fuzzylogix
Carpe Diem
- Messages
- 2,115
- Location
- Dallas, TX
As I'm sure most of you have noticed there has been a great influx of new members and sadly a decline in thread responses from some of our more seasoned veterans. I am writing this to help out the new people, and shed some light on some very common and frustrating issues. Please take this for what you will, but it comes from my experiences as member here, and as a hobbyist. This doesn't come close to scratching the surface of the involvement of keeping leos, but I think it's a good start.
1. Before you post that "I just got this gecko from BigChainPetStore, can you identify its morph" thread, do some research. There are a multitude of informational sites out there on the interwebz that can help you with identification of phenotypes. One in particular would be www.leopardgeckowiki.com. It may not be the absolute morph "bible" if you will, but is a great starting spot. If you have done the research, and are still having problems, then by all means post away. Just make sure that you indicate what sources you have checked, and I can assure you that you will get a much better response from other members. If you don't have the initiative to do the "hard" work yourself, then you probably shouldn't own a leo in the first place.
2. There is MUCH more to successfully breeding reptiles than putting a male in with a female. Again, do some research. If you post a thread asking "I just got my first leos. one male from BigChainPetStore and one female from CL. how do I breed them", trust me, you aren't going to like the responses you get. You need to be able to make sure that you can properly take care of one gecko before you decide to bring another 10-12 into the world. And yes, one breeding pair of leos can produce 10 or more offspring in one breeding season. Like I stated above, if you show that you have been researching, and have specific, educated questions, the responses you get will be much more helpful. Oh, and if in the same thread you ask "and can you tell me what morph they are", you really need to think about another hobby.
3. Respect other's opinions whether or not you agree or disagree. Everyone here is free to have their own thought process, but if you actually listen to what people say, you may just learn something. Which brings me to number 4.
4. You don't know everything. I have kept reptiles my entire life, and I'm still learning. I hope I never stop...
5. Post count means squat. There are some very experienced keepers and breeders here that have less than 1000 posts. And then there are some people that have been here just a couple of months with well over that. Don't just post random garbage to get your post count up. This is not a popularity contest.
6. See that orange bar up there at the top of the screen under the site sponsors? There is an option there called "Search". Use it. You might just find what you are looking for. And if not, again, post away.
7. Take some time to read the TOS. Our moderators and admins work hard to make sure this is the best forum out there. And Kelli is a great person, but I don't think she would hesitate to smack you down if you get out of line.
8. People post threads here daily regarding medical advice. If you are reading a thread, and are not 100% sure that you can give helpful advice, then don't. Which brings me to number 9.
9. If you have a gecko or other animal with a serious medical condition, seek vet care immediately. Don't post a thread about how your gecko is bleeding out of every orifice and want to know what you should do. You are responsible for that animal's life. If you can't afford vet care, then you shouldn't own that animal. Period.
10. Common sense. Use it. It will get you far here.
11. You will not get rich breeding leopard geckos. There are handful of breeders out there who have made a living off this, but they have years of experience and their reputations are (mostly) pristine. I won't even come close to breaking even this year, but I do it because I have a passion for reptiles. If you are here because you see geckos as a commodity only, you are in the wrong place.
12. Last but not least, HAVE FUN! This is a great place to meet new people with like interests, and learn something new along the way. Relax and be yourself. You will find that the more positive you are, the more receptive people will be to you. There have been many people that have joined here seeking attention, and I promise you, it didn't go well.
oh and almost forgot.. WE LOVE TO SEE PICTURES OF YOUR GECKOS! :main_thumbsup:
Sorry about the long, drawn out thread. I welcome other "tips" to be posted by members as well.
1. Before you post that "I just got this gecko from BigChainPetStore, can you identify its morph" thread, do some research. There are a multitude of informational sites out there on the interwebz that can help you with identification of phenotypes. One in particular would be www.leopardgeckowiki.com. It may not be the absolute morph "bible" if you will, but is a great starting spot. If you have done the research, and are still having problems, then by all means post away. Just make sure that you indicate what sources you have checked, and I can assure you that you will get a much better response from other members. If you don't have the initiative to do the "hard" work yourself, then you probably shouldn't own a leo in the first place.
2. There is MUCH more to successfully breeding reptiles than putting a male in with a female. Again, do some research. If you post a thread asking "I just got my first leos. one male from BigChainPetStore and one female from CL. how do I breed them", trust me, you aren't going to like the responses you get. You need to be able to make sure that you can properly take care of one gecko before you decide to bring another 10-12 into the world. And yes, one breeding pair of leos can produce 10 or more offspring in one breeding season. Like I stated above, if you show that you have been researching, and have specific, educated questions, the responses you get will be much more helpful. Oh, and if in the same thread you ask "and can you tell me what morph they are", you really need to think about another hobby.
3. Respect other's opinions whether or not you agree or disagree. Everyone here is free to have their own thought process, but if you actually listen to what people say, you may just learn something. Which brings me to number 4.
4. You don't know everything. I have kept reptiles my entire life, and I'm still learning. I hope I never stop...
5. Post count means squat. There are some very experienced keepers and breeders here that have less than 1000 posts. And then there are some people that have been here just a couple of months with well over that. Don't just post random garbage to get your post count up. This is not a popularity contest.
6. See that orange bar up there at the top of the screen under the site sponsors? There is an option there called "Search". Use it. You might just find what you are looking for. And if not, again, post away.
7. Take some time to read the TOS. Our moderators and admins work hard to make sure this is the best forum out there. And Kelli is a great person, but I don't think she would hesitate to smack you down if you get out of line.
8. People post threads here daily regarding medical advice. If you are reading a thread, and are not 100% sure that you can give helpful advice, then don't. Which brings me to number 9.
9. If you have a gecko or other animal with a serious medical condition, seek vet care immediately. Don't post a thread about how your gecko is bleeding out of every orifice and want to know what you should do. You are responsible for that animal's life. If you can't afford vet care, then you shouldn't own that animal. Period.
10. Common sense. Use it. It will get you far here.
11. You will not get rich breeding leopard geckos. There are handful of breeders out there who have made a living off this, but they have years of experience and their reputations are (mostly) pristine. I won't even come close to breaking even this year, but I do it because I have a passion for reptiles. If you are here because you see geckos as a commodity only, you are in the wrong place.
12. Last but not least, HAVE FUN! This is a great place to meet new people with like interests, and learn something new along the way. Relax and be yourself. You will find that the more positive you are, the more receptive people will be to you. There have been many people that have joined here seeking attention, and I promise you, it didn't go well.
oh and almost forgot.. WE LOVE TO SEE PICTURES OF YOUR GECKOS! :main_thumbsup:
Sorry about the long, drawn out thread. I welcome other "tips" to be posted by members as well.