Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys

I'm usually over on the Boa forum from time to time, but recently have become slightly intrigued with the idea of getting into venomous.

Before I get outed as another idiot looking for a cool pet, let me start with this: I know I need experience keeping snakes and working with venomous to even have an idea of what it really takes to deal with them. SO, what I'm looking for from those of you with experience, how did you start?

I've kept a bunch of snakes of my own and feel comfortable working with snakes up to around 8 or 10 feet (experience: redtail boas). Escapes are no longer a concern as I ditched the aquarium setup in favor of a system easier to latch and keep secure. My only concern is branching out from the familiar; leaving that security blanket behind can be tough knowing the new snake can hurt ya if you're stupid.

So, in short, how did you guys start and what did you start with? I'd like to keep a copperhead or two, I think they're gorgeous. Combined with the fact that fatalities are highly unlikely, I think I would feel safest getting used to one of them first whenever(!!) the time comes to make a purchase.

Thoughts?

Thanks
NG

You may want to read the article I wrote concerning this very subject. It is located at the link below.

Clif
Venomous Training

get proper safty equipment . i lost a finger to a copperhead in june of this year.do not be mistaken there bite is very dangerous a police officer in texas lost his life to one the same day . the first person killed in 20 years in texas from copper head. be safe.

"do not be mistaken there bite is very dangerous"

Archie, thanks for posting that! I think there is a popular misconception that even though it has "mild" venom, it isn't dangerous, when in fact, it CAN take a digit, or worse.
Sorry to hear about your finger, and the officer that lost his life. Hopefully, this can be a learning experience to new hotkeepers and experienced ones that take them for granted.

Okay guys, thanks. That was a good article too, Clff.

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubts of the effects of venom regardless of its potency. I was curious as to how some of you started with your hobby--shadowing zookeepers, fellow hot herpers, lessons with a reptile club, etc. I was sure I'd have to look into it but will now be doing so a little more diligently. Thanks again

NG

I learned from a friend who kept venomous.
My first was a northern pacific rattlesnake.

"shadowing zookeepers, fellow hot herpers, lessons with a reptile club, etc."

All the above. You can't go wrong, unless you are learning from someone without experience or common sense. Having a mentor is the best way to go, as well as learning from other experienced keepers. To answer the initial question, besides a mentor's snake, a copperhead makes a great starter, or even a great non-starter snake. They are easily found as captive bred, very hardy, and make easy captives, although newborns can be a bit reluctant to start feeding. Not to mention, they are beautiful snakes.

I cut my teeth on atrox. Tho my first hot was a scutalatus .I was 12 years old. at 15 it was my first bite. .THE ONLY SNAKE KEEPERS I KNEW WERE GAS HUNTERS A SIC LOT THEY ARE.So i read books and did what i could . No one took me serous but my parents until they saw my collection at 13. TRAINING LARGLY COMES FROM EXPERIENCE YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.When i started the information was not out there.Now it is. Copperheads are a good snake to start with i recamend pictagaster it is now and always will be my number one favorite snake. It is the first snake i ever bred.I do want to say my last bite did cost nearly 1oo,ooo dollors so insurance is a must i wish you good luck and am always ready to help a new comer to hots THANKS

"first bite" ... "last bite" ...

How many times have you been hit?

its embarssing to say but over my 30 years iv been tagged by atrox,viridis, cantinatus,scutilatus,pictagaster,and a nasty atrox,viridis hybred some of these more than once.when i was young i took to many chances at the time i was a commercial collector. the most recent was 10 years from the one before 1996 it was the hybred.needless to say i will always keep hots .im sure i will also be judged now by some.tho i might say i do not care about that.good day

Well, on the bright side...

You've obviously been blessed with the opportunity to work with lots of great snakes. Obviously, it has all been worth it or you wouldn't still be working with hots.

Some might think badly, I for one admire your determination to keep working with these marvelous but dangerous animals.

Personally, I'd have been scared off after the first bite.

Gad! Snakebite also causes one to lose the ability to use capital letters!!!