Melissa Kaplan and boy am I opening up a can of worms /more

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Posted by Ig Chick on June 11, 2001 at 13:32:04:

In Reply to: Re: hey Isis .... since you trust Melissa Kaplan sooooooooo much ..../more posted by alisha on June 11, 2001 at 12:49:10:

First of all let me say that I have nothing against Melissa Kaplan as a person. I think that she has attempted to provide the herp community with an informational service that was very badly needed! That being said ....

I am not alone in believeing that Melissa Kaplan is not the end all be all authority on iguanas or any other reptile for that matter. There are many people, myself included, that have been keeping reptiles, iguanas specificly, a lot longer than she has and have done so successfully without reading her book or using her website. While I think that some of her information is accurate and that her book and website are a great resource tool when used with other resource material, I do not believe that she is correct with everything that she teaches.

Furthermore, Melissa Kaplan often tends to teach her OPINIONS as if they were well documented facts that have been well researched and tested. This is just not the case. In many cases her opinions were formed based on bias (ie -the manufacturer of a certain product did not get back to her -that being the case, how can she make an informed decision?). I have a HUGE problem practicing someone else's uninformed, untested, opinion.

I think that her book and website have a place in iguana education, I just don't think that they should be the only tools used to learn how to care for an iguana. I also believe that some of her information should not be followed at all.

I have to be honest and say that I DO NOT use the MK salad or supplements on a regular basis and our iguanas are very healthy. When you consider the medical condition that most of them arrived here in, that is no small accomplishment.

I tell people all the time, read everything you can get your hands on, talk to people who have successfully kept iguanas for more than 2 years -base your care on the things that you learn! One of the best tools ameture herpers have is a qualified veterinarian -find one. Melissa Kaplan is not a vet, even if she comes off as one, she just doesn't know it all and our gravid female is living proof of that! We're not the only ones with a gravid female that debunks MKs theory on egging either.

Sorry if this has offended anyone -this is not a personal attack on anyone, especially MK. I don't want to argue with anyone about it either. No email or post is going to get me to change my mind ...

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Re: Melissa Kaplan and boy am I opening up a can of worms /more alisha 06/13/01 (0)

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: First of all let me say that I have nothing against Melissa Kaplan as a person. I think that she has attempted to provide the herp community with an informational service that was very badly needed! That being said .... : : I am not alone in believeing that Melissa Kaplan is not the end all be all authority on iguanas or any other reptile for that matter. There are many people, myself included, that have been keeping reptiles, iguanas specificly, a lot longer than she has and have done so successfully without reading her book or using her website. While I think that some of her information is accurate and that her book and website are a great resource tool <B>when used with other resource material</B>, I do not believe that she is correct with everything that she teaches. : Furthermore, Melissa Kaplan often tends to teach her OPINIONS as if they were well documented facts that have been well researched and tested. This is just not the case. In many cases her opinions were formed based on bias (ie -the manufacturer of a certain product did not get back to her -that being the case, how can she make an informed decision?). I have a HUGE problem practicing someone else's uninformed, untested, opinion. : I think that her book and website have a place in iguana education, I just don't think that they should be the only tools used to learn how to care for an iguana. I also believe that some of her information should not be followed at all. : I have to be honest and say that I DO NOT use the MK salad or supplements on a regular basis and our iguanas are very healthy. When you consider the medical condition that most of them arrived here in, that is no small accomplishment. : I tell people all the time, read everything you can get your hands on, talk to people who have successfully kept iguanas for more than 2 years -base your care on the things that you learn! One of the best tools ameture herpers have is a qualified veterinarian -find one. Melissa Kaplan is not a vet, even if she comes off as one, she just doesn't know it all and our gravid female is living proof of that! We're not the only ones with a gravid female that debunks MKs theory on egging either. : Sorry if this has offended anyone -this is not a personal attack on anyone, especially MK. I don't want to argue with anyone about it either. No email or post is going to get me to change my mind ...

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