new turtle keeper
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ahh well, maybe we just got stuck with a nervous softshell. You just reminded me of when I used to go to the park in New Orleans and bring bread for the turtles and ducks. I saw some absolutely enormous softshells hauling themselves out to snatch pieces of bread, even while they had tiny little males on their backs
RE the whole sources for reptiles debate, yeah I probably argued too much in favor of fauna classifieds. Their classifieds suck, hands down, I mean there's very little variety and they're poorly organized....but the BOI, while of course not perfect, still is a good source of information on good and bad dealers. Majority concensus isn't always right, but we're dealing with reptiles, not political activism. In the end it's up to you as a buyer to use your own judgement, and my judgement tells me to heed the advice of X number of people who say Joe's Shady Snakes will send me sick or dead or misrepresented snakes vs the one guy who says "hey I've been friends with Joe for years and he's a great guy!"
repticzone is pure trash. I skimmed through some of their care sheets on species I've had for years and kind of wanted to die when I saw the crap people were spreading around.
Loco, that's an amazing list. How did you compile it, as in what are your criteria for someone to be on the list? I mean I see several names I know and would trust pretty much hands-down both for animals and information, as well as lots of names I recognize but know absolutely nothing about. Where do you get your information?
repticzone is pure trash. I skimmed through some of their care sheets on species I've had for years and kind of wanted to die when I saw the crap people were spreading around.
Loco, that's an amazing list. How did you compile it, as in what are your criteria for someone to be on the list? I mean I see several names I know and would trust pretty much hands-down both for animals and information, as well as lots of names I recognize but know absolutely nothing about. Where do you get your information?
WOW - that must have been quite a sight!!!! I pray, did you take a picture? I'd love to see that!
Man I wish I'd taken some pictures...I didn't have a camera at the time. But I'm going back down there next month so I'll bring a camera and see if I can get them to come out for me. Plus hopefully I'll get a picture of Billy Corgan's bald head....maybe with a softshell turtle on it!
Man yall should have seen the cooter I caught! In Houston, we had a mexican restaurant where people fed the turtles chips and stuff, kinda like those new orleans softies. Anyway, I was showing the kids how to catch turtles without getting hurt, then out of the blue this LITERALLY 2 foot long cooter pops up, I thought it was a snapper! Biggest wild turtle I've ever seen. So I caught the thing and it took me all my strength to hold it down! If youve ever tried to hold down a mad turtle, ITS TOUGH. Theyre tanks.
If you want to hear some good reptile keeping philosohy, read the FAQ at proexotics.com. It's in good humor and a peice of work that can change your outlook on the whole industry. Yes, and PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD, keep off of repticzone!
A little somthing I want to add about forums: Species-specific sites are always, 100% better, hands down. They only time I would choose to post at KS over another site would be if a specific member posts there, or the question I have cannot be covered at another. For example, pangeareptile.com, varanus.net, etc.
It's just basically all the links I've complied since I first started. I took some out, that after some experience looked a lot worse than they did when I was younger. You can really develop an eye for this sort of stuff after seeing so much good and so much bad. All of them I went through personally for a little 'inspection', but most of them are vendors I saw at expos, ads in REPTILES magazine or online. recommendations through kingsnake, and just general chitchat with herp friends, online or otherwise. A few have even been on TV.
I guess I go by this 'criteria' but its mainly common sense with a little knowledge thrown in:
- If the site owner spent the time to make the site well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, its a good indication they really care about the business. Some of the bad dealers just make a pricelist on a white page and call it done.
- See if the seller specializes or generalizes. Breeders that focus on one species are generally among the best for that particular type, as well as those that have only a few. This isn't to say people that deal with dozens of species are bad, they just have bigger facilities. See if they breed their own animals or just mix-and-match with herps they happen to come across. People that specialize in a few species are often smaller breeders who give the animals more attention.
- See if the breeder advertises. If they have ads in REPTILES or on kingsnake, they care enough to get their animals out to good homes to spend a little money. But if they don't advertise, thats not a red flag or anything, just forget about it.
- Do they provide ALL contact info? Skanky dealers provide you with an email adress at best, while a true blue breeder will give you their home and cell #, email, home adress, zip code, AIM, etc. THey will also make a point to give you their names on kingsnake and other forums(larger, more well known breeders are often moderators). Check for an 'about us' section too.
- Do they have guarantees? Common sense. If they don't, they are aware their animals suck and will die within days, so they don't take the risk of losing even a dollar. Don't expect a 10 year guarantee, thats a bit much to ask...
- Shipping. See if they use a high-quality overnight delivery service. Higher quality means more expensive, but its for the good of the animal. See how they package too. If they ship balls in a cricket box (I've seen it happen, all died) or a sock (seen that too), thats a red flag. See proexotics.com's FAQ for shipping stuff and how it SHOULD be done.
- Do they show pictures of their breeding animals and enclosures? Sometimes they hide it, just to make sure you don't get suspicious. Check the parent animals before you buy their offspring, thats common sense as well. They don't have to show you every nook and cranny of their reptile room, but use your head and ask if you have to.
- This doesnt have to do with the breeder site itself, but if you have even the slightest doubt, take an ad or website to a forum. They can give you the thumbs up or down. Some people know the breeders personally and can tell you all about them.
- If they've written books or articles, read them. Also, if they provide care information on their site and how they do it, thats a good indication.
