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How do you address bad information or husbandry?

jessicalb

jessicalb

New member
In the past few days I've seen crickets in the corn enclosure at PetsMart, a craigslist posting for three large corns in one tank with heat rocks, and a bunch of videos on a professional looking site about corn care where they recommend distilled water.

Is it worth it to contact people and let them know there is something wrong with the care? Or do they generally brush you off and assume they are right?

I've also heard a lot of "snakes only grow to the size of their enclosure" and that sort of misinfo from people who don't own or deal with snakes so I just nod and change the subject with those people.
 
Depends on what type of person you are I guess :)

If someone is telling me mis-information in person, I just change the subject rather than getting into an arguement. You usually can't win those type of arguments anyway.

If it's on a forum post, I will post links to the correct information and write down my opinion so people reading the thread can come to their own conclusions. All while trying not to step on any toes.

For a website I would email the person. Maybe they read it and dismiss it. At least you did what you could.
 
Oh, and most of the time, trying to correct someone doesn't help because

A. They don't care. They're only in the hobby for the money
B. They don't care. Whatever they've been doing has been working for awhile, so why change it?
C. They don't care. They think they're smarter than you.
D. They don't care. Facts just don't phase certain people.
E. They don't care. They only have a snake because it's "cool"

Most people that want to take good care of them will seek the correct info out themselves.
 
Some people actually get kinda defensive when you point out something in their animal husbandry. The "I know what I'm doing, it's my animal and I'll do what I like" sort of thing. I don't get it. :shrugs:

So when I see bad info on a website, I tend not to point it out. I have in the past, and either got ignored or got the defensive thing, so I just don't think a lot of people want to listen. In person though, I will usually still go ahead and offer up a suggestion if something isn't right. I find it easier to get my point across in person than over the internet.
 
The worst is when it's a pet store.
There is one for sale locally, so I went to take a look as it said it included 'live stock'. Well, this place had several different snakes, also sold puppies, lizards, turtles, and had an american alligator for sale. The alligator tank I think also had a turtle inside, there was a sign on there for the price of each one. Lots of flies in the place, bits of old shed skin in the corn snakes' tank, it was also a grooming place and did not smell great. Of course there was a corn there that looked like it could be a lavender maybe, but I didn't dare take it home.. it was $60 with setup included (setup was a little 10 gallon it would quickly outgrow as it looked to be about a year old)
I really hope whoever buys the place turns it around... Witnessing bad husbandry and iresponsible sales is so depressing.
 
Sometimes people take it better if you ask them if you can make a suggestion. "Are you open to a bit of husbandry advice?" etc. Usually you'll get a yes, but it will have a tone that says yes or no.
 
Plissken said:
Some people actually get kinda defensive when you point out something in their animal husbandry.
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I was really nice, and had a 'you might not be aware, but' type of tone when informing someone sticking guinea pigs in a hamster ball would not be a good idea (they are ground dwellers, and don't have bendy backs) and she got *very* defensive, told me her vet told her too and other such suck. I've given up.
 
v_various said:
I was really nice, and had a 'you might not be aware, but' type of tone when informing someone sticking guinea pigs in a hamster ball would not be a good idea (they are ground dwellers, and don't have bendy backs) and she got *very* defensive, told me her vet told her too and other such suck. I've given up.
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Same here - I'm never rude about making suggestions, just trying to help, but I've had similar reactions. Makes you wonder whether the person REALLY has the animals best interests at heart... :shrugs:
 
I agree with much of what has already been stated and lately have tended to try and "keep my mouth shut" because people don't tend to like to be corrected (whether it's husbandry or otherwise) and quite frankly the "fight" isn't really worth it. I'm satisfied and confident that my snakes are well taken care of and healthy. I have zero control over anything else!

A couple things to think about:
1. Except for the "obvious" what is inappropriate husbandry? Not that long ago (15 years or so) Pine was an acceptable and often used bedding!
2. Related to what is innappropriate husbandry, what works well for one doesn't for another. :)

:shrugs:
D80
 
Petsmart is a business and the snakes there eat crickets because petsmart doesn't sell feeder mice. They don't sell the feeder mice because there are fanatics out there that have issues with it and petsmart doesn't want bad business. Heck there idea of dog training is out of wack too. They want to starve your dog before coming to class and then there answer to everything is shoving food down the throat of your dog. If you are really upset you could send a letter to their corporate office with documentation to back up what you are saying. Other than that there is not much you can do that will make a difference.
 
