Venomous Snakes

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  1. alright guys,i think if you feel you will for sure get bit one day thats a little out there.Not saying it dosnt happen but its not a garantee because i would be calling you guys for the next loto numbers if that were the case.Doing it right is the key and thats not keeping them in a glass tank with a screen top and some small crap hook to play with.Ppl use long grabing tools and very specialized caging with feed shoots and easy cleaning acsess.They make long bite proof gloves and such for the handeling even while using the grabbers and your caging is normaly in a room where if it got dropped and tried to bail it would have noplace to go.Locks all the time.
  2. They are great animals that can do damage and i would crap my pants if i found out just anyone could keep them now.However i truely beleive and have seen it done very safely.
  3. You ALWAYS have the showoffs that do something dumb like here i have its head pinned so you can touch its body and crap like that.Its the guys who are unprotected and not expecting the unexpected that get it.I surf in sharky waters along with other things that could cut my life and i dont feel like i have a secret death wish.I do take chances at times but it realy needs to feel worth it.
  4. I do not own any hot herps but if you got gilas,lockem up cuz im comming over.We got rattlers everyplace here,my girl and i stepped right over a huge m green a while back and it didnt rattle until after the fact.We could have been toast but in a set up,at least you know where the dang thing is.Next one i find im catching and sending to DAVO!This is a touchy subject plain and simple so everyone remember that,and dont start in on eachother too bad.:)
 
LOL I'd use some egg crate too to cover my ankles. I'm only really a fan of the more miniature rattlers tbh with you though, no large diamondbacks please! :D
 
Well, I don't repeat anything else others have said, but for anyone remotely interested in getting into hots, I suggest listening to these two segments of ReptileRadio:

Ray Hunter (Cobraman): http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptileradio/2008/01/27/VENOMOUS-hour-with-DR-HUNTER-COBRAMAN-

B.W. Smith: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptileradio/2008/03/16/FONT-FACEarial-SIZE1-COLORFF0000bKara-Glasgow-NERD

You can listen to them either right there via internet, or download them for free and listen to them anytime you want. Very useful and insightful info about keeping hots.
 
Vicious_Fish;1668982; said:
Well put Simon. It's really amazing the stuff you can buy. I was at reptile show over the weekend that had loads of hot herps. I was amazed at the number of different species. Off the top of my head I can remember seeing Gila and Beaded lizards, various rattler species, copperheads, many species of pit vipers, Boomslangs, Green Mambas, Gaboon x Rhino crosses, Tiapans, and various cobra species. The two that blew my mind were the captive bred King Cobras for sale and a freakin' adult Black Mamba!

When keeping venomous species I like to think that it's not if you get bit, but when. I talked to some lady selling Western Diamondbacks and she said that the antivenom they get is only good for a month and it's expensive as hell to get.
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Wow , someone authere has been able to bred king cobras?!:popcorn::ROFL::drool:. How Carlito would say"now that´s cool":naughty:
 
If you want to get into keeping hot reptiles go to the reptile shows that sell venomous. talk to the breeders, do the research. A great source of information is a guy on youtube. go there and type in viper keeper. this guy is a university professor and has a massive collection of all hot snakes. he discusses at length how to safely keep these animals. He handles them on camera. Also a good way to learn the ropes is to get tight with a breeder, or dealer who knows what he/she is talking about. ask if you can go to their house and watch them handle their snakes, and see if you can work with their snakes. However you do it don't just jump into it blindly, and do it for the right reasons. Most importantly, stay away from mambas, cobras, any elipids.
 
kif;1699391; said:
If you want to get into keeping hot reptiles go to the reptile shows that sell venomous. talk to the breeders, do the research. A great source of information is a guy on youtube. go there and type in viper keeper. this guy is a university professor and has a massive collection of all hot snakes. he discusses at length how to safely keep these animals. He handles them on camera. Also a good way to learn the ropes is to get tight with a breeder, or dealer who knows what he/she is talking about. ask if you can go to their house and watch them handle their snakes, and see if you can work with their snakes. However you do it don't just jump into it blindly, and do it for the right reasons. Most importantly, stay away from mambas, cobras, any elipids.
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Why stay from the Elapids? They are just as dangerous as any viper or the most dangerous rear fangs species:confused:
 
Well, venom and level of toxicity aside, many vipers are a lot more laidback in their demeanor than most elapids. So if you're competent and responsible, its easy to keep from getting bit. The only trouble is possibly becoming complacent, because thats when bites occur. That Gaboon viper that has remained relatively motionless for months, can explode into action in that one second you let your guard down. And a gabbie bite is no joke either.

Will Bird suggests two main criteria for deciding on a beginner hot: lethality and locality. You want to get something that more than likely won't kill you and something that is common in your area that hospitals will likely stock antivenin for regularly. More most of us living in the U.S., copperheads fit this bill nicely. If you were living in South Africa or something, then a copperhead may not be the best choice, know what I mean?
 
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