If you have a question that pertains specifically to a certain type of tortoise, you should pose that question in the forum designated for that type of tortoise.
For instance, if you go to the General Tortoise Discussion and ask what kind of food should I feed my Galapagos tortoise, you will get responses from people that don't necessarily keep Galapagos tortoises, but always read the General Tortoise Discussion. But you shouldn't listen to folks who don't have Galapagos tortoises. You need information from people who KNOW how to feed that type of tortoise. So if you go to "Exotic Tortoises" and then to the sub-forum "Galops and Aldabs" and pose your question there, you will be sure to get the expert opinions that you are looking for.
There have recently been a rash of questions from different people about Star tortoises. There aren't very many people here on the forum who keep stars, but there ARE a few who do and who know a lot about them. But the questions were asked in the "General" category, so quite a few of us gave our opinions. Its not a good idea to take advice from someone who knows nothing about Star tortoises, (advice from me included) as each type of tortoise requires its own different type of care. And it might not be in your Star's best interest to keep him in a Redfoot's substrate (for instance).
So please try to remember to ask your questions in the correct forum category. And the rest of us, please try to limit your answers if you don't know the species specific answer!
When Newbies are doing tortoise research, the forum and its answers come up in their research. We don't want our "general" answers to be taken for gospel by someone who doesn't know any better.
Yvonne
For instance, if you go to the General Tortoise Discussion and ask what kind of food should I feed my Galapagos tortoise, you will get responses from people that don't necessarily keep Galapagos tortoises, but always read the General Tortoise Discussion. But you shouldn't listen to folks who don't have Galapagos tortoises. You need information from people who KNOW how to feed that type of tortoise. So if you go to "Exotic Tortoises" and then to the sub-forum "Galops and Aldabs" and pose your question there, you will be sure to get the expert opinions that you are looking for.
There have recently been a rash of questions from different people about Star tortoises. There aren't very many people here on the forum who keep stars, but there ARE a few who do and who know a lot about them. But the questions were asked in the "General" category, so quite a few of us gave our opinions. Its not a good idea to take advice from someone who knows nothing about Star tortoises, (advice from me included) as each type of tortoise requires its own different type of care. And it might not be in your Star's best interest to keep him in a Redfoot's substrate (for instance).
So please try to remember to ask your questions in the correct forum category. And the rest of us, please try to limit your answers if you don't know the species specific answer!
When Newbies are doing tortoise research, the forum and its answers come up in their research. We don't want our "general" answers to be taken for gospel by someone who doesn't know any better.
Yvonne
