Comments for Reptile Apartment http://reptileapartment.com "It's not a desire; it's an obsession to share our knowledge with those interested in herpetoculture." Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:23:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on General Rules for Apartment Living & Reptile Care by John F Taylor http://reptileapartment.com/feature-articles/general-rules-for-apartment-living-and-captive-reptile-care-2/#comment-325 John F Taylor Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:23:28 +0000 http://reptileapartment.wordpress.com/?page_id=44#comment-325 Donna, again, I never said it wasn't *SAFE* here's the exact quote "Any water used with any pet should be deionized water. The reason for this is it’s healthier for your pet not to mention that it will not leave deposits on the walls of an enclosure." Where do I say it is unsafe? I say it's healthier never have I claimed it to be unsafe? By the way why do to they sell dechlorinator for reptiles if tap water is so healthy? As far as #3 again, you have some very different experiences than I have as have the hundreds of people who I am associated with some which have been doing this for over 6 decades. I agree snakes shouldn't be housed together that doesn't mean people don't do it and often so as I explained not feeding them together is sound advice. So you mean to tell me that Python regius will starve itself? Yes, stress can cause appetite loss. Regardless of your feelings on the subject as I have said I have over a decade of experience and people that have many more decades of experience regarding reptiles in general that state differently and have shown time and again that my techniques are accurate and well founded. As I said in the previous comment being published on the subject by respected magazines in the industry generally speaks to my credit. Therefore we are going to have to agree to disagree. But please refrain from misquoting me. Thank you and best wishes for your future. Donna, again, I never said it wasn’t *SAFE* here’s the exact quote “Any water used with any pet should be deionized water. The reason for this is it’s healthier for your pet not to mention that it will not leave deposits on the walls of an enclosure.” Where do I say it is unsafe? I say it’s healthier never have I claimed it to be unsafe? By the way why do to they sell dechlorinator for reptiles if tap water is so healthy?
As far as #3 again, you have some very different experiences than I have as have the hundreds of people who I am associated with some which have been doing this for over 6 decades. I agree snakes shouldn’t be housed together that doesn’t mean people don’t do it and often so as I explained not feeding them together is sound advice.
So you mean to tell me that Python regius will starve itself? Yes, stress can cause appetite loss. Regardless of your feelings on the subject as I have said I have over a decade of experience and people that have many more decades of experience regarding reptiles in general that state differently and have shown time and again that my techniques are accurate and well founded. As I said in the previous comment being published on the subject by respected magazines in the industry generally speaks to my credit. Therefore we are going to have to agree to disagree. But please refrain from misquoting me. Thank you and best wishes for your future.

]]> Comment on Reptiles & Responsibility by John F Taylor http://reptileapartment.com/2011/03/01/reptiles-responsibility-2/#comment-324 John F Taylor Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:02:25 +0000 http://reptileapartment.com/?p=2175#comment-324 So what do you say to the numbers of people who I see and over hear at shows buying reptiles such as large constrictors and others that they have no idea about what they are getting into. Breeders are also guilty of this not just pet stores. So what do you say to the numbers of people who I see and over hear at shows buying reptiles such as large constrictors and others that they have no idea about what they are getting into. Breeders are also guilty of this not just pet stores.

]]> Comment on General Rules for Apartment Living & Reptile Care by Donna http://reptileapartment.com/feature-articles/general-rules-for-apartment-living-and-captive-reptile-care-2/#comment-323 Donna Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:32:43 +0000 http://reptileapartment.wordpress.com/?page_id=44#comment-323 1) You recommended deionized water. This is unnecessary for reptiles, and there is no evidence to suggest that tap water is any worse for them than it is for us. I only mentioned amphibians because dechlorinated water should always be used for amphibians (but isn't needed for reptiles). Obviously if you have tons of chlorine in your tap water, you may want a water filter before using it for aquatic turtles, but apart from that, there's no reason to claim it's not as safe for them as it is for us. 2) Cage aggression and 'biting when the cage is opened because it expects food' are the same thing. Snakes aren't territorial. This is most easily dealt with by using a tap stick or hook, if the snake is overly eager. There is little reason to believe moving the snake to a different container prevents this behavior, actually. Your explanation that snakes should not be fed together actually made me wince--snakes should NEVER BE HOUSED TOGETHER. Every snake should have its own separate enclosure. Again, shy species of snakes will not eat when placed in a different enclosure--in fact, some of my ball pythons will not eat if they have been handled earlier that same day. I'm a ball python breeder. Common advice changes as time passes, and we learn more about reptile husbandry. You will find that the vast majority of the ball python community in general will NOT recommend feeding in a separate enclosure. It may be fine for many other species. Many ball pythons may be able to handle it, but some simply won't tolerate it. Also, 'they will eat when they are hungry' absolutely does not apply to this species...or, it would be better to say, stress causes these animals to lose their appetite, even if they are starving. There is simply no benefit to feeding in a separate enclosure--not for ball pythons. 1) You recommended deionized water. This is unnecessary for reptiles, and there is no evidence to suggest that tap water is any worse for them than it is for us. I only mentioned amphibians because dechlorinated water should always be used for amphibians (but isn’t needed for reptiles). Obviously if you have tons of chlorine in your tap water, you may want a water filter before using it for aquatic turtles, but apart from that, there’s no reason to claim it’s not as safe for them as it is for us.

2) Cage aggression and ‘biting when the cage is opened because it expects food’ are the same thing. Snakes aren’t territorial. This is most easily dealt with by using a tap stick or hook, if the snake is overly eager. There is little reason to believe moving the snake to a different container prevents this behavior, actually. Your explanation that snakes should not be fed together actually made me wince–snakes should NEVER BE HOUSED TOGETHER. Every snake should have its own separate enclosure. Again, shy species of snakes will not eat when placed in a different enclosure–in fact, some of my ball pythons will not eat if they have been handled earlier that same day.

I’m a ball python breeder. Common advice changes as time passes, and we learn more about reptile husbandry. You will find that the vast majority of the ball python community in general will NOT recommend feeding in a separate enclosure. It may be fine for many other species. Many ball pythons may be able to handle it, but some simply won’t tolerate it. Also, ‘they will eat when they are hungry’ absolutely does not apply to this species…or, it would be better to say, stress causes these animals to lose their appetite, even if they are starving. There is simply no benefit to feeding in a separate enclosure–not for ball pythons.

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