How To Tell What is Expert Advice?

xMario

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Hello. I just was wondering what's the best way to find out which advice is by experts on here, or more experienced tortoise keepers? I see alot of opinions in replies, and it's hard to tell which advice is best. Thanks!
Check there Post history
Most people on here who have like 10000 plus posts give u very good advice also
Look for there opinions and make sure they got the results u want to achieve
Basically just as written above u can click on there name and check all the posts
 

SweetGreekTorts

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Their post history shows how long they've been a member on here and how active they are, but there are newer members who have experience too. I've barely been in here for a year now and still have less than 1,000 posts, but I've been raising tortoises for the past 10 years.

Even experienced keepers have different opinions. Many things factor in, such as the species of tortoise and your location. For example, raising a sulcata tortoise in Arizona is different than raising one in Alaska.

When I have questions or need help and get a variety of opinions, I'll consider all of the advice and ultimately choose to do what I think is best.
 

RosemaryDW

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The above advice is all very good.

I look at the profile page for users I don't recognize fairly often. Not just when did they join and how many posts have they made, but I may also search all the threads they've started. Threads started, not individual replies to someone else's threads.

For example, I might see someone who is a newish member saying something is *absolutely* wrong or right. But when I check his thread history, he's only made three, the first of which says "I just got my tortoise yesterday and am really confused."

That is often a person who has found the forum and learned a great deal about the better ways to keep a tortoise. They can be so anxious for others to learn that they may just be repeating something they read yesterday as biblical.
 

RosemaryDW

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It gets easier to figure out knowledgeable members over time. Since most pressing issues for new owners can be addressed by looking at enclosure setup, you can trust in the care sheets for good advice on that. Once your setup is solid, you can take some time to observe the different advice people offer before making your final judgement call.
 

CarolM

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I would not go by the amount of posts they have made alone. I would check to see if their advise is being advised by more than one member as well. I have a large number of posts, but by no means do I regard myself as an expert. I am still learning and making mistakes the hard way. There are actually only a few members on here who I trust, everyone else I check and think about what they said and then check to see if their advise is consistent with the advise of others in many posts. There are more than enough posts, threads etc and advice being given that if you just take the time to do research and read as many posts and advice given on the topic that you need help with, you should be able to get an informed decision on what to do. And always read the care sheets on here. They have been vetted over and over by very experienced keepers who have all been here and done that. They have learned their lessons the hard way and have posted the care sheets on here to try and help us to skip that hard lesson if at all possible.
 

SPILL

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A couple things I did when I first found this forum that aren't hard rules but a good stating point. The authors of the stickies at the top of the sub-forums. Those threads were chosen by mods/admins to be the first thing you see at the top of a category for a reason. There is vendor review section. I figured anyone with overwhelmingly good reviews must be sending out quality animals so they must know their stuff.
 

Redfool

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I believe that anyone considering themselves an absolute expert is in the process or has already closed their mind to new suggestions. Although I have limited posts and thread starts, I consider myself, having kept four Redfoots for over thirty years, an experienced hobbyist. Read and weight alternatives that suit you and your tort. Being in Florida I use, oak leaf compost for substrate, hibiscus as staple feed and diffused sunshine UVA/UVB source. My breeding colony of four and myself have have adapted to using personal and forum info to make our lives more comfortable.
 

Madkins007

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Also, with many questions, the better-informed posters can provide sources for their information.

Having a healthy, breeding herd is a good solid recommendation, but it is important to remember that what works for one does not work for everyone. My favorite way to say that is that the problems a person with a well-planted large yard in southern Florida has very different issues than an apartment dweller in northern Minnesota.
 

TammyJ

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I have been saying that I am no expert for a few years now, but as time passed and I gained knowledge on this site, I have become quite an experienced keeper of Redfoots, and mine are looking good according to the experts! Don't know so much about other species though.
 

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