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Melissa Kaplan

Seamus Haley

Seamus Haley

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She certainly isn't a buisness-person of the kind the board traditionally discusses, but I was curious about people's opinions.

She gets a lot of praise for her work and knowledge, interviews, book deals, internet reccomendations... But she has no biology degrees and much of her information seems enormously outdated or... well... stolen. (No nice way to put that really)

Anyone with any thoughts on her or any of her work, I'd be glad to hear them.

Thanks.
 
She has one of the of the best iguana care sheets available(at least she did last I looked at her site a couple years ago) and to my understanding she is a vet or vet tech.  
However, last I heard she was a major proponent of the ban on reptiles and I have read many things where she was quoted as saying that reptiles should not be owned by anyone.  I don't agree with that of course, but it is a shame that someone who is supposedly recognised as this guru of herpetoculture says they should be banned.  A rumor has also been going around for years that she is also a hypochondriac.  I don't know this for a fact, though, but it does bother me that someone who has a fear of getting sick from anything should be taken as an authority.  
There are also a few of her ideas on euthanasia and various other things I disagree with, but those are just differing opinions, not good or bad things.
 
A little bit on and a little bit off the subject.
Melissa Kaplan's info is great, she also has years of experience keeping and rehabilitating iguanas.  No she has no biology degree, how many people giving care info about reptiles do?  
As far as the ban on keeping reptiles.  A lot of rescuers share that opinion.  I guess I can understand it coming from their point of view.  When they see countless reptiles being killed because of ill-informed keepers, I suppose it's kind of hard not to feel that way. I don't agree myself, although I would not be opposed to some sort of licensing or something if you keep over a certain number of reptiles.  Kind of like kennel license requirements for people who keep a lot of dogs.  Of course it would have to be very lenient and would have to differ from species to species.  Keeping 10 ball pythons as opposed to 10 Iguanas are 2 totally different things.
 
I don't believe that she gives out "bad" info.  As I said, her iggy care sheets are great and she does have alot of experience on the rescue and care of green iguanas.  However, I just disagree with alot of her ideas.  Not because they are wrong per se(they could be, but might not be), but because I have a different opinion and experience regarding the issues she discusses.
As far as people in the rescue game being for the ban, I have yet to see this.  I know many people who act as reptile rescue/adoption services and I have yet to speak to any of them that agree with the ban wholeheartedly.  There are far more dogs and cats euthanized and placed in shelters every year, but the HSUS and animal shelter volunteers don't even think about banning them.  
My personal opinion is that if you are out rescuing these large and difficult to house herps, you should spend more time educating people about the responsibilities of keeping these animals, not trying to make it so people can never have them.
 
Rob, I agree with you 100%.  I have talked with a number of rescuers as well. I maybe should have said some, and nowhere near all support some sort of ban.  The hsus doesn't go after cats and dogs because they have no chance.  They have the unfounded fear of snakes and such to help them further their cause with the reptiles.  
As far as melissa kaplan, she does have good info available, tried and true and even links to other Iguana care sites as well that may differ from her own.  The Iguana for dummies book she wrote is a good resource as well and easy to use and follow.  I studied her site before I got my iguana, and her info has been extremely helpful.  Her info may be old, some may be stolen, but she has been doing this for a long time maybe any info you see elsewhere was stolen from her.  Also, if you learn about an animal from somewhere and then teach others the same thing you learn isn't that the same thing?  If so ever time I teach someone something about a snake or lizard I'm stealing because everything I know was learned and taught by someone else.
No one way is ever perfect for everybody or every animal.  It's just good to have the resources there.
 
I think her info on/about iguanas is great--that is where she has her experience.
I tend to question some of her other info on care of other species.  : )
Herpetoculture certainly is no science.
I question a lot of "herp vets" opinions too. : )

dana
 
I personally remember a long time ago searching a fairly "new" internet for information on the care and breeding of boa constrictors.  It seems as though Melissa's care sheet on boa constrictors was the only one around.  

