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pete blake
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by martyn on November 25, 2005
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Has anyone heard of this man ? He rights in the reptile care magazine and is meant to be 1 of the world leading experts.
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RE: pete blake
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by Cro on November 25, 2005
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I can not locate any type of biography for him, but I do recognise his photo.
He was on a Discovery or National Geographic show a few years back where he was swimming with alligators at some Florida reptile park.
The problem with ``world experts`` is that a lot of folks go around claiming to be that. Perhaps he is very knowledgable, but who knows. A lot of the time, it is self promotion.
I know several people who write for reptile magazines. Some are very knowledgable and have a lot of first hand experience, and some are just good writers with limited knowledge, but good research skills.
There is an old saying that goes something like ``The only thing worse than an expert, is someone who claims to be an expert.``
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: pete blake
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by paleoherp on November 25, 2005
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Hi i dont know pete blake but i know somone who is very good friends with him . The reptile care magazine says this on its ask the experts section :
"Reptile Care has assembled a panel of some of the worlds leading reptile experts who are here to answer your most puzzling reptile dilemmas. We think there's nothing they don't know about reptiles ( what ever ), so why don't you choose the most appropriate panelist below and submit your query. The best will be featured in the magazine."
i think they are laying it on a bit thick . They may be good but they aint that good
If they are the world leading reptile experts they would write better articles . One of them is a gecko expert and apparently knows everything their is to know about them . Yeh im sure she knows about all 1076 species of geckos .
Apparently pete blake is very cocky and big headed from what i have heard about him .
cheers
shaun
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RE: pete blake
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by Rabies on November 25, 2005
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Pete Blake is a private collector of venomous reptiles in the UK. He's not an expert! The reptile care magazine has been approached as to who this so called expert is, especially when he compares a Black Mamba bite to a bee sting!! Take what he says with pinch of salt.
JohnZ I saw that program, but its two different blokes, very simular though.
John
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RE: pete blake
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by Hotherps on November 26, 2005
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Although Pete Blake has kept large boids for a number of years, he is in fact a relative new-comer to keeping hots. As far as I know he has only been keeping them about 3 or 4 years. He began by keeping his own private collection and then started to import and sell venomous snakes in the UK.
While Pete is very enthusiastic about his “hots” and is keen to pass on what he has learned, there have been some “problems” and a good number of people have distanced themselves from him.
On a different topic (in other words I am not referring to Mr Blake in the following text).
Here in the UK, the number of people keeping venomous species is relatively small and as a community we quickly get to know which people have earned the respect of their peers and those who have set themselves up as experts without first gaining mutual respect…… for example there is one guy who ran a reptile rescue centre (taking in unwanted iguanas, tortoises etc.) who made a bit of a name for himself mainly due to the fact he was involved in raids on various people he considered where not keeping their reptiles correctly. Some of these high profile raids where organised to confiscate illegally held venomous snakes which is fair enough, but the crazy thing is that this guy had no experience keeping venomous snakes prior to the raid and was in fact only granted a DWAL for his premises days before he set off to raid an experienced (but illegal keeper). This guy then spent hours on the phone seeking my advice because he was having problems keeping these animals.
I was able to help re-home some of these snakes and it was arranged that a mutual friend who would be travelling by his place would pick up these snakes and transport them to another DWAL holder. I should add at this point that the person who couriered them was not a reptile keeper and was heavily reliant upon this guy from the rescue centre to package them in a safe manor. When the snakes arrived at their new home the new keeper was livid……. One of the snakes, an eyelash viper, had been sent loose in its small glass viv held together with sellotape…..and had travelled on the back seat of the car…… just imagine what might have happed if the driver had to brake suddenly! I could go on and on about this guy but I don’t have the time, lets just say I don’t trust the guy at all.
Another problem, as I see it is that there is little to stop inexperienced people, often hidden behind various user-names setting themselves up on various forums as “Experts” when they have or no knowledge to the subject.
I am sure that those of us on this forum that do have the experience and knowledge in keeping venomous snakes would be uncomfortable in referring to ourselves as “Experts”. Self promotion is sometimes a necessary evil but can never really be satisfying….. It is far better to have the respect of your peers for your contribution to the global herp community.
I often click on the profiles of forum members to see who they are and what experience they have….. your welcome to have a look at my profile.
Regards, Paul
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RE: pete blake
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by Cro on November 26, 2005
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Rabies: Thanks for the update on Pete Blake, and the alligator show. You are right, they both look very, very similar, but are different folks.
Best Regards JohnZ
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by Cro on November 26, 2005
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Since this thread is discussing European Herpers, maybee you can help answer a question for me.
In anctient times (1975-1978) I would ship US reptiles to Chris Mattison, at the University of Southampton, and he would ship reptiles to me.
This was back before the days of Cites, and before restrictions, so I was able to ship to Chris animals like Indigo Snakes, Corn Snakes, Trans-Pecos Rat Snakes, King Snakes, and more common snakes.
Chris was able to ship to me animals from Africa, Europe, Yugoslavia, and Spain, like the first 2 Elaphe situla ever in this country.
It was a good relationship for several years. Some of my friends wanted some of the European animals Chris had, and gave me some baby king, water, and garter snakes to ship to him along with some of my animals. Unfortunatly, the baby snakes the people gave became sick after they got to Europe, and Chris got quite upset in having to treat them. We kind of stopped writing and trading animals after that.
I still consider Chris a friend, and have enjoyed seeing all the reptile books he has gone on to publish. I have good memories of the animal trades we did that worked out.
Back in those days, it often took 2 weeks for shipped animals to get to Europe or back to the US, so I am sure the animals were stressed some.
Anyway, If anyone of you know, I have wondered for years just what Chris is doing these days? I am sure he is long gone from the University. Is he somehow involved in Herpetology in Europe, other than writing books? Thanks for any info.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: pete blake
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by paleoherp on November 26, 2005
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John , im not sure but somone did tell me that he was doing somthing in sheffield england . im sure he is still doing somthing with snakes he has written some good books i would like to meet him .
Anyway thats what i ve heard though im not sure .
hope it helps .
shaun
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RE: pete blake
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by Cro on November 26, 2005
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Shaun: Thanks so much!
That is more information than I have found in years. I hope you have a chance to meet him sometime.
From my conversations with Chris in the past, (throught letters, before the days of Email, LOL), I am sure Chris would be an excellent person for you to meet.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: pete blake
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by paleoherp on November 26, 2005
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Cheers John . Sorry about the spelling in my last post, i am well of at times but i do rush my writeing . Thats my excuse lol.
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