Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found this on another forum:

"Well it actually happened of my own stupidity of course.I got in a hurry and was on the last venomous,keep in mind I've been keeping venomous for over 15 years w/out a problem,but Sun was Nimrod day.I didn't see my little juvie canebrake so instead of getting the hook, what I do? Glad you asked,I reached in the cage and flipped over his hidebox when I saw he wasn't there!!!He was in the top lip of the Vision cage and Bam!He tagged me!Just a little swelling and a big hospital bill thank god,but I guess that was a warning to WAKE THE HELL UP YOU DUMMY AND TAKE YOUR TIME!Just thought I'd share the experience.................."

I replied:

I'm glad you are okay and didn't have a very serious bite.

His bad experience is just another RED light! Everyone take note...

I would say many of captive snakebites are from people NOT using the tools of the trade and sticking their hands where the should not go. I know of at least two of these bites that were fatal. I wrote more than one post about Vision's and this should be a reminder about the upper & lower lips of the Vision cages being a hazzard for keepers that keep smaller sized hots in them. This is the second person that I know was tagged this way. I almost fell into the trap once too. (see picture)I block those spaces with extruder foam so the damn things can't hide there or I put a note on the cage to remind ME or someone else that they can hide HERE. Futhermore, If you don't know where it is and can't see it, don't bother to enter the cage, it's just not worth the risk.

Juv. Bothrops asper on the upper lip of a Vision cage. When I did not see him I used a mirror on a extendable rod and saw him. The shot was taken with my camera sitting on the tracks for the sliding glass looking straight up.

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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

I too have come damn close with a suphan. I had a ceramic skull in the cage it was in and when i did my night check i didnt see him, used my hook and tongs to move things and did not see him. I freaked...i mean there is no way he couldve gotten out. So then i picked up the skull and heard a hiss.......i looked at the skull in my hand and saw his tongue flickering out of a hole he was hiding in. I'm very lucky to have gotten away with nothing from such a stupid mistake. It goes to show you tho that it can happen to anybody.

I agree, nobody is immune from mistakes like these. These bites or close calls are all preventable, Think and live!

Al
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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

Another one to be careful about that I've done once and seen someone else do once (luckily we both got away with it):

If you have more than one snake in a cage with a hide, don't trust your count after removing the snakes! Look carefully in the hide before grabbing it and if you can't see, use a flashlight or lift it with a hook...

Forgive me for not remembering his name, but there was a show i was watching where a very famous herpetologist was doing a special on cobras, and this man ended up being bitten by a krait and dying, and he dealt with snakes everyday for how many years.

I'm pretty sure you're referring to Joe Slowinski. May he rest in peace.
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Venomous snakes---best hobby on earth!
Bill Huseth

Yes that was his name, thanks for the reminder, and its sad to see someone lost who did a lot for the herpetology field. He will be missed.

That's the fate of many in the field, in harms way so often it will happen. As the show said, he died doing what he loved.
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

Yes, it's Joe...

IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH SLOWINSKI

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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

Foam or a mirror on a rod, those are great ideas! Day three of having vision cages (with pine snakes) I thought I lost one, I had already noticed the bottom lip which was empty but didn't realize they could also hide on the top lip. Boy did ever jump when I felt him, and the hissing didn't help calm my nerve either.
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

They ARE "ambush hunters."
I specifically don't like vision's cages because of "the lip".
I still feel the best commercial design was the old Neodeshas.
Too bad they went under - twice!
Karl

The old neo's are my favorite's also. You really have a good view, they are light, easy to clean, and were very inexpensive.
The vision's look nice, but I got a surprise on more than one occasion, especially with the tree vipers.

Can you suggest a better cage to look into than the Vision for keeping small hots? I am looking into getting my first hot snake. It will be another two to three months before I do as I want to make sure I have all the information I need, the stup complete and as safe as I can get it. I am looking at either an eyelash viper or a mussurana to start off with. Any suggestions on housing would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

WIdj