Hot snakes handling

[EricIvins]

^Miguel is only asking a "hypothetical situtation" question for discussion or debate. I highly doubt there are many hot rooms with a shovel or spade leaning in the corner.

I know this though, to reply to his question...if I knew my child was close and a hot snake was loose, I would stop at nothing to make sure it didn't get close to her.

I don't have snakes, never have. I did have a wolf at one time though. When we found out there was a little one on the way, I made arrangements to have him re-homed. Though I had no doubts what-so-ever that the wolf would never harm my child, for her sake, I couldn't take a chance. I took a few months and had him located at a wild life refuge.

Sometimes, being a responsible pet owner means not owning a pet. I respect Miguel for not keeping a reptile he loves obviously because its not worth the risk with his children around.

Just my .02

Well here's more to your "hypothetical situation"........

Think about it.......I've never met a hot room that didn't have a concrete floor.......Try using a "spade" on a concrete floor.......I guess you would have to calculate the odds of killing the animal on the first try.......

You could use a flat shovel......That would get the job done, but to be effective, you'd be in strike range of most hots, except for small Arboreal Vipers ( that in itself would be species dependent ).....Same problem with a spade......

I would think using a 410 with snake shot would be the best option for killing the animal on the first try......However, a ricochet is just that, and you'll wind up with snake shot in you and other potential escapees from all the cage fronts you just shattered.......

Now, you could also try something akin to a broad sword, which would keep you out of strike range, but lets face it - I havn't met too many 20th century Knights, let alone Knights that keep Reptiles.......

With that said, I do think the best option in the situation is a good snake hook, maybe grabbers, and a level head. Which was the point I was trying to get across........People get crazy trying to kill things close quarters, and usually end up doing more damage than good......Frantic and hots just don't go together unfortunately.......

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

but lets face it - I havn't met too many 20th century Knights, let alone Knights that keep Reptiles.....

You havent? You need to get out more!!!

This sword hung over my old tank!!!

 

[jeosbo01]

iv kept them years and handled hundreds and only ever got tagged once! So not doing to bad my friend!

Only once in years is a good record and I know professional hot keepers who may average 1 bite every 2-3 years (keep in mind they handle dozens each day)...I also know a few who have been in the game for many years and have yet to take their first bite. The biggest difference I can find between the two groups is the amount of 'hand's on' time they spend with the animals...the bottom line is that people who never put a hand on a hot snake unless it is needed (using partitioned cages and baffled transfer boxes mostly) are almost all in the group of 'never bitten' and most of the ones who spend a lot of time with their hands on the animal for any reason whether for the benifit of the person (I have a couple of friends who do venom extraction for research/medicine) or the animal (force feeding etc.) have a much higher bite rate.
I know that handling is occasionally needed and honestly I love to do it (killer adrenaline rush) but my past has shown me that it isn't the best option for me. I would rather touch a hot only when needed than risk becoming a statistic and a reason for someone to try to leverage even more rights out of snake keepers hands.
You seem to have a good head on you and don't take my comments wrong, I'm not intending to say anything negative about your keeping. For me it's the idea that a snake in my hand can bite me, a snake on a stick shouldn't be able to but may figure out a way but a snake in a safe box can't...this is what I go by when hots are concerned.

 

[jeosbo01]

Also...all of the above is just my opinion...no more, no less

 

[Miguel]

Well here's more to your "hypothetical situation"........

Think about it.......I've never met a hot room that didn't have a concrete floor.......Try using a "spade" on a concrete floor.......I guess you would have to calculate the odds of killing the animal on the first try.......

You could use a flat shovel......That would get the job done, but to be effective, you'd be in strike range of most hots, except for small Arboreal Vipers ( that in itself would be species dependent ).....Same problem with a spade......

I would think using a 410 with snake shot would be the best option for killing the animal on the first try......However, a ricochet is just that, and you'll wind up with snake shot in you and other potential escapees from all the cage fronts you just shattered.......

Now, you could also try something akin to a broad sword, which would keep you out of strike range, but lets face it - I havn't met too many 20th century Knights, let alone Knights that keep Reptiles.......

With that said, I do think the best option in the situation is a good snake hook, maybe grabbers, and a level head. Which was the point I was trying to get across........People get crazy trying to kill things close quarters, and usually end up doing more damage than good......Frantic and hots just don't go together unfortunately.......

Eric, just so we get things straight. I have never been in a "killing situiation " as the one I tried to describe for arguments sake.

It was just that: For arguments sake.

You are trying, good devils advocate that you are, to find a fault in my hipothetical. Well go on, that was exactly the purpose of the argument.

I am well aware that people get crazy trying to kill things in close quarters. Far less so, I am sure, than after the supposed to be killed object has eloped into a house full of people.

Now this should never happen, under any circumstance. We all agree on that, but if it should occur, would one go for the drastic measure?

 

[Bottomfeeder]

You havent? You need to get out more!!!

This sword hung over my old tank!!!

Gr8, there are so many words to describe you... first and foremost is "badass", then is "strange"...

You're not afraid of the bolts popping out of the walls and having that thing come crashing through the tank?

 

[JONNY CICHLA]

Also...all of the above is just my opinion...no more, no less

Yes and totally think your right! wy put yourself at a bigger risk than need be! we all have our own opinion on the best ways to keep hots! But we all stride for the same goal"" To keep our hobby clean and safe! and the people we love!

 

[A. gigas]

All of my hots are in my bedroom. I have a weather strip on the bottom of the door, and screening over the vents to prevent any escaped hots from being able to get out of my room. I also have sealed the gaps between the sliding glass doors with one side of velcro and double screened all of my hot enclosures. I also keep a data card that tells the species, how many there are in the cage, the antivenin needed, where to get it, and any information I need to know about the snake.

this is basically what i meant.