Most questions that seem appropriate are---i.e., pretty much any question
about keeping herps is OK.  Certain technical questions may be better directed
to sci.bio.herp, or crossposted (but if you do crosspost, please set followups
to whichever group is more appropriate---if you don't know what this means,
you definitely shouldn't crosspost).

Posted images are *never* appropriate in rec.pets.herp, or, in general, in
any non-binary newsgroup.  If you want to distribute a picture of your
favorite tree frog, or a great snapshot from the field, or whatever, that's
fine; but put the image on a WWW page, or post it to the newsgroup
alt.binaries.pictures.animals, and just put a brief pointer in rec.pets.herp
directing people to the image.  (The WWW approach is better than the post to
a.b.p.a., as many more people have Web access than get the binaries
newsgroups, and no arcane decoding process is required to view a Web page.)

The consensus is that commercial postings are acceptable, as long as they are
not invasive (multiple posts with screaming subject lines are Not OK) and on-
topic (no phone sex ads).  There is a well-established tradition of individuals
offering animals for sale through the newsgroup, and at least one commercial
herp supply dealer posts regularly. Out of politeness, many people offering
animals and items for sale state so clearly in the Subject line of their
posting: those who are not interested in purchasing can then save time
by not downloading / reading the posts. An example might be: "FS: Snow
Corns."

However, large stocklists and other lengthy bodies of commercial information 
should be deposited on a WWW page or made available for FTP, with only a 
pointer posted to the group.  If you run a newsletter or organization that 
you think herpers should be made aware of on a regular basis, a brief 
monthly posting is much more appropriate than a daily or even weekly one. 

Some parts © 2009 Advameg, Inc.