Need advice on Trans Pecos Copperhead baby

[sacredcreatures]

Hi all, Well my husband did it and now I am not sure about this. He got a Trans Pecos Cooperhead baby from my brother. Now I have never dealt with anything venomous except trantula's we have 6 of them. But I do not touch them but I do feed and give them their cap of water ect. So now its like the ABC's of what can I do and how do I do it stuff all over again. I have Ball Pythons, a Boa and a snow King baby. All we have done so far with the copperhead is put the snake in a tank with a hide and water bowl. I gave it a pinky by putting it in his tang right by the hide box opening using tongs, he bit it and waiting until it died and then took it inside.I am used to Balls and how they kill their food, so this was different. Now My brother says its a male but my husband wants to get it sexed because he doesn't believe my brother. He says he'll hold him while I probe him BUT I am freaking out because I just won't do it! I am to scared right now I do know about the tubes but not sure how they are used ect. I had a terrible dream last night that lasted forever it seemed of me getting bit several times by thisn snake and how the posion affected me, and it was like a Movie, The ambulance came I went to the hospital ect. So to me its a vision. I have true visions and they always come true so honestly I do not want to deal with this snake. Please help me out here, tell me what you all do with your Hot snakes, from feeding, cleaning, handling(if you even do that) and sexing. My husband drives truck so I am the one who deals with all the reptiles invertabrates and animals. Keep in mine I am deathly afraid of spiders still but mainly small ones I was bit by a Recluse in 88 so they really give me the creeps but I am dealing with the trantulas so-so. I like them as long as they are in their cage. We are working on handling them soon. Thanks for any help. I don't mean to sound like I am total chicken because I deal with wild animals daily but hot snakes are kinda scarey to me right now. Deb

 

[Gregg M]

Hi all, Well my husband did it and now I am not sure about this. He got a Trans Pecos Cooperhead baby from my brother. Now I have never dealt with anything venomous except trantula's we have 6 of them. But I do not touch them but I do feed and give them their cap of water ect. So now its like the ABC's of what can I do and how do I do it stuff all over again. I have Ball Pythons, a Boa and a snow King baby. All we have done so far with the copperhead is put the snake in a tank with a hide and water bowl. I gave it a pinky by putting it in his tang right by the hide box opening using tongs, he bit it and waiting until it died and then took it inside.I am used to Balls and how they kill their food, so this was different. Now My brother says its a male but my husband wants to get it sexed because he doesn't believe my brother. He says he'll hold him while I probe him BUT I am freaking out because I just won't do it! I am to scared right now I do know about the tubes but not sure how they are used ect. I had a terrible dream last night that lasted forever it seemed of me getting bit several times by thisn snake and how the posion affected me, and it was like a Movie, The ambulance came I went to the hospital ect. So to me its a vision. I have true visions and they always come true so honestly I do not want to deal with this snake. Please help me out here, tell me what you all do with your Hot snakes, from feeding, cleaning, handling(if you even do that) and sexing. My husband drives truck so I am the one who deals with all the reptiles invertabrates and animals. Keep in mine I am deathly afraid of spiders still but mainly small ones I was bit by a Recluse in 88 so they really give me the creeps but I am dealing with the trantulas so-so. I like them as long as they are in their cage. We are working on handling them soon. Thanks for any help. I don't mean to sound like I am total chicken because I deal with wild animals daily but hot snakes are kinda scarey to me right now. Deb

First off I just want to tell you that you are not "chicken" for not wanting to deal with the snake... Venomous snakes are serious buisiness, (even supposed "sub-lethal" copperheads) and are not for everyone... Infact, they are NOT for the majority of herp keepers.... And copperheads have caused fatalities...

Soecond, it is a bad idea to get into the venomous hobby without proper experience/trainning... Even a few hours spent with an experience hot keeper is better than just getting a hot... If you or anyone are bitten, there is a risk of loosing a finger or even death in rare cases, so you do not want to make a mistake... The "ABCs" should have been learned long before you entertained the idea of living with and caring for a potentially deadly animal...

As far as probing goes, it is not recommended on viperids plus a copperheads
sex can be determined by looking at them in most cases by a trained eye...
If you are not comfortable with handling a snake like this, there is no reason you should...

Now, hooks, tongs, slide or trap boxes, clear tubes, and clear shields are a few tools you absoulely have to have when you keep hots...

You also need good, secure housing... All-Glass-Aquariums with screen lids ,just dont cut it...

There is not much that can be taught over the internet... Sounds like you guys are doing this on the fly... Just stay safe and use common sence... Not everone has it and it is something you cant learn so for your sake I hope you are one of the ones who was given the gift of common sence...

Good luck...:main_thumbsup:

 

[sacredcreatures]

Thanks Gregg M for the info and I just want to say I am level headed thats why I am scared to deal with it. OK so let tell you that Matt Miller is a good friend of mine from long ago and he lives very close so I will be speaking to him if my hubby decided its staying. I also I know a few others that keep hot snakes one of them was at the show with me so of course we get together quite often. That is who told me about the tubesand stuff. But he is 2 yrs new to them but has copperheads from here. I would be much happier getting rid of this snake so I do not have to worry about it. So one question about Housing- incase I can't talk my husband to get rid of it. What kind of Housing is safe. He is in a tank with a screen top with the clips that hold them down very tight but I also have duck taped the sides for now just in case. I really appreciate your post because I know when I am able to take care of potentiously mean wild ANIMALS. I deal with wolves, coyotes, foxes, bob cats, Mountain Lions, skunks, raccons, squrriels ect currently I am raising a squirrel, some fox kits, and Bob cat that was shot and in recover. So I deal with danger often but HOT snakes to me are different. Anyways maybe after speaking with Matt I will feel alittle better and give it a chance. But I promise you I will not jump into this if the snake stays. We will see and I will let you all know how he goes. Deb
PS: My husband has caught ratterlers in California where we are from so he understands to be careful but again He is pretty green on this so I do not even trust him.

 

[Zbiz]

I'm sorry to be honest I would not have an animal in my house who im deafly scared of. Especially if you are having visions about it.