We learn new things about turtles and tortoises every day, so I really doubt there is a turtle "expert." But 'experienced' to me means someone who has kept or worked with a specie for enough time to have gained a good knowledge about what it takes to keep the turtle alive and healthy. I have absolutely no knowledge about the Mediterranean or Testudos, so I hardly ever answer posts questioning those species. But I have quite a bit of experience with the Manouria, having kept and successfully bred them over the past 18 or so years. However, my "experience" with this species has to do with keeping them in the Central Valley of California. This is way different than someone who wants info on keeping them, for instance, in Nebraska.
I agree with motero. Although I dont know if I would call the type one experienced, as much as knowledgeable.
Hmm why can't it be a combination of both knowledge and time? Some of the more experienced keepers here have had tortoises for decades and to no fault of themselves or anyone, have taken care of these tortoises in the improper way due to the lack of knowledge presented back then. So they essentially had to go through a learning curve and it took time, as well as doing things improperly for years before they corrected it. However now that there is updated information for all of us, we might not raise/make those mistakes for years and could potentially miss that extensive learning curve. We instead can focus on raising them with proper care because of the present knowledge without having to make so many mistakes for years. Hope that made some sense
— Gus
I believe you are experienced in keeping a healthy tortoise but you may not be experienced in breeding, illness, deformity, etc. Therefore, IMO, qualifying as experienced is completely subjective and can't be definitively defined. It is fun to try though.I agree, Gus. But, you said in your reply, 'some of the more experienced keepers'
What does that mean? And how do you decide who you consider experienced?
If someone raises only one tortoise for a decade, (like myself) with no problems and that tortoise is healthy does that make them experienced, or does the 'experienced keeper' title only come with decades of different species, dozens of tortoises, breeding, issues, and discoveries?
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I believe you are experienced in keeping a healthy tortoise but you may not be experienced in breeding, illness, deformity, etc. Therefore, IMO, qualifying as experienced is completely subjective and can't be definitively defined. It is fun to try though.
I agree, Gus. But, you said in your reply, 'some of the more experienced keepers'
What does that mean? And how do you decide who you consider experienced?
If someone raises only one tortoise for a decade, (like myself) with no problems and that tortoise is healthy does that make them experienced, or does the 'experienced keeper' title only come with decades of different species, dozens of tortoises, breeding, issues, and discoveries?
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I feel that having observed the interaction and post between some of the more experienced I've learned whose opinion I give more weight depending upon which subject and which species.
When I reply to a question posed by a new member, I'll often state that "in the opinion of some of the more experienced keepers". By utilizing this language I'm attempting to provide information to the new poster and yet indicate that I've learned much of what I know from reading and discussing that subject on this forum. Often the new poster does not have time to search and read all of the long term posts on that subject. They just want a quick informative bit of advice.
So, if I'm wrong on a bit of advice I submit, just jump in and offer a correction. I view the purpose of this forum to share information and spread the collective knowledge regarding providing a healthy habitat for tortoises and turtles.