same old questions...

[Jimturner]

It seems to me a lot of members are always asking the same questions about basic husbandry. Perhaps the bookstore section should be a little more prominent on the home page of this forum. I wonder why no breeders include a book with their cham starter budget "kits"? Doesn't anyone read any more? When I started out books were the ONLY source of decent info. Knowledge is power.... READ SOME BOOKS!!

 

[YumeKitsune4]

I would love to find a book specifically on Senegals. Know of any?

 

[Gensen]

Agreed!

I know what you mena prior to getting my first Cham I read 5 or 6 books cover to cover for days... and then on top of that I research the internet and this Forum for as much info I could soak up so that I knew my Cham would be getting the best and correct care I was capable of giving him... and as mentioned this was before I got him...

Now after having him I have a second Cham and I still try to educate myself just incase I "missed" anything in the 6 books and countless hours of research!!!!

Educate yourself first = healthy Chams!!!

 

[Carlton]

It seems to me a lot of members are always asking the same questions about basic husbandry. Perhaps the bookstore section should be a little more prominent on the home page of this forum. I wonder why no breeders include a book with their cham starter budget "kits"? Doesn't anyone read any more? When I started out books were the ONLY source of decent info. Knowledge is power.... READ SOME BOOKS!!

I have found that depending on which particular books the asker has found they either:

a: realize the glossy picture book they picked up at the library or a pet shop is much too vague to really inform anything
b: the reader is "lazy" and wants someone else to do their research work for them
c: ask the question because they just realized how complicated the answers are and get overwhelmed
d: wishful thinking...they want something to be OK despite reality

There is still a lot of terrible husbandry information out there that newbies can get their hands on. But, they can't determine which information is good and which isn't...this comes with expertise and takes time.

 

[Syn]

It seems to me a lot of members are always asking the same questions about basic husbandry. Perhaps the bookstore section should be a little more prominent on the home page of this forum. I wonder why no breeders include a book with their cham starter budget "kits"? Doesn't anyone read any more? When I started out books were the ONLY source of decent info. Knowledge is power.... READ SOME BOOKS!!

I'm going to scan a few pages of books I have on chameleons later today, maybe you will find out why I disagree a little.

I would much rather that people use the search button, but some books are good.. it's just finding the right books that is the hard part.

 

[kongchi]

I do agree with you Mr. Jim Turner, but truth is you are probably one of the few people in this nation who is not lazy or loves to read books. I guess if we were all like that this forum wouldn't be as lively and it would be filled with pictures of peoples chams and that's about it. Chameleonforums.com is known as a helpful website, and truth be told, this forum is one of the very few reasons that made me confident on choosing a cham as a pet.

Also some of the books out there give different information and feel like they are written generically. I like tried and true info and thanks to most of the senior members on this site, that's what I got.

 

[Bokaru]

I believe that books are very important to follow, but at the same time, the information in them can be flawed. Now I'm not trying to say that these books are worthless, but a lot of the time a well developed forum has honed in a little more than a single writer. A lot of research is done when creating books, but the opinion of many can sometimes prove to be better or improved upon.

I would honestly rather trust a person I know on a forum who has helped many many people that a book by some person I cant ask to clarify or place my opinion against.

I would rather keep the books as a very lite guide line and fill in the rest with answers here.

As for many re-answered questions on the forums. I think that it would be frustrating so see the same thing over and over again, but I also feel it would be much more rewarding to answer a question instead of send out a harsh or back handed comment especially when attached with a link to a previous page that only half answers a question that was presented.

 

[carol5208]

I bought my whole set up from the breeder which was the smartest thing to do. All the lighting, branches, dripper, etc so I knew I was doing it right. Also when I got my cham she sent along a 3 page care sheet which was very helpful but still of course does not answer every question but alot of it. I did alot of my own research prio to buying my chameleon also.

 

[Jimturner]

My intent wasnt to say this forum is bad. I think it is a wonderful source of info. It seems to me though, that a lot of people use it as a sort of shortcut to eliminate the need for any actual knowledge. If people would read a few books or even use the search feature, there wouldn't be so many sad tales of sick or injured chams caused by pure ignorance of fact.

 

[Syn]

My intent wasnt to say this forum is bad. I think it is a wonderful source of info. It seems to me though, that a lot of people use it as a sort of shortcut to eliminate the need for any actual knowledge. If people would read a few books or even use the search feature, there wouldn't be so many sad tales of sick or injured chams caused by pure ignorance of fact.

Shortcuts aren't always bad. It may be a little boring to see the same question over and over, but there is no complete source of info other than this forum.

I read books instead of joining a forum before posting my chameleon. It was off, quite off, and I remember it to this day. Thanks to the forum, I've kept chameleons for a while and quite healthily. I've even helped rehab chameleons and get them into better homes.

Books are a great resource, but they are not perfect. A forum is ever-changing to meet the needs of new ideas and new chameleons. I have a hard time explaining this, of course. Hope you understand haha.

 

[nhayes1]

Being a new member and a new owner to a panther I found this forum a reassuring place to come ask the questions that I have found so many different answers to. Even when placing a question out to members I find different people have different ideas, but find it helpful to see what different things have worked for different people .... its more personal when people reassure me, or point me in a better direction, when I worry about something I could be doing wrong and could end up harming my new pet. It opens my mind to new ideas and makes me feel part of a learning community of something we all have in common.....Its like having friends that I don’t have to buy Christmas presents for.