This isnt like a checklist I go by or anything. It actually took me a while to think that up. Just go by your gut and do some background searching. But I don't wanna spoonfeed you! Go out and learn firsthand
If you want to hear some good reptile keeping philosohy, read the FAQ at proexotics.com. It's in good humor and a peice of work that can change your outlook on the whole industry. Yes, and PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD, keep off of repticzone!
A little somthing I want to add about forums: Species-specific sites are always, 100% better, hands down. They only time I would choose to post at KS over another site would be if a specific member posts there, or the question I have cannot be covered at another. For example, pangeareptile.com, varanus.net, etc.
It's just basically all the links I've complied since I first started. I took some out, that after some experience looked a lot worse than they did when I was younger. You can really develop an eye for this sort of stuff after seeing so much good and so much bad. All of them I went through personally for a little 'inspection', but most of them are vendors I saw at expos, ads in REPTILES magazine or online. recommendations through kingsnake, and just general chitchat with herp friends, online or otherwise. A few have even been on TV.
I guess I go by this 'criteria' but its mainly common sense with a little knowledge thrown in:
- If the site owner spent the time to make the site well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, its a good indication they really care about the business. Some of the bad dealers just make a pricelist on a white page and call it done.
- See if the seller specializes or generalizes. Breeders that focus on one species are generally among the best for that particular type, as well as those that have only a few. This isn't to say people that deal with dozens of species are bad, they just have bigger facilities. See if they breed their own animals or just mix-and-match with herps they happen to come across. People that specialize in a few species are often smaller breeders who give the animals more attention.
- See if the breeder advertises. If they have ads in REPTILES or on kingsnake, they care enough to get their animals out to good homes to spend a little money. But if they don't advertise, thats not a red flag or anything, just forget about it.
- Do they provide ALL contact info? Skanky dealers provide you with an email adress at best, while a true blue breeder will give you their home and cell #, email, home adress, zip code, AIM, etc. THey will also make a point to give you their names on kingsnake and other forums(larger, more well known breeders are often moderators). Check for an 'about us' section too.
- Do they have guarantees? Common sense. If they don't, they are aware their animals suck and will die within days, so they don't take the risk of losing even a dollar. Don't expect a 10 year guarantee, thats a bit much to ask...
- Shipping. See if they use a high-quality overnight delivery service. Higher quality means more expensive, but its for the good of the animal. See how they package too. If they ship balls in a cricket box (I've seen it happen, all died) or a sock (seen that too), thats a red flag. See proexotics.com's FAQ for shipping stuff and how it SHOULD be done.
- Do they show pictures of their breeding animals and enclosures? Sometimes they hide it, just to make sure you don't get suspicious. Check the parent animals before you buy their offspring, thats common sense as well. They don't have to show you every nook and cranny of their reptile room, but use your head and ask if you have to.
- This doesnt have to do with the breeder site itself, but if you have even the slightest doubt, take an ad or website to a forum. They can give you the thumbs up or down. Some people know the breeders personally and can tell you all about them.
- If they've written books or articles, read them. Also, if they provide care information on their site and how they do it, thats a good indication.
This isnt like a checklist I go by or anything. It actually took me a while to think that up. Just go by your gut and do some background searching. But I don't wanna spoonfeed you! Go out and learn firsthand
Oh, santoury. At2 said he is building a pond, so he can probably go with just about anything. Now its up to him to decide if he wants a turtle at all over other herps, and if he does, what kind, because there are so many awesome ones to choose from.
I've got a dream turtle pond planned out I'd like to try someday. Heck, I have a dream reef tank and a dream dart frog viv. Who doesn't!?
I've got a dream turtle pond planned out I'd like to try someday. Heck, I have a dream reef tank and a dream dart frog viv. Who doesn't!?
loconorc;1134369; said:
yeah my wife and i are hoping to setup the huge tub her brother in law gave us by next spring. i will more than likely have my 75 gallon in my garage by that time and setup for turtles/or whatever i get. so if the pond plan doesnt come along on schedule i will still have the 75 available. i almost upgraded it to a 125 last week when they were on sale at a lps for $190. but i want to go bigger so i will wait as planned.
Still keep an open mind to pets other than turtles. Did you check out those links? I have more I'd like to add, but I can't figure out how to edit posts.
If your'e going to stay with turtles, I still highly suggest the ones I said earlier. And if youre putting it in a pond, keep an american species. Anything tropical will only get about 5 months out of the year outdoors at best. RES, painteds, diamondacks, softies, etc aare temperate animals so can live longer outdoors than tropical turtles. So that african sideneck you were considering isnt a good idea. Again, other reptiles are still open for discussion, I think you'd immensely enjoy some others more than a turtle.
If your'e going to stay with turtles, I still highly suggest the ones I said earlier. And if youre putting it in a pond, keep an american species. Anything tropical will only get about 5 months out of the year outdoors at best. RES, painteds, diamondacks, softies, etc aare temperate animals so can live longer outdoors than tropical turtles. So that african sideneck you were considering isnt a good idea. Again, other reptiles are still open for discussion, I think you'd immensely enjoy some others more than a turtle.
loconorc;1134891; said:
i havent had much time tonight to check out the info you ahve provided me. although i have copied it to my computer. they are working me hard tonight, trying to get the tax payers moneys worth outta me i guess! haha
but yeah i am going to stick with a turtle. my wife is kinda wanting it now cause she is the one that is all hyped up over this pond thing next spring. so i am going to continue to read and learn as much as i can. the RES and painted are my favs so far. as for the african, if my lil girl sees a much more colorful painted she will want that instead im sure!
again, thanks sooo much for your help. this is one of the reasons i love this site!
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