Danial, one real drawback to your suggestion is that then instead of two forums without many post we'd have one without many post
One thing I've found on forums with good participation is that the members are there not only to talk about say Garter snakes but to hang out and talk with people they like and respect.
If your visiting this thread why not talk to your friends and get them to drop in here?
I guess it's like this- You can make this forum into what you want it to be, as long as those who post here follow the rules of this site you can make this what YOU want it to Be. I can schedule a chat room and time if enough here want that, I can ask people to come in and chat IE experts that you suggest(and they are willing)
Tell me what it is that this forum needs to get it going? most all of us have owned these snakes at one time or other so there is no lack of people with some experience in keeping them so where are they? Tell me what you want and I'll see what I can do..Randy