I think the main problem with addressing such issues is due to the approach. If you come straight out and criticize what a person is doing or isn't doing, then you put them in a defensive position only to be met with opposition. I think the better approach is to take an interest in what they are doing and trying to understand why it is they are doing what they do. Only then can you try and understand what approach if applicable can be applied to that particular situation. For example:

owner: "We only use distilled water for our animals."
customer: " Is there any particular reason, is normal water bad?"
owner: "Yes, normal water can have additives that can cause all sorts of problems."
customer: "Oh, that's interesting. I'll have to research that as it's been my understanding from reading <insert literature, web sites> such as <insert title> that distilled water can be problematic because it's missing trace elements which are essential to the well being of animals. But thanks for your information, I'll definitely do some more research to try and understand what is better to use."

Now, this sample conversation can obviously go many different ways, but the key is not to create an argument or make accusations, the key is to plant the seed of knowledge and hope it takes from there. Believe it or not, there are people out there that do want to do things right, they just can't handle criticism and tend to stick to their guns just for the sake of being stubborn when told what to do. But if you are non-confrontational and take a sincere interest in what they do and why, then hopefully you can inject some of your own wisdom in a well received manner and give them the opportunity to figure it out on their own (which is how some people like to do things anyways rather than being told).

And of course there are those other people that could care less regardless of your approach. It's best just to stay away from those people/places and if they are keeping their animals in conditions that are severely detrimental to the animals well being, then I believe we all have an obligation to report them to the proper authorities anonymously.
 
When its in person or online I at least try to offer advice, especially if it is a serious error. I agree that most people do not take being corrected well.:punch: But if I know they are doing something wrong and the animals health could be at risk I would rather offer advice and have them get defensive then feel partially responsible for their pets neglect. After all there are some people out there that may be grateful for the information and be able to improve their animals condition. ;)


---Kenny
 
ZoologyMajor said:
Petsmart is a business and the snakes there eat crickets because petsmart doesn't sell feeder mice. They don't sell the feeder mice because there are fanatics out there that have issues with it and petsmart doesn't want bad business.
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Would a snake actually eat a cricket if it was hungry enough??

And PetSmart does sell feeder mice. We get ours there. Crazy expensive, we are looking for a smaller pet store that has better prices.
 
jessicalb said:
Would a snake actually eat a cricket if it was hungry enough??

And PetSmart does sell feeder mice. We get ours there. Crazy expensive, we are looking for a smaller pet store that has better prices.
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The one next to my office does too. Cute little pink plastic bags with prices that make you think cavier is inside them.
 
Yep a snake will eat a cricket... not exactly the best diet though. They are really high in protein but not much else. A baby corn would eat them in the wild but their diet would be highly diversified with things like small lizards, salamanders, etc.

Wow yours do!? Maybe it is a per store basis.
 
ZoologyMajor said:
Wow yours do!? Maybe it is a per store basis.
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They're in a small fridge near the fish. You almost have to know to look for it. When I asked, there were other customers nearby and the person told me where the fridge was in really hushed tones, as if I had broached a taboo subject. Hey, snake's a pet and pets gotta eat, too.
 
MerlinsPop said:
They're in a small fridge near the fish. You almost have to know to look for it. When I asked, there were other customers nearby and the person told me where the fridge was in really hushed tones, as if I had broached a taboo subject. Hey, snake's a pet and pets gotta eat, too.
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That's pretty much how it went at ours, too. Very odd.
 
DeadMouse said:
I think the better approach is to take an interest in what they are doing and trying to understand why it is they are doing what they do. Only then can you try and understand what approach if applicable can be applied to that particular situation.
Click to expand...

This makes a lot of sense, thanks. Now if I can only remember to do it that way instead of going off with all guns blazing. ;)
 
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