I do try searches of old post on a certain subject before I ask mostly but I don’t think I have mastered "searching" on the forum yet. I haven't read a lot of books but I have spent a lot of time on the internet. I have found even the reputable breeders have different ways.....but they manage to produce healthy looking chameleons just the same. One thing that boggles me right now is "supplements"....how much multi vit , calcium with d3 / without d3..how many days per week/month of each.....I have read a lot on this subject and there are a lot of people with different ideas. I'm just glad I have people on here still asking the questions, because I figure one day I will read about it enough times that I will stop worrying and realize my chameleon is doing great....... I must have gotten it right with all your help.....Thank you!

 

[Carlton]

It seems to me though, that a lot of people use it as a sort of shortcut to eliminate the need for any actual knowledge.

Ah, um, you think that the forum isn't a source of "actual knowledge"? Just Kidding, couldn't resist!

 

[Jimturner]

One quick point... how many people on these forums even know the names of the creatures that they keep? I dont mean Larry or Hugo or panther chameleon or satanic geco, but the actual latin names? I'm not trying to insult anyone but I would bet the vast majority haven't a clue. Basic knowledge can be quite helpful. Again... READ SOME BOOKS!!

 

[Ace]

furcifer pardalis.....thats one person less.....

couldnt resist

 

[Trace]

Jon Davidson I presume?

One quick point... how many people on these forums even know the names of the creatures that they keep? I dont mean Larry or Hugo or panther chameleon or satanic geco, but the actual latin names?

Does it matter on a [for the most part] beginner forum like this? I'd rather see a new owner get their husbandry correct and enjoy their pet than worry about whether their taxonomy is correct. If they are passionate about chameleons they will learn the latin names; just like I did.

Yes it would be great if every chameleon owner did their research before they got their pet but it just doesn't happen and I don't think the problem is limited to just chameleons/reptiles. The key is education.

 

[Syn]

One quick point... how many people on these forums even know the names of the creatures that they keep? I dont mean Larry or Hugo or panther chameleon or satanic geco, but the actual latin names? I'm not trying to insult anyone but I would bet the vast majority haven't a clue. Basic knowledge can be quite helpful. Again... READ SOME BOOKS!!

You do realize that most books list panthers as "Chamaeleo pardalis", right?

Oh, and I didn't learn any of this out of a book..

Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Gekko vittatus
Gekko gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus
Furcifer pardalis
Rhacodactylus ciliatus
Uroplatus sikorae
Furcifer oustaleti
Furcifer verrucosus
Sauromalus obesus
Pogona vitticeps
Chamaeleo calyptratus
Eublepharis macularius

Oh, and for fun:

Blatta lateralis (emergency food)
Bombyx mori (Okay I had to look the first part up for spelling -- thanks Franie)

I think I am missing something.

Your idea is true, but flawed.

 

[Bokaru]

chamaeleo senegalensis and unfortunately, as common as they are to find, I have yet to see a book specifically on them. My Peppers is in as good of a shape as he is thanks to this forum.

A chameleon book might give you ideas, but habitats are so different from species to species and if you cant find on on just yours, you might end up doing something that you wish you hadn't.

I'm not trying to belittle your point or anything, but like everyone has said, the fact that this forum is an ever changing database of chameleon information, is the reason why it is so handy. Where veterans of this form would rather not hear sob stories and might get upset about faq, a topic like this probably makes newcomers turned off from asking important questions before its too late.

 

[theresaintucson]

Newbie Weighing In

Being a new member and a new owner to a panther I found this forum a reassuring place to come ask the questions that I have found so many different answers to. Even when placing a question out to members I find different people have different ideas, but find it helpful to see what different things have worked for different people .... its more personal when people reassure me, or point me in a better direction, when I worry about something I could be doing wrong and could end up harming my new pet. It opens my mind to new ideas and makes me feel part of a learning community of something we all have in common.....Its like having friends that I don’t have to buy Christmas presents for.

I do try searches of old post on a certain subject before I ask mostly but I don’t think I have mastered "searching" on the forum yet. I haven't read a lot of books but I have spent a lot of time on the internet. I have found even the reputable breeders have different ways.....but they manage to produce healthy looking chameleons just the same. One thing that boggles me right now is "supplements"....how much multi vit , calcium with d3 / without d3..how many days per week/month of each.....I have read a lot on this subject and there are a lot of people with different ideas. I'm just glad I have people on here still asking the questions, because I figure one day I will read about it enough times that I will stop worrying and realize my chameleon is doing great....... I must have gotten it right with all your help.....Thank you!

I could've written this post withe the exception that I DID READ and or buy every book out there about chameleons before I got my panther. I love to read.
This forum has been so friendly and welcoming to me as a new cham owner. So many forums aren't.
We all had to start somewhere at sometime.
My DH doesn't "get" my fascination with my new pet. I don't have any friends here that are into reptiles either. I admit I like this forum because of the interaction between members.
I'm learning something new everyday-from books and the forum search. I hope someday I'll be very knowledgeable and patient with newbies here. But I do understand the frustration with people who don't read up on their interests.