Larry doesn't know anything?

[evan385]

I've been doing business with Larry at Critter Barn for over a year now. A certain member of this website who is local had me convinced for a bit that he knows nothing even though a part of me knew that was asinine. I've been talking to him a lot lately, great conversations about the industry and his experiences. Now I am certain that he should be well respected by all of us, and that any piece of advice that he gives freely on a daily basis should be cherished. And i'll tell you why. He is 70 something and has been keeping all kinds of reptiles and other exotics since he was a child. He has at least 50 years of experience at making a living on reptiles, birds, mammals and many other exotics. He has traveled the world. He has spent weeks at a time in countries such as South America, Brazil, Africa, and other Latin and tropical countries out in the field doing research. Learning as much as he could about anything that he could. Catching known species of snakes and other exotics as well as searching for new species. He was around before ball pythons were ever bred in captivity. He was there when everyone said that ball pythons would never breed in captivity. He proved them all wrong. He may very well be the very first person to ever breed ball pythons in captivity. At the least he was one of the very first. Taking all of this into consideration, how could anyone say that he knows nothing or that he's full of crap unless they just don't know what all he's done. How can you argue with fifty years of experience? Just because you think that using grams is of the utmost importance, doesn't mean that it's important at all. Ask Larry about grams he'll say "What the hell is a gram?" He has two-three ball pythons per tank, has been doing it that way for god knows how many years and has never had any problems or seen any stress at all from them. Tell him that ball pythons are solitary he'll say your full of crap and probably tell you about the nests of ball pythons he has found in Africa. This is not meant to offend anyone in any way. This was not meant to bring up arguments. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But I think that I would much rather believe the man who has decades of experience with ball pythons and who is probably the father of the ball python industry than any modern day belief that goes against what he says.

[snake lab]

Not to start a big deal but how do you not think this thread is gonna start an argument? Lol good luck

[Dabonus]

He has spent weeks at a time in countries such as South America, Brazil, Africa, and other Latin and tropical countries out in the field doing research.

Not sure who this Larry guy is, but this doesn't help your argument.

[JTrott]

I worked at a petstore with a guy who had been keeping reptiles for about 30 years.......I would not trust him to keep a cricket alive for more than a few minutes......just saying......just because you have kept reptiles, or seen them in the wild, doesn't mean you know anything.....I don't know this guy from anyone, nor do I care to, but just pointing out the obvious flaw in your thought proces.....years of keeping experience means absolutely nothing.

Jason

[spitzu]

People giving advice need to understand that there is more than one way to do things. Those on the receiving end on that advice need to learn to take it with a grain of salt and think for themselves..

I don't necessarily accept the general consensus that balls stress each other out when housed together. We did this for a few years and I've seen first hand how they constantly seek each other out to "cuddle". Do I think it's the best idea? Not anymore, no. I think that feedings can be problematic, and identifying those with illnesses can be difficult. If those aren't concerns that another keeper shares, then more power to him/her.

[mr.spooky]

When I was lived Knoxville, I spent quiet a bit of time talking to Larry, he is an "old timer" that has experience that some only dream of. He would tell me of days that he use to keep W/C vipers in big tall pickle jars (seems like hees got a few war scars on his hands to prove it). There has been alot of evoultion in the keeping of reptiles sence the days of then. I agree with you, he does know his stuff,,,, but he does things the way he knows, and the ways that works for him. To me, he IS one of the poineers, I dont know if he has any publications, or his name in any books, but he has been there,, and done that.
Though I respect the man, I choose to do things different from the way he does. When keeping ones own reptiles, we should look at all the info, new and old, and make our own decisions as we feel best.
spooky

[snake lab]

Another little tid bit of info for the info jar. Its been proven that animals in captivity live longer then in the wild. So just because ball pythons are huddled in termite mounds in the wild doesnt mean this is beneficial. It just means this is how they survive in the wild. We keep them in captivity to live not to hang on and survive. Jack hannah has traveled the world and has alot of knowledge but that guy is a tool. So just because some 70 year old guy whos had snakes since he was a kid doesnt make him a forefather of a thing.

[evan385]

Not sure who this Larry guy is, but this doesn't help your argument.

Lol that was my bad xD

[evan385]

Mr. Spooky is the only one who gets it because he's the only one who has actually talked to him. You would have to actually sit down and have a conversation with the man to understand. Please be aware that I work third shift and haven't slept so some things may come out wrong. Also thank you to Spitzu for being open minded. You two are the only ones who didn't respond negatively, to the rest of you there's no reason for that. What works for him may not work for you and everyone has their own way of doing things. I never said that I would house multiple snakes together, I have separate tubs for all three of my snakes. As I said everyone is entitled to their own opinions. There is no need to take any of this offensively I have not once said "You need to do it this way because Larry does it this way" I have simply stated my opinions. I don't know if his name is in the books somewhere but it should be because he is definitely a pioneer to this industry.

[evan385]

I worked at a petstore with a guy who had been keeping reptiles for about 30 years.......I would not trust him to keep a cricket alive for more than a few minutes......just saying......just because you have kept reptiles, or seen them in the wild, doesn't mean you know anything.....I don't know this guy from anyone, nor do I care to, but just pointing out the obvious flaw in your thought proces.....years of keeping experience means absolutely nothing.

Jason

I have been doing business with him for over a year. I have never once seen a single animal in his care that wasn't at the peak of health. So please think about it before you make a comment like this. You know nothing about him other than what I have stated and you have no right to compare him to your pet store failure. As I said he's made a LIVING breeding reptiles and other exotics. Obviously he's doing something right. What works for him may not work for you. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.