Melissa Kaplan

I dont know if this is a proper thread (and if it isn't, mods please remove it). What is the general feeling in the herp community on Melissa Kaplan? I have seen a lot of mixed opinions ranging from purveyor of worthless (and wrong) information to the next in line for herpdom sainthood. Any thoughts?

J

What little I've read from her annoys me. But I haven't read enough to form any solid opinion one way or the other about her. Just a general, overall "don't care for her" sort of thing that I haven't bothered to try and prove or disprove.

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Originally Posted by JLC

What little I've read from her annoys me. But I haven't read enough to form any solid opinion one way or the other about her. Just a general, overall "don't care for her" sort of thing that I haven't bothered to try and prove or disprove.

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And thats where my curiousity lies. I wonder what has happened (there has to have been an incident of some sort) which has made multiple people i have talked to react the same way.

I suppose you could track down all her writings and start wading through them...see if it becomes obvious then.

RDR has her care sheet up on his site. I would really like to know if he has his own caresheet though

Ok, this is ALL HEARSAY, but I remember reading a thread, don't remember which forum it was though, but the gist of the thread was that while Melissa's advice ranges from somewhat bad to outright stupid, the real problem is that while she's offering advice on reptile keeping, she's hanging out with PETA and talking publicly about how no one should own reptiles. Basically, she's talking out both sides of her neck. AGAIN, THIS IS ALL HEARSAY, I HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO BACK THIS UP, IT IS FROM SOMETHING I READ.

Now that you mention it, I recall hearing the same thing. About how she writes all these articles but advocates banning of reptile ownership. The problem is that its hard to separate fact and fiction on this monster we call the Internet. So who out there has the straight poop on it?

I found the thread, it was on Fauna Classifieds

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...melissa+kaplan

It has been claimed by some that Melissa Kaplan is frowned upon as a souce of information for the hobby/herpetology.

Is this true?

If so, why is she frowned upon as a source of info?

EDIT: Woops I should have used the search function....there's already a thread title this......admin feel free to delete this if you see fit.

From what I know, she does not have experience with some of the animal's she post's or write's articles about. She is also a member and supporter of PETA from what I have heard, and been told by other, more experienced herpetologist's.

If you search Fauna you might find some things too. I've heard she has been quoted to say something about no more reptile trade or something like that.

Oh man.


Where is Seamus when you need him.:D

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...melissa+kaplan

http://www.todaysplanet.com/pg/beta/...ver/page14.htm from the fauna thread

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...melissa+kaplan

post #53 is great!

Oh boy another PETA person. X_x

Thank you for posting these!

Yup, she is a supporter of PETA AND wants reptile trade to come to an end. Not to mention some false information.

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Originally Posted by bpkid

Yup, she is a supporter of PETA AND wants reptile trade to come to an end. Not to mention some false information.

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I don't believe that just because someone is a supporter of PETA that it makes them a bad person. PETA has many different agendas and the average person that joins is only aware of the main ones (stopping animal testing, more humane slaughterhouse conditions). By the way, I agree with both of those. PETA has a whole bunch of dangerous side agendas that are aimed at the reptile industry. That said, Melissa Kaplan is a fraud and a phony, regardless of her association with PETA.

Here is another thing about her.

http://www.todaysplanet.com/pg/beta/...ver/page14.htm

I've merged these two threads, although it's not a seamless merge due to the long gaps in the dates....it still seemed kinda silly to have two identically titled threads on exactly the same topic, both being posted to at the same time.

Thanks Judy! I meant to post on the newer one but somehow hit the older one.

Here is another: Sounds like a fountain of misinformation.

"In the January 2001 issue of the PNHS newsletter was an "edited" article by Melissa Kaplan, about calculating the cost of electricity. It contains several major bits of misinformation, maybe attributable to Ms. Kaplan, maybe to the "editing" of the item. In looking at the label of a "power strip," she discovered that it stated 15A 125VAC 60hz. To find the number of watts, she multiplied the 15 amps times the 125 volts to get 1875 watts, and promptly unplugged it to save electricity. But a power strip uses maybe 1 watt for the light that indicates when it is on. The 15 amps, 1875 watts is the maximum load that can be handled by the power strip without tripping the reset button."


http://coloherp.org/cb-news/Vol-28/cbn-0106/Caveat.html

No one can be that much out of it :)

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Originally Posted by JLC

I've merged these two threads, although it's not a seamless merge due to the long gaps in the dates....it still seemed kinda silly to have two identically titled threads on exactly the same topic, both being posted to at the same time.

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thank you so much judy :)

I have seen many of Melissa's caresheets..if thats what you want to call them. Most are poorly written and the information is not very correct, muchless safe as far as her suggestions in care... I would NEVER recommend anyone using any of her caresheets, there are plenty out there that are correct and the sources are actually credible.

It is also my understanding that Melissa has not even owned most of the species she has written caresheets for.. her info at best..is nothing more than the incorrect constantly re-gurgitated crap out there.