Question: At what point do you feel comfortable posting info about your animals?

[Jenn]

Excellent post. I think about ego alot. I have come to realize that if I could only get out from behind my own ego I would be a much better person. It's fun to be smart, and to help others. It gives us a sense of self-worth and bolsters our self-esteem. It also seems to be human nature to want to share things that we have learned recently, as opposed to things we have known for years.

So in answer to Heather's question... I feel comfortable sharing my experience now, however, I did it a lot more before I was actually qualified to do so.

You nailed this one Heather, thanks.

[PythonWallace]

It also seems to be human nature to want to share things that we have learned recently, as opposed to things we have known for years.


You nailed this one Heather, thanks.

I agree. It's usually done with good intentions, but it's not always the best info. I think the right time to become somewhat of a "teacher" is when you have read everything out there for a baseline, raised up snakes for long enough and learned from experience and knowing the snakes that there are different ways to do things, other than the forum dogma, that keep your animals thriving. I don't see any problems with people making basic husbandry videos or posts with recycled basic information as long as it's not bad information, but we've all seen novices and so called experts make videos with ridiculous information. But as far as being a "teacher", I don't think that this is a topic where the teacher can stay one lesson ahead of the class and try to teach. A solid baseline and a few years of dedicated experience is a good starting point. You can read everything out there and think you know it all, but once you've had some hands on experience with a handful of snakes you start to realize that you don't know all that much. At that point you start experimenting and trying new things and seeing what works best for your snakes, and at that point it becomes more beneficial to share what you learn.

[wilomn]

I'm confused. I know I know, so unusual.....

But I sort of figured that anytime I was talking snakes I was teaching, purposely or not, and anytime I was listening I was learning.

Sometimes I was learning what not to do, but a lesson is a lesson.

I had a kid ask me this one time, while I was giving a demonstration, the kid was maybe 7 and had never touched a snake, doubtful he had ever seen one in person, but the little bugger had been reading; why do snakes have nostrils if they smell with their tongues?

I had never considered that question until that day. I had been keeping snakes for several decades before I heard that question.

I think I may have been that kid back in the long ago. I honestly can't remember a time after I was about 14 when I wasn't sharing what I know/knew with fellow herpers, no internet back then, but we did this thing called talking and used this device called a telephone that had all these wires and parts and intricate rituals that had to be followed in order for it to work.

I started working in a pet shop when I was in high school and have been teaching people about reptiles as a profession ever since.

But I suspect my case is not typical.

[PythonWallace]

I'm confused. I know I know, so unusual.....

But I sort of figured that anytime I was talking snakes I was teaching, purposely or not, and anytime I was listening I was learning.

Sometimes I was learning what not to do, but a lesson is a lesson.

I had a kid ask me this one time, while I was giving a demonstration, the kid was maybe 7 and had never touched a snake, doubtful he had ever seen one in person, but the little bugger had been reading; why do snakes have nostrils if they smell with their tongues?

I had never considered that question until that day. I had been keeping snakes for several decades before I heard that question.

I think I may have been that kid back in the long ago. I honestly can't remember a time after I was about 14 when I wasn't sharing what I know/knew with fellow herpers, no internet back then, but we did this thing called talking and used this device called a telephone that had all these wires and parts and intricate rituals that had to be followed in order for it to work.

I started working in a pet shop when I was in high school and have been teaching people about reptiles as a profession ever since.

But I suspect my case is not typical.

You're right about teaching and learning, but I took the question to ask about writing and making videos about husbandry, feeding and breeding. I probably took it the wrong way, but as far as that goes I think that before you have sufficiant hands on experience to know that what you are doing is making your animals thrive, you risk giving out bad information that is better off not being out there for new keepers who are looking for good information, and also experienced keepers looking for newer information. I'm thinking of the lady on expert village who has a ton of informational videos about ball pythons, and who probably has good intentions. They are simply wrong and dangerous for anyone who watches them and follows her advice. If people like her actually read a good book on the subject, then put it into practice for long enough to learn the animals and make neccesary changes to her husbandry, they wouldn't look like such fools, and new keepers wouldn't be starting off with harmful information. I just hate seeing videos that are meant to teach new keepers proper husbandry, then showing yearlings eating pinkies in a 55 glass fish tank with a log hide, reptile carpet and a 120w spot light and 65 degree ambient temps.

[wilomn]

You're right about teaching and learning, but I took the question to ask about writing and making videos about husbandry, feeding and breeding. I probably took it the wrong way, but as far as that goes I think that before you have sufficiant hands on experience to know that what you are doing is making your animals thrive, you risk giving out bad information that is better off not being out there for new keepers who are looking for good information, and also experienced keepers looking for newer information. I'm thinking of the lady on expert village who has a ton of informational videos about ball pythons, and who probably has good intentions. They are simply wrong and dangerous for anyone who watches them and follows her advice. If people like her actually read a good book on the subject, then put it into practice for long enough to learn the animals and make neccesary changes to her husbandry, they wouldn't look like such fools, and new keepers wouldn't be starting off with harmful information. I just hate seeing videos that are meant to teach new keepers proper husbandry, then showing yearlings eating pinkies in a 55 glass fish tank with a log hide, reptile carpet and a 120w spot light and 65 degree ambient temps.

Nope, I didn't read the question properly. It specifically askes about posting, using this newfangled technological hooey, not about jibber jabbering in person.

Great points all around though.

[littleindiangirl]

Some snakes apparently have an ok sense of smell through their nostrils. I read it one time in a science article... Dont ask me to cite my sources.

[wilomn]

Some snakes apparently have an ok sense of smell through their nostrils. I read it one time in a science article... Dont ask me to cite my sources.

Yes, but if their primary scent input is not in the nostrils, why do they have them?

[littleindiangirl]

In case they lose their tongue. Duh jeez, you'd think I was teaching preschoolers....

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Yes, but if their primary scent input is not in the nostrils, why do they have them?

to breath without opening their mouth?

[wilomn]

In case they lose their tongue. Duh jeez, you'd think I was teaching preschoolers....

Interesting answer.

THIS preschooler sort of thought it was for breathing.

See there, I let my guard down and learned something today.

I had no clue that a snakes tongue could become lost. I always thought they were firmly attached, as are ours.

I'm going to go pull some tongues right now and see what happens.