate that most sales seem to be moving to FB. I'd love for people to go back to posting clutches and for sales ads on forums like this one more.
One of my best experiences was getting my first boa after seeing litter posts from a breeder on the old boa forums... which I don't think are around any more.
I hate to make a second post back to back on this thread but I feel like I have to comment here!
It is very unfortunate that sales are moving to Facebook! I’ve inquired a few times about different animals on morphmarket and usually get a response of “more pictures and the feeding schedule are located on Facebook. Look me up”
First off, I don’t have a Facebook so No. Secondly, if you are going to run a BUSINESS through your Facebook you need to be 100% aware of the crap you post. I went to one guys page using my wife’s Facebook account and it was fuuuullll of political crap. I don’t care what you believe or which way you lean. I want to do a business transaction with you. If you have that much political stuff posted you are alienating 50% of your possible customers. I instantly stopped responding to him and went on my way looking for another animal
Keep
It
Professional !
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by FracksSake
Animalbytes? Bah ...
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Yeah you know the BRB's Youtube Channel? . . . The link I posted is good for someone to understand what product to use etc...
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lew-e
I hate to make a second post back to back on this thread but I feel like I have to comment here!
It is very unfortunate that sales are moving to Facebook! I’ve inquired a few times about different animals on morphmarket and usually get a response of “more pictures and the feeding schedule are located on Facebook. Look me up”
First off, I don’t have a Facebook so No. Secondly, if you are going to run a BUSINESS through your Facebook you need to be 100% aware of the crap you post. I went to one guys page using my wife’s Facebook account and it was fuuuullll of political crap. I don’t care what you believe or which way you lean. I want to do a business transaction with you. If you have that much political stuff posted you are alienating 50% of your possible customers. I instantly stopped responding to him and went on my way looking for another animal
Keep
It
Professional !
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Yes... The only ones I like that are on FB are the ones with a legit FB business page. Those that do sales through their personal pages are not very professional IMO and make it more difficult for buyers. I've gone to some of those before and not been able to see photos, etc. unless I "friend" them. I don't like to friend people I don't actually know, so that usually kills the potential sale for me.
I like it when people have a standard website, but understand that can be expensive to host and difficult to update. When I start breeding, I will probably have to do sales privately at first, then expand to a FB business page, then eventually want my own website if I can can find a hosting service and design program that will be possible for me to do myself.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
I don't like facebook for many reasons. Time to slither off now. :snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::D
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I like when businesses or breeder have a facebook page.
BUT, it needs to be a page solely for that business. Not personal and no private stuff.
I like it because it makes it easy for them to post pictures and updates and it makes it easy for me to follow those updates. Its not as easy to constantly update web pages, and I wouldn't think of checking all kinds of web pages every couple of days just in case there may be an update.
Facebook is one of those things that is "what you make it". I don't post personal stuff and I don't air out family issues for everyone to see.
I keep a VERY SMALL friends list. Tiny really. And I like it that way. Every so often I go through it and delete some people. Its the "OCD" anti-pack rat in me. I like the convenience of keeping up with friends and pages I'm interested in, and the stuff I do not care for gets ignored.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by zina10
I like when businesses or breeder have a facebook page.
BUT, it needs to be a page solely for that business. Not personal and no private stuff.
d.
Bob Clark had. Cool FB page. I love to see his pics from the 70's etc...
I got my Albino Burm from him 20 years ago. A lot of people talk down as he is a Big breeder but if you dealt with him in person people would see he isnt just a Flipper. He loves and cares for his snakes and is just a kind person in general.
Anyway, he has a cool FB hahha
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I do like a combination of a legit website (can have "projects" page, husbandry info, etc.) and then a FB business page for current updates on litters / clutches or available animals. I've seen many breeders have a website and then link their FB business page to it for updates and I like that method a lot. That allows people to find you on Google or other searches for general info about your business and animals and then use FB as a tool to keep people updated on what you have available.
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As plenty of others have said, i've definitely found forums like this much more reliable than an average FB group. Yes, there are good communities out there, but they are extremely hard to find and since they can be made by anyone with basic knowledge of the site, often have people running them who don't know much about the thing the group is based on. Honestly i'e been through plenty of forums for aquatics in the past, and though this is my first herping one, I can say that i've figured out that the older the active forum, the better, cause they are obviously doing something right.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CALM Pythons
I joined the largest one I could find last week (Members wise). My first Reply to a question was deleted by a Moderator. The reason was ( we don't suggest anything that isn't cookie cutter here). The OP question was what could she do in the mean time for a Respiratory infection. She could not get a appointment for a while..there are times you cant dig into everyones personal life and pin them down as to why the Vet Appointment isn't sooner.. All we can do sometimes is suggest things that might possibly help the immediate situation in hopes it helps the animal some.