Here is how it starts

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Take a moment....
...and ask yourself a couple of very important questions such as: do you really want a snake that will get to be 10 feet long, weigh over 50 pounds, urinate and defecate like a St. Bernard, should live more than 30 years and for whom you will have to kill mice, rats and, eventually, small rabbits? Many people think that it will be easy to find someone who will take it if they decide they don't want their Boa when it is 8 or 10 feet long. So, take a look at the classified ads--they always have sale ads for big pythons and boas. The zoo doesn't want any more--they already have more giant snakes than they need. The local herpetology societies and reptile veterinarians always have big snakes for whom they are trying to find homes. At 8 feet and 40 pounds, a 2-year old Boa may already be eating rabbits a couple of times a month and can be very unwieldy to handle alone. You have to interact with them constantly to keep them tame--do you want a hungry, cranky 10 foot snake mistaking your face for prey? Another consideration is who is going to help you clean its enclosure? take it to the vet when it's sick? take care of it when you go away to school or on vacation? No matter how much they love you, there are some things a mother, and your friends, will not do! Owning a big snake is not cool; it is a major, long-term commitment and responsibility.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Now I am not saying that all this information is not true to some degree, however I question an 8 foot, 2 year old boa, and I question several other things throughout the remainder of her care guide, but this this type of information is exactly what you are talking about.

There are a ton of people that WANT to take responsible care of their boas and need a good source of reliable information that will empower them to do so.  Not someone to slam them down as a irresponsible human for wanting to even think about owning a boa constrictor.

It was Melissa's "care" guide that was the main reason my website exists today.  I have tried with exhausting research, and talking extensively with Jeff Ronne and others, to establish a true care guide that helps people be responsible and caring owners.

I always said "Knowledge is Power" with anything we do.  If we can educate people instead of slamming them, maybe there will be fewer occasions of irresponsible ownership.

I may be wrong, but that is how I see it.
 
Thank you for pointing that out Clay.  That is one of my issues with her way of "educating" the masses.  Laced throughout her caresheets are those kind of negative remarks.  I 100% agree with what she says about the long-term commitments of keeping herps and that you should be prepared to take it on(I have five boas all over 6 feet myself).  However, it does not mean that you are an irresponsible idiot if you are willing and wanting to take on the challenges of keeping a large snake or lizard.  
There are lots of good care sheets out there on some of the larger potentially more "dangerous" herps out there that extoll the virtues of proper planning and commitment, but only in Ms. Kaplan's caresheets do you get subversely labeled as irresponsible and stupid for even thinking of taking on the challenge.  
Again, I think she has some decent information on green iguanas, but I think her way of "educating" potential owners should be revised.
 
Do I believe that exotics shouldn't be kept as pets?  Based on how poorly so many sellers and buyers do when it comes to caring for them properly, and the lack of state and federal regulations that accord herps the same rights (relating to captive care) as furred and feathered animals are, I'd just as soon either not see them in the pet trade.  An alternative is to see the prices for all herps elevated to take them far out of the impulse buy, "Look how cheap they are - let's get a couple for the kids" and "I am not going to take your pet to the vet - it's cheaper to let it die and get you a new one that pay a vet" price range.  

Being relatively pragmatic, however, I also realize that what I say or feel about the situation isn't going to magically put an end to the pet trade-as-we-know-it-today.  So, as long as herps are being kept in captivity, I continue to provide information on them.  At last count, there are over 1000 articles at my site, of which I have authored or compiled a significant number.

A few individuals through the years have called me (though never to my face) a hypochondriac or, my favorite, "not really sick but by claiming to be so that I can avoid having people discover what a moron I am."  The amusing thing about all of this is that I have long been far more candid about my background, my information sources, and my health, much more so than the people who put the "hypochondriac" and "moron" balls in play.  As far as I know, that's still the case. There are always people who are really good about casting aspersions on others but who always seem avoid answering questions about themselves or providing information about their sources, etc., when queried.  

