Reliable information sources - books vs Internet

[Cyberlizard]

Hello all,

Having read many posts about getting info recently, I would like to stress to people but especially newcomers to the hobby the importance of getting a book on their animal(s), not just searching the Internet.

The Net can be a very helpful source of information, and some sites are professional and reliable (the TIGR reptile database, Darrell Frost's amphibian site and Melissa Kaplan's spring to mind). However, there is also a lot of stuff that is anecdotal or unchecked, and sometimes just plain wrong. As it is the Internet there is nobody to peer over the webmaster's shoulder and often no way of even sending them feedback.

Books are not cast-iron guaranteed to be 100% correct (and herpetology is an ever-evolving science), but books are normally checked by an editor, and the writers usually only commissioned if the publisher believes they have some expertise or knowledge of the subject. And when they are published they are subject to critical review by other people in specialist publications who are themselves knowledgeable in the subject. A range of books that gets a bad reputation will soon be avoided upon people's recommendations.

Books are also permanent and physically present, whereas you can lose an Internet connection or a website may simply cease to exist (this has happened a lot in the past 10 years as many amateur webmasters decide they have other priorities in life).

A good pet shop, and especially one selling "exotics" (I hate that term!), should have a range of books for sale aimed at the starting keeper that will explain things accurately in non-jargonese. Most if not all of the books in the Barron's and AHL series are all quite good or excellent and cost under a tenner. There are also titles in other series now coming online.

For rarer or more challenging species, it is often worth buying a field guide for the area of origin. Good ones describe the species habitat and other relevant details.

Here endeth the lesson!

[SiUK]

theres good and bad sites and books.

[jasper1]

And buy up to date books as some of the older ones have mis-information due to new facts being discovered. I've got a couple of 20 odd year old Iggy books that say to feed rat pups, etc.

[a.m.phibian]

Originally Posted by Cyberlizard

Hello all,

Having read many posts about getting info recently, I would like to stress to people but especially newcomers to the hobby the importance of getting a book on their animal(s), not just searching the Internet.

The Net can be a very helpful source of information, and some sites are professional and reliable (the TIGR reptile database, Darrell Frost's amphibian site and Melissa Kaplan's spring to mind). However, there is also a lot of stuff that is anecdotal or unchecked, and sometimes just plain wrong. As it is the Internet there is nobody to peer over the webmaster's shoulder and often no way of even sending them feedback.

Books are not cast-iron guaranteed to be 100% correct (and herpetology is an ever-evolving science), but books are normally checked by an editor, and the writers usually only commissioned if the publisher believes they have some expertise or knowledge of the subject. And when they are published they are subject to critical review by other people in specialist publications who are themselves knowledgeable in the subject. A range of books that gets a bad reputation will soon be avoided upon people's recommendations.

Books are also permanent and physically present, whereas you can lose an Internet connection or a website may simply cease to exist (this has happened a lot in the past 10 years as many amateur webmasters decide they have other priorities in life).

A good pet shop, and especially one selling "exotics" (I hate that term!), should have a range of books for sale aimed at the starting keeper that will explain things accurately in non-jargonese. Most if not all of the books in the Barron's and AHL series are all quite good or excellent and cost under a tenner. There are also titles in other series now coming online.

For rarer or more challenging species, it is often worth buying a field guide for the area of origin. Good ones describe the species habitat and other relevant details.

Here endeth the lesson!

Very well said that man. The Advanced Vivarium Systems (AVS) range are also books that beginners, and experts, can trust and aren't costly either.

[Mason]

good post this.

we prefer to check both books and online, then ask actual keepers of the animal their experiences.

Never ever ever do all your research in one place or from one source.

[Art_Gecko101]

Agreed, whilst alot of the info online can be balony, i've read some shocking info in books! that i wouldnt even expect on a basic online caresheet! 1 article i read recently said cresteds could reach adult size in 6months! lol

[Athravan]

Just remember that books are often old and republished. It's hard to update information in books due to the costs of reprinting, so if they make new copies of the book, they might change the cover, but typically speaking you get some books that are still being reprinted from the 80s.

Knowledge does change and update and we're constantly learning... some of the original advice given out in books is horrific and not to be followed. Websites can be updated daily as and when it's needed, so you certainly get more up to date knowledge on the net...

But on the other hand, it's a lot easier to get a website published than a book that's for sure!

So, who knows... you can't rely on all books, or all websites.. there are pros and cons to both. A good book or a good website is what you need

[Cyberlizard]

Hi guys,

I agree with all your qualifications above. Certainly with some books I check the date of publication and if it's more than 10 years old then I make a mental reservation, especially if it's dealing with a contentious species (eg Green Igs as someone mentioned above, or Boscs). Yeah, I remember the advice on feeding rodents to igs as well!

On the other hand some species, especially among amphibs, have been kept and bred for years both here and in Europe, eg Fire Salamanders. Also sometimes if the author (especially if deceased!) had a good reputation then that does give the book more credibility.

The British Herpetological Society compendia also never claimed to be definitive guides on "how to" but were often simply reports of successes in keeping and breeding a species and the conditions in which this was achieved.

And some websites are pretty good. I think the best ones are the ones that last the course - Melissa Kaplan's has been going on for at least 10 years now, I think.

Field guides have the advantage that they are simply reporting the creature's known habits in the wild and its appearance. The only thing that usually changes is (unfortunately) the distribution range, which in many species of course gets reduced by human activity or chytrid fungus in the case of amphibs.

Here endeth the first appendix to the first lesson!