Dont listen to what anybody says on this forum

[ConcinusMan]

Oh, I see now. Well, the only time I ever had snakes develop seizures was when I fed them wild coho for a period of time and it wasn't from the store. It was caught in the Lewis river.

And the Lewis river is in SW WA State. And look at this chart. Note the levels in WA Salmon compared to farmed. I won't be feeding any wild salmon to my snakes unless it comes from Alaska. Preferably, Copper River salmon.

List of Seafood Health Alerts - Seafood Selector - Environmental Defense Fund

[Rober10169]

Hello, I am pretty new to garter snakes. I have found lots of useful information on this forum as well as information that would probably not work well in my demographics. People need to take their unique situations/demographics/needs in consideration when they decide what information might help them and which might not help them. example of this: I do not live near any large body of water or ocean so any fish would more likely have more preservatives so I CHOSE not to use any fish for food except feeder fish from the pet store or might be getting into raising guppies ourselves for a food supply. Another point people need to understand is the imperfections of nature. Not every offspring will thrive. This is called survival of the fittest. People are trying too hard to keep weak specimens alive. This is not doing anyone any favors. Sometimes it is nothing that we have done and the individual passes on. Although sad, it is a reality. Humans are the only living creature that, in my opinion, the genes/genetics are getting weaker because we don't live by the rules of nature. Anyways enough said. This is a good site for information and it is always my choice of who and what information I take to use with my own animals.

[d_virginiana]

I quite like the way the mods work on this forum. Primarily because I hate reading posts that make no sense because they are replying to something that has been deleted
Even when people on this forum are 'harsh' it's nothing compared to the drama I've seen on other reptile forums. I've been on forums where people are downright rude (maybe with reason, considering the level of neglect and misinformation that is common with the species it is dedicated to...); but their advice has saved my pets before, and that's what matters. That being said, I've kept reptiles for a while, and someone being nasty on a forum isn't enough to discourage or confuse me. I've seen a lot of first time keepers (probably kids with their first ectothermic friends) scared away from forums that could have helped them and their pets because of unnecessarily harsh criticism when simple advice would do.
idk, I guess I'm saying that there's a line between backing down and scaring people off. I've never seen that level of criticism on this forum; it's just something that I hope I never do see here


I try to stay away from the 'safe fish' debate. I had to feed minnows of an unknown species for years because my parents refused to let me order silversides when the bait store sold minnows for a dollar a dozen. Now that I can choose, the only fish they get are f/t silversides.

[ConcinusMan]

I CHOSE not to use any fish for food except feeder fish from the pet store

*cringe*

in my opinion, the genes/genetics are getting weaker because we don't live by the rules of nature.

That, my friend, doesn't matter. We are still subject to those rules, as is every creature on earth. Also, the genes aren't getting weaker. We all have the same genes that come from just a few thousand individuals, which by the way, were the survivors at a time when mankind nearly got wiped out. The "weak" genes have already been eliminated. But that's a discussion for another thread.

[Invisible Snake]

Who knew there was so much animosity on this forum, I guess we're not a thamily lol.

Maybe this is why some people have abandoned this forum

[ConcinusMan]

Who knew there was so much animosity on this forum, I guess we're not a thamily lol.

If anything, it proves we are family. LoL

[Selkielass]

Thanks for clarifying about the preservatives in packaged fish.
I remembered the post, but couldn't recall any sources cited, so I took it, as I take most info I find on the internet 'under consideration'. My ability to do research myself is pretty limited by r.l. resources.

[Didymus20X6]

I've been on other forums where the "We're a family" line has been used, and I've seen those other forums torn apart by bickering and infighting. I'll be blunt here: I don't know a single one of you personally, and none of you know me personally. I've sought information here, and found good information. I've participated in discussions, sometimes bringing to bear my own limited experience. I've even tried to have a little fun by joking around and such. But I harbor no illusions that a forum is any kind of family. But that's okay; it doesn't need to be. Just don't use the line to pretend that real conflict is unimportant.

[ConcinusMan]

Even when people on this forum are 'harsh' it's nothing compared to the drama I've seen on other reptile forums.

Tell me about it. You got that right.

[infernalis]

wanna see harsh?? spend time on Monitor Lizard forums.