So you want to start with venomous...

[snakeguy101]

I truly mean it, I don't have any experience with hot's but I've had a lifetime (30 years now) of experience with reptile's and all sorts of critter's. And when I say all sort's I do mean all sort's, including some wildlife rescue work.

Your approach to your chosen addiction is well planned and executed. I saw clean (properly set up) habitat's, and extremely healthy animal's that were being handled in a very thoughtful manner.

You said in the video that it's harder to remove your viper from an enclosure set up in such a natural fashion...but you chose to do so anyway. Ostensibly for you to look at but you and I both know that viper's excellent health is due in part to the enclosure you keep it in. What impressed me was how patient/gentle you were with her. Clearly the safety of your snakes and any who handle them is paramount with you.

I'll go even further and say that my general belief is that hot's should not be kept by private individual's. I'll eat those word's now, people like you, and (I'm certain) people trained by you, are what keepers of hot reptiles should be.

And btw I don't know what the peanut butter thing is all about...but it's a little more frightening than venomous snake's

Hmm, the intrigue is almost as thick as....peanut butter...

Again, thank you. It is these kinds of comments that keep me going and give me the drive to educate people about them. And about the peanut butter, read Lp's Caiman build thread

BTW..Snakeguy...great videos and you look to have really solid handling methods. One thing I noticed that could maybe be improved was in the rattlesnake video, I like having a loop handle on the top of my lids so I can lift them on with a hook. It is unlikely but possible for a snake (less likely with a rattler but again possible) to dart out between the lid and the box as you slide it on (it looks like your feeding box has a raised lid which would create an opening between it and the box until it was in place) and you are blind as the lid slides on. Again, just personal preference so take it for what it is, just my nature to look for that kind of escape route.

I am not sure what you mean. The lid does fit down inside of the box and there are holes on either side of it (intended for locks) that I can hook a snake hook through to remove a snake but I find it easier to slide the top on instead of using a hook because it is large enough to do so (as long as you fingers stay on top of the lid. There is one thing that I do not like about the box and it is that there is a lip around the top of the box that a snake may be able to hang out on on but I use the hook to open the lid so there is not too much of a problem there, just something to be careful of.

 

[Swampy459]

Great information man. This should be a sticky.

 

[jeosbo01]

I am not sure what you mean. The lid does fit down inside of the box and there are holes on either side of it (intended for locks) that I can hook a snake hook through to remove a snake but I find it easier to slide the top on instead of using a hook because it is large enough to do so (as long as you fingers stay on top of the lid. There is one thing that I do not like about the box and it is that there is a lip around the top of the box that a snake may be able to hang out on on but I use the hook to open the lid so there is not too much of a problem there, just something to be careful of.

After watching the video again it doesn't look like there is as much of a gap as I thought there was. The gap I am talking about though it the one that forms between bottom of the lid and the top of the side as you slide the lid on...

 

[Mikeyy]

Thanks for the videos. In class so Watching without volume but everything seems up to par

 

[jeosbo01]

Great information man. This should be a sticky.

+1

 

[NatashaAliza]

I have to say awesome video I can't wait to see more. I know it was said before but you are very informative and well spoken, I like that :] I just have a few random questions, I figure this one is yes, but do you keep anti-venom at your house? Or 911 on speed dial? I know you have some exotics and local hospitals probably don't carry the anti venom.... I know they have an anti venom bank in Miami, can you order it?

And two, I've heard its really hard to get an insurance company to insure you with hobbies like that.

 

[snakeguy101]

Great information man. This should be a sticky.

thanks!

After watching the video again it doesn't look like there is as much of a gap as I thought there was. The gap I am talking about though it the one that forms between bottom of the lid and the top of the side as you slide the lid on...

ah I see what you are saying and yes that is possible but I have yet to see a perfect snake box. If I was really worried about it, I could use a pair of hooks to set the lid straight on top but I have not had a problem with what you are describing yet.

Thanks for the videos. In class so Watching without volume but everything seems up to par

thanks. when you get around to it, you should watch them with the volume so you can actually learn something since you are not paying attention in class. haha, just kidding man. thanks.

I have to say awesome video I can't wait to see more. I know it was said before but you are very informative and well spoken, I like that :] I just have a few random questions, I figure this one is yes, but do you keep anti-venom at your house? Or 911 on speed dial? I know you have some exotics and local hospitals probably don't carry the anti venom.... I know they have an anti venom bank in Miami, can you order it?

And two, I've heard its really hard to get an insurance company to insure you with hobbies like that.

Thank you for the compliments but no I do not keep any antivenin on stock for a few reasons:
1) I would need a medical prescription for each type of antivenin I get
2) Most hospitals will not administer a medicine that you give them (because if soething is wrong with it I could sue them)
3) it costs up to $6000 per vial and I would need anywhere from 5 to (in rare cases) 50 vials of it
4) it expires in a mater of months so I would have to replace it once or twice a year which means that at the price it goes for, I would be paying up to $360,000 per year per type of AV that I need and I need 4 different types of antivenin for the species that I keep. (assuming I bought 30 vials which is not uncommon to be used for a single bite)

Unfortunately, I am not made of money but I do have Miami Venom1 on speed dial and I have checked with them to make sure they carry the type of AV that I need. I have also talked with a local hospital and discussed which doctor would be treating me (one with snakebite experience) and I have given them my bite protocols and also made sure that they know where to get the AV from. Hopefully, all that will be for nothing and I will not get bit but if I do, I am ready.

as far as insurance goes, I asked if they covered snake bites, they said yes. I left it at that. What they don't know won't hurt them.

 

[animalshack]

i found the best way to handle my hots...is to not! haha
you have a chill canebreak, mine is impossible to hook. she flies right off and strikes at me.
my gaboon is way better on a hook.