--anyway I said to raise the heat some etc.. and posted a link to a Nebulizer that Brian did a video for on Animal Bytes. Ohh boy that was a NO NO [emoji23][emoji23][emoji375][emoji375]
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...0355aca980.jpg
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This is honestly absurd. I am hoping this answer was somewhat in jest. However, now I have to ask, what was the correct "cookie cutter" response in this type of situation? Build an altar to Baytril?
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slicercrush
As plenty of others have said, i've definitely found forums like this much more reliable than an average FB group. Yes, there are good communities out there, but they are extremely hard to find and since they can be made by anyone with basic knowledge of the site, often have people running them who don't know much about the thing the group is based on. Honestly i'e been through plenty of forums for aquatics in the past, and though this is my first herping one, I can say that i've figured out that the older the active forum, the better, cause they are obviously doing something right.
This forum is the best resource I've found too, over other forums too and way better than every ball python specific fb group I've been in... All the fb groups either swing from one extreme or the other, if you know what I mean. Either people who provide bioactive 5 foot enclosures for their one hatchling ball python are praised, or of course the other extreme being all ball pythons should only live in tubs as hides and shouldn't be provided with anything else.
While I'm glad this forum is chill about everything in between for caring properly for a snake as long as it is healthy and husbandry is met.
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The group that kicked out Justin K. and others is, imho, a group of rude bullies that "know it all" and have some kind of "power complex". The administrators and their groupies enjoy tearing people apart. There attitude is reminiscent of "Lord of the flies".
I joined that group and before I even introduced myself, I left again. All it took is reading through some posts for a couple of days to be completely turned off.
Those people will also come to other FB groups and mouth off. When I mentioned our forum to some people needing help, one of "those" people had the nerve to badmouth this forum, calling us all "nice" but outdated oldies that are all about "fluff and butterflies" while promoting outdated practices that endanger the snakes.
Uh..right.
I don't even bother replying to idiots like this, nor do I have any desire to join a group of those hateful, rude know it alls.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by zina10
The group that kicked out Justin K. and others is, imho, a group of rude bullies that "know it all" and have some kind of "power complex". The administrators and their groupies enjoy tearing people apart. There attitude is reminiscent of "Lord of the flies".
I joined that group and before I even introduced myself, I left again. All it took is reading through some posts for a couple of days to be completely turned off.
Those people will also come to other FB groups and mouth off. When I mentioned our forum to some people needing help, one of "those" people had the nerve to badmouth this forum, calling us all "nice" but outdated oldies that are all about "fluff and butterflies" while promoting outdated practices that endanger the snakes.
Uh..right.
I don't even bother replying to idiots like this, nor do I have any desire to join a group of those hateful, rude know it alls.
yep, the narcissistic, toxic relationships that fester within the walls of Facebook. Lol. I’ve never been in any snake group, but all of Facebook has these types of people, who are usually the most active Facebook members it seems. Again, good riddance to that dump, and most “social media” sites. Full of trash opinions and very little intelligent discussion.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by zina10
The group that kicked out Justin K.
oh, i'm sure they're a wonderful collection of super knowledgeable people. let's see what they have to say:
Quote:
Originally Posted by zina10
When I mentioned our forum to some people needing help, one of "those" people had the nerve to badmouth this forum, calling us all "nice" but outdated oldies that are all about "fluff and butterflies" while promoting outdated practices that endanger the snakes.
Uh..right.
i joined this hobby 3 years ago; i don't think i'm old. [emoji853]
and marshmallow fluff and butterflies are nice soOoOoOo...i like that part. lol.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Godzilla78
yep, the narcissistic, toxic relationships that fester within the walls of Facebook. Lol. I’ve never been in any snake group, but all of Facebook has these types of people, who are usually the most active Facebook members it seems. Again, good riddance to that dump, and most “social media” sites. Full of trash opinions and very little intelligent discussion.
I still say, you can make it tolerable ;)
I do like the business pages that keep me up to date, I like the "fan" pages, for example there is a Desert Ghost Ball Python group that I really like. Lots of pictures and great people. I like sharing with my friends and family, but again, my friends list is very VERY small. And I use all privacy settings there are.
Twitter, snapchat or what all the others may be I do not use. Facebook I use to keep up with interests and close friends/family.
There is a lot of "Bs" on Facebook as well, but I just ignore it. And that particular Ball Python group is the only one I've come across that is SO toxic and nasty, that I left on my own in a hurry. They didn't even have time to kick me out, LOL !!!