I make the assumption that most people will read and make up their own minds. And that is exactly what I encourage visitors to my site to do so.  Towards that end, I provide a lot of information and resources at my site.  I encourage people to read the sources I've read and keep to keep on reading.  Humans may have been researching herps for hundreds of years, but we've really only been scratching at the surface of things: just look at the astounding array of research articles being published every year, and the scope of ongoing studies.

In addition, when it comes to herps in captivity, especially herp health and behavior, we're still in new territory.  While great strides have been made in the decade or so since the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) was first organized, there is still a tremendous amount of ground to cover. Combine all that with emerging human health and environmental research, and, well, it's a pretty exciting time to be involved in all of this, or at least to read as much as possible across these disciplines.

In short, if people are going to keep animals, they should act responsibly, and that means reading as much as they can, assess the validity and quality of what they read, discuss their thoughts with others who are similarly reading and thinking, and have fun doing it!
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A few individuals through the years have called me (though never to my face) a hypochondriac or, my favorite, "not really sick but by claiming to be so that I can avoid having people discover what a moron I am." </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

That certainly wasn't the direction I wanted to go in with this, personal life is not identical to professional and I wanted to keep any critisism or any praise sort of... above the belt as it were.

The iguana information I will agree, for the most part, is some of the best avaliable to novice and intermediate keepers... I don't agree 100% with the diet and certainly not with the concept of "training" a green iguana...  But the rest of that info seems pretty on the level...

I was wondering more about the other herps. Like the Boa constrictor quote that Clay put up... Some of the information on other species is just outright... Well, wrong.

Thanks for the replies, gave me something to think about certainly... She's deffinatly not a person who should be condemned for their views as so many others have and probably should have been... (Henry lizardlover, James Hatfield III and the like for two signifigant iguana examples) but she also doesn't seem to really have the broad experience with most of the species she writes about. While it isn't impossible to learn and, as someone pointed out, research is research not "stealing", writing about an animal that it's questionable she's even seen in person is a bit... Well... Off somehow.

Thanks for the responses, they pretty much confirmed what i had thought. Thank you as well Melissa for clearing up a few things yourself. Noticed the site redesign incidentally... navigates much smoother than the old one.
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Can anyone supply any examples of misinformation?  This is the first I've heard of it, so I'm curious.

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

There was the time Kaplan identified a rainbow ameiva as a salamander, because she "knew a lot about lizards" and "little about amphibians".  I will see if I can find that message board post....It will take time, however.
 
Personally I think the hard language Melissa uses in the opening of some her care sheets is great. This speaks to a great committment and love for the animals she writes about. Many of us are well read enough to see that she's "worse casing" for the underinformed potential new owner to hopefully counteract the sales pitch they just got at Pets R Us. I read Melissa's stuff AND got an Iguana (2 actually), AND got a Burm (they do p!ss and sh!t like horses&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>. I also read a piece with a similar tone by a different author before getting my Newfoundland Dog - "Don't by a Newf!" Articles like these are meant to turn off people who aren't willing to deal with reality of owning these animals. You go  Melissa.

Hey on the whole price of herps increase you mentioned to help foster more responsible/thoughtful purchases.... I've been kicking around an idea because of some local herp related city code changes that are brewing. What do you think of permit system for species of snakes/monitors that get big and crocodillians that requires microchip implant in the animals prior to sale with #s registered to the owner. Drives up cost, helps enforce accountability. Just mulling it over?<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Melissk @ Sep. 06 2002,20:07)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Do I believe that exotics shouldn't be kept as pets?  Based on how poorly so many sellers and buyers do when it comes to caring for them properly, and the lack of state and federal regulations that accord herps the same rights (relating to captive care) as furred and feathered animals are, I'd just as soon either not see them in the pet trade.  An alternative is to see the prices for all herps elevated to take them far out of the impulse buy, "Look how cheap they are - let's get a couple for the kids" and "I am not going to take your pet to the vet - it's cheaper to let it die and get you a new one that pay a vet" price range.  </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Isnt education an other alternative?  And the better one?  I am suprised that someone who seems so dedicated to educating the public on the captive care of reptiles would be against people sharing their company with them.  I believe that the route of education, which Melissa Kaplan does take to a large degree is the better one.
I also believe that perhaps prices should be a little more elevated to avoid the "disposable pet" syndrome.  (But, you can adopt cats some places for free)...  
But most of all, I dont trust the government to know enough about herps to legislate them, lol!

