Care Sheet Review :)

[aburningflame]

the very ones who need the information the most are the only ones who are going to fall prey to inappropriate sources.

Ok...so, I care for 5 geckos...but don't know enough to write about basic care.

 

[aburningflame]

Ok honestly man - your entitled to your opinion.
But Im gonna beg to differ.

You started as a beginner - and I believe the key to good information is a wealth of information. I have waded through a lot of information and have picked out what I think is good for basic care. In practice - they seem to be working fine.

All of my geckos are very active and healthy.
Do I make mistakes? Yes.
Does everybody? Yes.

Im not gonna let you bring me down.

 

[M_surinamensis]

I think my care sheet is much better than any information any pet store would provide.

It is better than what some of them could provide.

It's pretty much exactly what most of them would provide.

It is far less than what some others of them could provide.

Definitely not "better than any" but that is because there are pet stores owned by guys with zoology doctorates and forty years of reptile keeping under their belts.

What you produced is about even with the single page photocopied sheet provided by big box chain stores.

It is not meant to have every damn piece of information you would need.

It should be. Otherwise why bother?

You may be very good with geckos,

Not really.

The thing is, I know exactly how good I am- and how good I am not on the subject of leopard geckos. Which is why I have not written a care guide of my own. I am not really in a position to do so in a manner that would be better than the sheets which have already been written by other people. I am incapable of writing one that is better than the information that is readily available on a half dozen websites- so when someone asks me for a general care guide that deals with multiple topics, I point them to the ones which already exist and are already great rather than giving them something that is of lower quality that I have written myself.

but you are absolutely horrible with people.

That's simply not true. I am amazingly good with people.

What is true is that I generally care substantially less about a person's feelings than I do about other subjects- like the care they give an animal or the information they are handing out to the general public. If it gets my point across, I am more than happy to bully my way to my goals. Or flatter, or gently lead or charm. They're all tools, means to an end, selected carefully for each job.

You started as a beginner

I certainly did. The difference is that while I was a beginner, I knew enough not to try to simultaneously be a teacher. I recognized my limitations (still do) and conducted myself appropriately. I know when to shut up and learn, rather than to stand up and lecture. I knew that reading two books and keeping an animal for a few months did not make me competent and knowledgeable enough to instruct anyone else about the right way to do something.

 

[aburningflame]

you win.

 

[MiamiLeos]

ewww... this just made me feel nasty

 

[Eureka]

Wow... :main_no:


Now, regarding your care sheet:

I did not see any blatant misinformation that is going to kill a Leopard Gecko. I found your Care Sheet to be thorough, more so than many I have looked at online. You have a disclaimer where you state the care sheet is meant to be used as a supplementation of information and that more research is recommended. It's not like you are claiming to be an expert. I don't see how it will hurt having it on your website as it is a good general guideline with basic information for beginners. Good job!

 

[M_surinamensis]

I did not see any blatant misinformation that is going to kill a Leopard Gecko.

You don't think the total absence of a water dish might do that?

 

[aburningflame]

You obviously didn't mention this before. It's obvious your combing my care sheet to nitpick at every little thing you can find.

I obviously provide water dishes for my geckos - the whole point of the review was to catch stuff I missed - I do forget stuff u know?

You do realize that the site isnt up yet? - I am perfecting the care sheet before I even think of putting the entire site up.

I asked for reviews so that I can make an accurate, well rounded care sheet that is a good place to start for beginners.

If there is a care sheet that includes everything and has nothing that is debatable please provide a link and I will GLADLY and happily link to it.

 

[MiamiLeos]

You don't think the total absence of a water dish might do that?

Honestly, if someone was literally that stupid as to not provide the animal with water I'm sure there would be many other husbandry, health, and care issues that would contribute to it's lack of survival.

 

[Eureka]

You don't think the total absence of a water dish might do that?

Yes... :blank: However, I thought I saw mention of a water bowl. Apparently I was mistaken. I see it has been added in now though, so problem solved. This is why aburningflame has shared the rough draft of his care sheet with GF. Some things can just slip your mind.

 

[M_surinamensis]

Honestly, if someone was literally that stupid as to not provide the animal with water I'm sure there would be many other husbandry, health, and care issues that would contribute to it's lack of survival.

A desert species... you'd be surprised at how many people wouldn't fill in that necessity on their own.

The thing to keep in mind is that everyone who had read this sheet so far, hidden from view and only available through a direct link as it is, are people who do not need a care sheet. The people who do need care sheets are the people who are so stupid as to fall victim to basic husbandry errors when they are not spelled out and explained for them explicitly.

It all comes down to the following question. Why write a mediocre care sheet when excellent care sheets and books already exist?

 

[aburningflame]

If it all comes down to this question:
Why write a mediocre care sheet when excellent care sheets and books already exist?

Here is your answer and my last post directed @ you:
This is my care sheet and my website. This is the way I want the animals I sell cared for - because this is what is working for me.This is the way I take care of my geckos and this is how I would like people to take care of the geckos they purchase from me.

Do I take good care of my geckos? YES.

Is it the best care sheet? Probably not - I do not claim to be an expert and I agree with reading and researching as much as possible.

Is it the worst care sheet? Definitely not.

Is it a good starting point for a leopard gecko beginner? In my opinion, yes.

This care sheet is much better than any information I had received when I first started.

If they research other things and come to their own conclusions - that is their perogative.

A search for leopard gecko care sheet:

Link 1 - Ron Tremper : Informative but lacks dust ratios and other in depth content.
Link 2 - Geckosetc: "Sand is the best substrate" - enough said
Link 3 - Leopard Gecko Care: Incomplete and inaccurate based on my opinion
Link 4 - Pro Geckos: Condone pinkie mice -I believe this to be harmfulmice
Link 5 - Condone pinkie mice - I believe this to be harmful


There are so many debates on what is the best way to care for a leopard gecko. I provide my own AND will refer customers to books, videos, and other references - this is all I can do - and hope that they take very good care of their animals.

 

[Eureka]

The problem has been fixed. It is up to him if he wants to have a care sheet on his gecko website. I find it to be above average, personally. I could see it being very helpful to a beginner.

M_surinamensis - Your opinion regarding the matter has been stated (more than once).