I do not believe in starter snakes. I believe that if you are interested in the keeping of any manner of animal, the responsible thing to do is to learn as much as it is possible to know about the husbandry and behavior of the animal before acquiring one. In the case of venomous snake keeping, there is an additional burden associated with the prospect of the keeping. There is an element of danger to yourself and others that much be minimized as much as possible through learning additional handling skills, and caging design and application that is not required of keepers of less potentially dangerous animals.



While I would not go on record as suggesting that you get a mamba, gaboon viper or other very potentially lethal snake, what I would recommend is that you ask yourself a few soul searching questions:

1) Why do you want to get the animal?

2) What species is it that you really have a passion to keep?



If you are interested in the animals to impress your friends, then I would suggest getting in touch with one of the venomoid sellers...



If you answered that you have a desire to work with some of the most interesting reptiles on the face of the planet, then keep reading....



Pick a species that you desire to keep. Read everything you can about that species and related species to get an idea of what it takes in order to keep them healthy and thriving. Build or buy secure caging. If you build or buy shift caging then your exposure to the animal is minimized and the potential to be bitten is as well... Find someone whom you respect, who also keeps the species you desire, and get them to show you how to use the venomous snake handling tools that will be your hands while interacting with the animal. Practice with hooks, tongs and hemostats until they become extensions of your own body.



When your mento feels your ready, seek out the animals you have worked so hard to get and buy them from a reputable breeder. Captive bred animals are the ONLY way to go when starting out. They will not come as cheaply as imports or native wild caught animals, but they will also not come with the parasites and difficulties that you'll run into with wild caught stock. Nothing is more disheartening than to have your hard worked for "first" venomous starve itself to death because it was stressed out by the capture and sunsequent treatment at some holding facility....



Here are some suggestions I would have for you if you haven't quite made up your mind. If you like elapid-like snakes... consider a False Water Cobra. They're rear-fanged, mildly venomous, and they're widely available from folks like The Great Valley Serpentarium.... who it also just so happens breeds my second choice... Mangrove snakes.... Both of these species are reqarding to work with and they are hardy captives.



For something slightly more viperine... One of the five odd Agkistrodon contortrix (your copperhead) ssp... I like Southern Copperheads a lot... they're neat little snakes that have a lot of personality. I also happen to like Cottonmouths. As far as I can tell, the Cottonmouth is the most overlooked venomous snake in the US.... they are generally tractible animals that rarely refuse a meal, and captive bred animals are stunning when compared to their wild caught, mud stained, counterparts. Best of all, you can usually get a captive bred baby copperhead or cottonmouth for five or ten dollars if you ask around.



My next suggestions, moving up to rattlesnakes would be Dusky pygmy rattlers... I'd opt for a well started captive bred baby... or maybe a Western Massasauga... I have a pair myself, and they're neat little rattlesnakes. I also like Great Basin Rattlesnakes (Crotalus lutosus), and Prairie rattlesnakes (C. viridis).... both are easy to look after, with cagine requirements bordering on the miniature, and they are "real" rattlesnakes in every sense of the word....



I would stay away from exotics until you get antivenom sotres of your own. I would also recommend reading and learning everything you can about bite management. In the event you are bitten, you will need to be able to make good decisions about your own treatment.....



Last but not least.... develop a network of people from whom you can learn the right ways to do things. Associate with people who you can trust and who you are comfortable with... because they're the kind of people you would like to be, not because they have cool snakes.



Best of luck in whatever it is that you choose to do. If you live anywhere me in Central Virginia, I'll be happy to do anything I can to get you started safely....



Tom Townsend
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

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