Lots of mixed information on Hot Herps

[skyline]

Okay where to start umm I have decided that in the next few years i would like to begin caring for venomous snakes. I plan on doing as much reaserch as possible within the next four years to ensure optimum saftey. I know it is imposible to never get bitten but i want to have as much knowlage before i start caring for hot herps. Right now I am caring for a western Hognose, and I plan on working with rear fanged snakes for a few years before moving on to a true hot snake. I have cared for reptiles my entire life i have captured and cared for numerous snakes, lizards, and geckos but have never cared for a true venomous snake. I am 17 right now and I am not sure how many years experince i should have with reptiles before purchasing a hot snake. I know there is no such think a s a beginer hot snake, all venomous snakes are dangerous. From the reaserch i have done i have found that the best snakes for an ameture hot snake keeper are, Copperhead, Pigmy rattlesnake, cottonmouth. I have also herd a couple times that despite the gaboon viper having one of the most painful bites of any snake along with 3inch fangs and a redicously fast strike that is is somewhat a good starter hot snake because of its docile nature. I have done much reaserch on the Gaboon viper and i know what it is capiable of, I have herd a few times that is is a good starter hot snake. I didnt know what to think of that though. I was wondering what all of you thought what the best snake for me would be any and all input is apreciated.

sorry for any misspelling i am at school right now and the bell is about to ring

thanks in advance Tyler.

 

[Srt14292]

Gaboon vipers interest me, May i suggest starting with a false water cobra, as this will ease the transition into hot snakes, also be prepared you have to get a DWA licence for each truely hot snake you own, copperheads, ask one member on here, i forget his name but the bite was NASTY, hes mate mistook it for a kingsnake.

As for the reasearch there is only so much you can do, and i would doubt they will give you a permit unless your like 21 or 25. Other then that i like the cottonmouths, but the rattlesnake will give you a decent warning, Do not i repeat do not get an inland taipan! lol!

 

[T-ReXx]

I used to work with hots at a pretty young age. Back then it was fairly easy to get a license and I was licensed for Monacled Cobras, Northern Copperheads, Lebantine Vipers, Western Gaboons, Eastern Diamondbacks and Eyelash. I no longer keep hots, basically I realized there was no point in keeping something that could quite easily kill me when there are so many harmless species to work with. But, I will give you some advice based on what I learned over the years. Keep in mind that I never got tagged, I always practiced a complete hands off approach with hots and it's generally a good idea, using tongs, catch boxes, restraint tubes, etc is just the best way to go about it. Anyways, heres some tips:

Before you get anything venomous(rear fangs included) I highly recommend spending at least a year or so working with super aggressive non-venomous species. This includes Amazon Tree Boas, various ratsnakes, watersnakes, racers, and some pythons. Treat these animals as you would a hot species. This will get you into the habits necessary for handling hots, and if you do make a mistake and get tagged you wont end up in the hospital and you will be able to review your husbandry practices and figure out what you did wrong and why you were bitten. This way, once you do start keeping a hot, you won't be tempted to lax your protocols because they will already be ingrained.

Check into ALL laws very thoroughly. This means Federal, state, city, town, etc. You may need multiple licenses. Be prepared to explain fully why you feel it necessary to keep a venomous species. Captive breeding and venom research are top of this list, keeping a venomous species just for the sake of having it isn't a good enough reason to do so.

Do your research. I know you plan on doing it, but really, you need to know EVERYTHING about a hot species before you keep it. A lot of it has to do with experience too, so contact other hot keepers with experience and pick their brains. Oftentimes you will learn things that arent necessarily in the books.

Start with a single, easily handled species and keep that for at least a year before expanding. As far as good beginner species go, I agree that Copperheads(Northerns in particular) are a good starter hot, they're mildy venomous for the most part(unless you're allergic) and are about a medium on the aggressive scale. West African Gaboons are particularly docile for venomous snakes but if they tag you you are in BIG trouble. I consider them a good secondary species, once you have some experience with Copperheads, aggro rearfangs(like Mangroves) or yes some pygmy rattlers. Needless to say, avoud Elapids(cobras, mambas, etc) and many other vipers(sawscales, larger rattlers, etc) until you have several years experience with easier kept species. Palm Vipers(Waglers) I consider to be not too bad of a starter species as well, but they can be tricky to handle due to their arboreal nature.

Contact the closest local hospital and let them know you are keeping venomous snakes. This will save time in the case that you are bitten, and that can save your life. Especially if you keep a species that they dont necessarily stock antivenin for.

Do a careful inventory of your life before you take the plunge. Are you living in an area where keeping hots is safe not only for you but for your neighbors? What life changes do you expect in the next few years? Can you handle potentially huge hospital bills? Why do you really want to keep a venomous animal? There are lots of things you need to consider before getting into venomous snakes.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but keeping a venomous snake is a lot like keeping a loaded gun in your house; accidents can happen easily and there is little room for error. If you do take the plunge, I wish you luck. They are fascinating animals and there is something about them that is irresistable to many. Just make sure you are fully prepared.

 

[Gregg M]

There are no set amount of years you need to keep reptiles in order to be able to keep venomous... Basically if you are unsure if you can care for a venomous species, you are most likely not ready to do so...

There are no good beginner hots... And keeping less toxic or docile animals will not prep you to keep a more serious snake...

You would not get into rearfang hots if you want to keep a cobra... And you would not start keeping copperheads if you really want to keep gaboon vipers...

What you want to start keeping is a neonate or small juvinile example of the species you want to keep...

Some things you need to consider before you start keeping venomous...

Do you have a mentor??? Nothing is better than learning from someone who is experienced...

Can you provide the proper safe housing???

If a snake were to escape its cage, is the room it is in escape proof??? Do you live with people??? If so do they know what to do if there was an escape or accident??? Are the old enough to know not to touch your venomous snakes???

Do you know anything about treating injuries or illnesses without seeing a vet??? If not, do you have a vet that is willing to see venomous reptiles???

Can you get your own AV supply??? Does your local hospital stock native AV??? Are the Doctors trained to treat native and exotic snake bites??? If not, how and where will you get treatment??? It is next to impossible to get exotic AV for personal use... Can you do a year of paperwork to get it in??? You also need to keep in mind that many hospitals will not administer a drug you provide so special provisions may need to be made with your local hospital...

Why do you want to keep a venomous snake... One minor slip up could very well be your last... These snakes are serious and even the least venomous species can kill you...