Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you consider yourself of elite status in the herpetological world? Not necessarily for the sake on vanity, but in terms of knowledge and devotion.

No keeping HOTS does not make us Elite. While yes it most cases Hot keepers are a little more experienced than many. However Elite will only come with the knowledge and accomplishments you have made.

accomplishments in your breeding
scientific papers written or contributed too
knowledge you have gained and then shared
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Dan S.
Crotalus & Company
Venom-Center
Wisconsin Reptile Community

Sure!
I'm the best of the best
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-- www.nothingtosay.tk --

That question was not in jest, but merely asking the venomous reptile keepers how they view themselves among other herpetologists.

I kept a lot of locally field collected venomous after basically getting to the “been there done that” level of keeping non-vens. I was always wanting to have something else and experience the variety of, lets say, going from a common boa to a spilote to a cribo rather than boa to bigger boa. There are some maintenance chores that come up with venomous that, with a lot of other experience, prepares you and gives you some reference in your history that gives you an edge in how to do it safely and with confidence. So I feel getting into venomous as a natural progression into more advanced keeping is going to make that sort of venomous keeper better prepared, if not outright more advanced than someone who hasn’t spent the hours (years?) working up to it. If you think you are elite you may have a fang burst your bubble.

That's another one that many people may say is semantics that I have an issue with... I see the misuse of herpetologist vs. herpticulturist quite often, but it might just be an opinion thing.

Personally, I think more of the long time, experienced hot keepers are going to be the only one's that will give you a pretty direct answer on that question. And I think it would be a humble, no. Or, they just won't answer at all, because they don't need to.
Most of the purists don't have an elite feeling to keeping or breeding hots. They do it for the love, not that aspect of being better or cooler than any other herpetoculturist. I've seen people do things with rare frogs that would blow your mind. Some would say it's just a frog. But if you're readily breeding a frog that doesn't adapt well in captivity, then to me, that makes a person at the top of their game.
The problem is that there are too many yahoo's out there that are keeping hots just because it gives them an elite feeling. These are the people who usually don't keep snakes for more than 6 months before doing something else that makes them feel or look cooler. Keeping hots isn't about status. It's about safely working with an amazing animal, giving it the best care possible, studying it's behaviours and your experiences with it.

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Do I consider myself elite in the realm of herpetology? It depends on what group you want to compare me to. If you lump in all of the people who have just one snake here or a small gecko collection there, I'd consider myself in the top end of the spectrum. If you want to include just career herpetologists and those that seriously keep and/or study herps I would put myself more in the middle.

Should a hot keeper be in the elite portion? Yes, if you are talking about the former scenario. I see WAY too many people ask way too basic of questions about venomous reptiles that shows that they have no business keeping them (ie: they haven't gotten the basics of reptile husbandry down before adding more difficult and possibly life threatening aspects into the equation).

I agree with TJP. And I don't want to know what mind-blowing things you have seen people do with rare frogs.

Perhaps an elite type condition comes to mind since there are not as many venomous keepers as are non-ven keepers. I think we are certainly a different breed so-to-speak of herpetoculturist, some of the most amazing serpents are of the venomous family. Its kind of hard to stay away from that part of the hobby but many people do, with some just dabbling in it with a few odds and ends. And just when you THINK you know it all.. something will remind you there are still lessons to learn, whether with husbandry or handling. Its not "balls" that get you to handle that 6ft basiliscus its confidence in the knowledge you've obtained over the years. And maybe for a few morons its a 6 pack..lol, unfortunately ! Nope, we're not elite

Well put! I would offer up that we are more "unique" than elite.
I know dozens and dozens of herpers who keep non-venomous but only a handful who keep hots on a regular on-going basis.
BA
P.S. Hey lepidusman. Where are you located? Liked your photo of the Fla. mt. klaubs.

New Mexico

A young [23 yrs old] friend of mine got back from Az. last weekend. He claims he found a lep [klaub]while driving through White Sands National Monument. He has a photo of it but hasn't emailed it to me yet. He managed to "cook" it on the way home. No ac in his truck. Remember I said he was young: ie rookie, green novice etc. Just wondered if this is a known area for Klaubs?? Whats the chance of finding a snake or two in October @ Rockhound Park?? Brad Anderson