Buy a Book

[Moshpitviper]

ok i dont want anyone to take any offence to this but it has come to my attention that FAR TOO MANY ridiculous questions being asked on this forum. And although I understand that many users on this forum are novice keepers it doesnt detract from the fact that many people on here have purchased animals they simply are not ready for. so I am trying to encourage everyone to 'put off' that next purchase of a royal, a snow corn, a chameleon.... whatever you intended to buy and go look on amazon or something for a decent reference book on the animal you intend to buy. books are invaluable even when they are expensive. for example look for a book called 'the reproductive husbandry of pythons and boas' it will set you back over £100 but I personally don't know where i'd be without it. and i'm not talking about the £5 books published by barrons or D&K i mean REAL books, reference books.. written by ACTUAL herpetologists. Many of the books available in your local rep shop will contain pretty pictures but little substance, they may even touch on a subject you are interested in learning more about but will only really skim the top of it and not delve as deep as you'd like. so in conclusion.... Forums only provide peoples opinions and experiences, I would NEVER offer advice i had not tried and succeeded with, but it doesnt mean it'll work for you. and any scientific tidbits i may offer up arre ALL learned from my herpetological library.

I pledge to buy a new book, I'm thinking about one of the de' vosjolei titles. so its not me having a rant at the inexperienced, Nobody knows it all. knowledge is after all.... power. and it stops wrong advice filtering through on forums and will make you a better keeper in the long run.

who's in?

[Kylie]

well said clem!! as you well know i have books for every snake i own and your right they are invaluable!! i would be lost without them. Before i invest in a snake i research them big style.!!!

I'M IN!!

[FreddiesMum]

My other half bought me two books before I got Freddie,The Complete Ball Python -Kevin McCurley,The Ball Python Manual- Philippe de Vosjoli, both excellent reads

[royalpython]

Some care sheets online are good.. and research is certainly a must!!

I'd recommend the complete ball python, and VPI Vol 2 Ball pythons.

I've not got much reading material for boa's, or corn's. We have looked through care sheets for those. I'd recommend the VPI DVD on boa's, but that's all I have. We do have a book on leo's..not sure who the author is, but again.. care sheets on-line have provided us with useful info. We're not as experienced in corn's/boa's or leo's... so... i'll leave this bit to others.

[Moshpitviper]

the complete ball python and the complete chondro are the most invaluable books money can buy... seriously. i dont listen to anyones advice about either snake unless it coincides with the very concise info in said books..... buy em !!!!!!!!!

[candoia aspera]

there is plenty info out there, there will always be the collect group who will impulse buy (no offence intended) ball pythons which i really belive should be left to more experienced keepers due to the sheer volume of people asking "please help my snake isn't eating".
reaserch is our tools and knowlege is our greatest asset.

however spell check hasn't been invented that i couldn't beat

[HABU]

i agree, people should at least do some research. at least know the diff. between a boid and colubrid? ( buying a colubrid thinking it was a python) impulse buying causes this and shop owners just trying to make a sale. one should know a little more about snakes than "it does'nt have legs" before purchasing. i can understand if it landed in your lap somehow, but zero knowlage is absurd. that's just me...

[wohic]

and of course there is library option........ most of the higher end books will probably have to be ordered in but they will get them for you.
And unless someone else orders it you can just keep renewing for as long as you like.

[peaches]

Books I love my books. Independant research is great fun aswell (well it is to me lol)

NHBS - For the best books on earth, worldwide

This is a great link for books aswell, hundreds of titles.

[HABU]

today we have the internet. back in the day, clifford pope's "giant snakes" was the only info i could get for boids. you got a snake and had to figure it out. but today we have it made finding info.