Grow Faster, Breed Sooner? (NOT POWER FEEDING)

[nikkubus]

We don't know exactly how long he has been doing this for, but my money is on that he started this with his 2004 hatchlings, which would now be coming up on 17 years old at this point, and he says are still alive and well. Putting myself in his shoes, he says this study took place in 2002-2003, he got results in a few months, why would he not try this the very next season if he wanted to try it? 16 years and some change isn't 30 years, but it's still plenty long enough to say this is a much different beast than powerfeeding. Without someone willing to put it to the test like Wilbanks is doing, we can't possibly know. Hopefully he answers back and we can really confirm the exact time frame but I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't want to after the way he was treated.

It makes me upset that so many people demonize breeders the way they do and throw around accusations about them "only caring about money". I know for a fact many of them care deeply for their animals, often more than they care about humans. Maybe a lot of you weren't around or don't remember what it was like to buy a BP in the 90s and prior, WC from the pet store, full of mites, dehydrated, and starving. I remember vividly and do not wish to go back to that. It is these forerunners that helped us get to where we are, where we don't have to have 100 WC die for each one that lives to see 5yo. It is them trying new things, trying to figure out the best ways to keep them healthy and thriving which has pushed the market for enclosures, heating, hides, and such to improve. That doesn't mean we can't criticize their methods and try to improve upon them further, but we should be doing it fairly.