Books - Better than the Net!
Books -
Better than the Net!
As reptiles become more popular, the number of websites offering information
about them grows exponentially. However, who is regulating the
information? Be smart and make sure the information you are getting is
accurate. It only takes a short time to find inaccurate and completely
misleading information about reptiles and their care one the web; however, in
this day and age, when everyone seems to use the internet as their primary
source of information, how can you differentiate between the good, the bad, and
the down right ugly?
First, visit websites of businesses, organizations, and breeders with an established history of good service and information. Little Billy may have kept leopard geckos for a few weeks and published a beautiful website about leopard geckos but he doesn't have the experience to back it up. An established organization or breeder will have the experience and depth of knowledge to provide you with good information and answer your questions.
Second, be wary of online forums. These are fantastic places to discuss
reptiles with others but who do you believe and who do you ignore. Forums
are great places for debate but you should not use them as a primary source of
information. As in any debate, you must do your research before you decide where
you stand on a particular issue. Don't simply agree with the dude that
uses all the big technical words...he could be a 10 year old with a dictionary
on his lap!
Third, visit websites that are geared toward the academic or research side of reptiles and amphibians. This field of zoology is known as herpetology. Learning about an animal's natural behaviour, environment, prey preferences, etc. is the best way to understand its captive needs. Keepers should understand where their animals live in nature and how they function there.
Finally, don't be fooled by the bells and whistles that the website has to
offer. Beautiful pictures and fancy animated flash media do not equal good
information. Most websites that provide accurate information will refer
you to sources where you can find the same information. That is, they cite
their sources - books!
Books are a better source of accurate information than the internet as books are read by expert readers before they are approved for publishing. This process ensures the accuracy of information. That said, books published a long time ago may be out of date. You should consult more recent titles or more recent editions of old titles to ensure that the information contained within the book is up to date.