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
I divorced Facebook years ago and couldn't be happier. Got tired of kids fresh out of diapers and adults that should be in diapers preaching wild a$$ guesses as gospel in all things in life.
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
I’ve found this forum to be an invaluable source of information. Seems that many here used to keep fish before jumping into BP. I kept angelfish, discus and high end goldfish before giving that up (20+ years later). Water changes can be very time consuming.
Justin banned from a FB page??????? That’s nuts. That’s Facebook for you. [emoji90][emoji90]
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Re: Grrrr....FB groups!
Quote:
Originally Posted by IsmQui718
I’ve found this forum to be an invaluable source of information. Seems that many here used to keep fish before jumping into BP. I kept angelfish, discus and high end goldfish before giving that up (20+ years later). Water changes can be very time consuming.
Justin banned from a FB page??????? That’s nuts. That’s Facebook for you. [emoji90][emoji90]
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Hello
Fellow fish keeper ( and snake keeper ?)
:)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redshepherd
All the fb groups either swing from one extreme or the other, if you know what I mean. Either people who provide bioactive 5 foot enclosures for their one hatchling ball python are praised, or of course the other extreme being all ball pythons should only live in tubs as hides and shouldn't be provided with anything else.
While I'm glad this forum is chill about everything in between for caring properly for a snake as long as it is healthy and husbandry is met.
I am not a member of any ball python specific groups as ball pythons are a comparatively small fraction of my collection and not a primary personal interest of mine within the "reptile hobby", however obviously I do post here. Like redshepherd, I have also noticed this phenomena of "extremes", which it seems is not limited to ball python husbandry. We see it in politics all the time in an effort to separate oneself or an ideology from others/the pack and become more visible.
In this case, you see the "bioactive 5 foot enclosures" mentality as almost a retort to the mantra of "ball pythons should only live in tubs as hides and shouldn't be provided with anything else". There is a group on Facebook I believe I have mentioned before called "Advancing Reptile Husbandry", which ascribes to the large, naturalist setup ideology. I like this group because I like the idea of advancing captive husbandry in principle and indeed one of their supposed tenets is: move reptile husbandry forward using research and science, not anecdote and assumption. While I still think it is a good group overall and there is plethora of beneficial information to be found there, there are posts and assertions which, in my opinion, are counter-productive and based more on gut-feeling than anything resembling biology or science.
The classic posts I see all the time are: (1) here is a picture of my ball python basking under a UV light and not in it's plastic hide 125% of time, clearly it must be defective lolol, or (2) Why are your leopard geckos on paper towels? Don't you know as a group, we frown upon this practice? There is information of merit in these posts, but it is heavily shrouded in judgement and poor rhetoric. More constructive posts might be: (A) I have noticed after providing UV light, my ball python spends X% amount more time outside of its hides, basking, exploring, etc. I also noticed a positive/negative growth rate, feeding response, etc. (B) Leopard geckos are a somewhat scent-based species and providing a more permanent substrate / bottom can make the animal feel less stressed and more secure by keeping it's scent marking in tact. My other concern with this obsession with naturalistic enclosures is the apparent lack of quarantine and health monitoring on newly acquired species. You see people all the time putting newly acquired species directly into planted setups with soil-type substrates. It is no secret that this style of setup makes monitoring for health issues, mites, or collecting a good fecal sample much more difficult. Additionally, if you come down with a health issue, you often have to tear down an expensive setup. If you wish to have this style setup, it should be a no-brainer for the process to follow the general flow of:
(1) Acquisition -> (2) Quarantine on paper towels -> health screening/tests or veterinary check - (4) move into "final" enclosure
As I have said before, I am a believer in the larger, more natural setup, but minimal/laboratory setups absolutely have their place. Additionally, when you throw out a cage size recommendation, you should have a better rationale than "snakes need big cages". I am happy to encourage the larger setup, but I have to also realize that not everyone can devote 1/4 of a room to a single snake. Myself included. There has to be some balance. I generally advocate for the 4' x 2' x 1-2' enclosure for a variety of reasons: (1) They are commercially available and not extreme in price due to how plastic sheets are generally cut on the manufacturer end, (2) They are a balance of larger, but also within reason that the average keeper can swallow the bill and space requirement, (3) Given the size of your typical ball python, they allow for relatively easy humidity control as well as provide a minimum of 3 "temperature zones" a snake can loosely coil up in to allow them to naturally thermoregulate. This generally consists of the "warm end", "cool end", and an in-between zone. The additional length gives the snake space to stretch out and higher height (compared to many commercial tubs) gives them space to parascope, climb to a limited degree, and allow for the natural biological motions involved in swallowing food.
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