Isnt education and learning to care for herps the best provocation to conservation?  When I see kids that get into keeping herps, it tends to be those kids that are doing research on the internet, thinking about getting science degrees, and tend to be more environmentally minded.  I am amazed by some of the families that have bought herps from us.  It gives me real hope.  And I do think if some of these kids were not given first hand experience, they would not have gotten as passionate as they are.  I know sharing the company of reptiles has certainly spurred education, research, and a greater appreciation for myself.

Of course numerous things need change in the industry, although I dont think it is the government's place to do it.  But PROPER education is one of them.  Not fear tactics and negativity.  And I will agree that I do get some of that from Kaplan's website and articles.  But once again, I applaud the education efforts.  It is important for everyone working with herps to record and study their animals, anyone selling animals to educate their customers.  Even if you can get a lizard for $10--once you tell them the cost of set up and maintenence, well, that should scare off anyone not serious about caring for the animal.  SO TELL THEM instead of trying to make a quick $10.

But I go through my moments too.  If I had had to rescue as many iguanas as Kaplan has, I'd be pretty negative and jaded about people owning them as well.  But, there are dumb people everywhere that do this to human babies as well!  A ban is just not the answer.

And back on subject more, there is so much misinformation out there on herps, that Kaplan's site was probably chosen just because it so well known.  Everything you read on herps should be cross checked, double checked and rechecked.  Read every darn book and care sheet possible.  Talk to as many people with first hand experience as you can.  And then observe observe observe!  The internet has helped greatly in this area.  I have hopes that things will just get better and better.  We've come a long way from when I had an iguana as a kid!!!  Let's keep improving and learning instead of abolishing what can be a very positive thing.

My 2 cents.
Dana
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And back on subject more, there is so much misinformation out there on herps, that Kaplan's site was probably chosen just because it so well known.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

To an extent you are certainly correct... Kaplan's web-site is well known enough that misinformation is a signifigant issue. Her association with AOL and the speed at which her website is accessed through their service only increases this... Misinforming the least informed level of keeper or potential keeper is a far worse action than attempting to pass off poor information to those who actually know what they are doing...

You speak of education. A noble goal but in order to be a valid one, there needs to be an informed teacher... And I personally feel that Melissa is... overly ambitious with her web-site. Her information is often outright incorrect and the ease at which it is obtained by the naive just makes it that much harder for those who have similar aims but correct information.

Take Mr. English. Unquestioningly some of the best Boa constrictor ssp. information avaliable online. But how many people do you think see his website versus Kaplan's?

Her goals may be commendable but I feel she doesn't realize her own limitations and the areas where her knowledge and experience is... Lacking to say the least.
 
I saw this thread and thought I would through my 2 cents in.  

I have spoken with many rehabilitators on this subject.  I have found a tendency for some to become a little sour, especially when dealing with certain animals.  I imagine after seeing sick and dying animals it would become very difficult to be enthusiastic about introducing more into the mainstream.  However, it also becomes easy to forget that there are responsible herp lovers out there that offer their pets better conditions than some people live in.  

I do agree with Ms. Kapplan's approach though, especially in one respect.  I believe a prospective herp owner should know all the negative aspects up front and then make an informed decision when acquiring animals.  Especially in the area of the green iguana.  These animals have become so dirt cheap (I have even seen them given away as door-prizes which is a whole other story) that little thought is given when purchasing them.  In fact, I would venture to say that they are becoming the goldfish of the herp world.  

As far as accuracy of information.  I have looked over many of her caresheets and with the exception of a few exaggerations, I didn't find anything that would prove detrimental to the novice.
 
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