Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Before we get started i know handling venomous snakes is very dangerous and should be done very carefully. I know what i was doing and in my view i did not handle the snake wrongly and if you think i did thats your opinion. Now with the pics

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?
action=view¤t=IMG_0907.jpg

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0905.jpg

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0914.jpg

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0915.jpg

Where are you from?

Nice Copperhead BTW!

I feel lots of people are going to judge you by your age...

But i aint bothered, as long as you take care, and not harm the snake.

Be Safe..

Declan

I am from Bixby Oklahoma, and that Copperhead came from a small lake about 15 minuets from my house.

I also don't have a problem with your age, but I do have to say something about this statement (as you say, it's just my opinion).

"I know what i was doing and in my view i did not handle the snake wrongly..."

Yes and no. Your technique looks good and you were keeping your eyes on the snake instead of looking at the camera like some people do, but... That snake is too small to be tailing. You can't react fast enough if it comes back on your hand.

I work with everything from pigmy rattlesnakes to 14 foot king cobras, and I would not have tailed that snake. Too dangerous for me.

It also looks like it was fairly calm and therefore there was probably no reason to tail it in the first place, since you probably could have just used the hook. (That's just an assumption though.) It's not just about knowing WHAT to do, it's also about knowing WHEN certain techniques are not appropriate.

I hope you'll see this as constructive advice and not as putting you down.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

I agree with Larry. The snake was a little too small to safely tail, & there was no real need to do so. Also, in the 3rd pic, the snake was totally unsupported...not good for the snake, regardless of its size.

As long as it's okay with your parents, keep up the good work...and stay safe, Blake.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

I really don't care about the pictures as much as I care that I can't SEE the pictures...
Am I the only one that just see's this?

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?
action=view¤t=IMG_0907.jpg

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0905.jpg

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0914.jpg

http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0915.jpg

I cut and paste these and all I see is the sign in page for Photobucket?

What am I not doing right?

i cant see them either...
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1.1 jungle carpets
1.1 sumatran bloods
1.1 het albino rtb

The links as they appear in the original post work (if I copy them to my address bar). It looks like your browser did some substitution.

Try this:
s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0907.jpg
s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0905.jpg
s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0914.jpg
s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj174/Blakemolone/?action=view¤t=IMG_0915.jpg
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

oh I have you on myspace =)

Cool and whats ur username?

Thanks LarryF. I couldn't bring the pics up either but I figured it was because I can never get what I want from this computer.

Yea, young Blake is entering into the world of hots the old fashion way...by rooting around the woods and finding them himself. That is a dang nice hook he has, so I guess his folks are supporting him in his hobby.

I hope he sticks with this forum because many people here really know what they are doing and can give him solid guidance.

yea my cp pretty much sucks too. nice copperhead
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1.1 jungle carpets
1.1 sumatran bloods
1.1 het albino rtb

Be careful i lost a finger to a much smaller copperhead a year ago and no longer use a hook in the field as a result.GET some grabbers save those hands.I never touch a venomous snake unless it is the only way. I started catching atrox at 11 years old.I took alot of chances over the years no longer. safety first never tail a small pitviper the price can be to high.My son was 12 befor i let him catch copperheads he could of done it at 5 some snake people are born some are made i think you were born to it.
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http://www.simply-sober.com/him.html

http://simply-sober.com/blog1/

Ok thanks for the advice. I will not tail anything thats out of reason like small the medium sized snakes and try not to tail any snake for that matter and i got me a good hook and a good tong so im prepared

In my opinion, you should skip the tongs.

Tongs are for moving water bowls. I can think of 2 legitimate reasons to use tongs on a snake. 1) If you're removing a venomous snake from someones house and can't control it with a hook. 2) You're keeping a mamba or taipan that won't stay on a hook. In either of these situations, just leaving the snake alone may not be an option, so you may have to resort to tongs if hooks don't work.

If you're out collecting or just observing and feel you need to handle the snake, use hooks. If your hooks are long enough you're still safe even if you can't successfully control the snake. If you can't...just leave it alone. Handling the snake just to do it is no reason to risk hurting it with tongs.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

I agree completely Larry. I have a 24" pair of tongs I used to use in Phoenix when removing rattlesnakes but only when they were wedged in somewhere or in someone's house. I think they are in the back of my Jeep somewhere right now, that tells you how much they get used now. lol Although I should bring them in and actually use them for moving water bowls so that they are actually being used.

Blake its great that your taking advice so well, just remember to stay careful and always make sure your parents know where you are out herping.

Ciao
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Anja Buffalo
Crotalus & Company
Venom-Center
Wisconsin Reptiles Site
Pepper Center

I use modified tongs that were designed for trash pic up not much jaw power with foam in the jaws. With these i have collected many lepidus and transpecos copperheads most pictigaster will not be hooked and must be head pinned wich i am trying to avoid all i can (promised my wife)500000 dollar med bill was a factor.Befor last year i only used a hook just trying something new and it works well and is very safe on me and the snake if done right.
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http://www.simply-sober.com/him.html

http://simply-sober.com/blog1/

I got a set of tongs for christmas, is there anyhting i can do to make them safer on the snakes? Ive been very carefully practicing on my snakes at home and can now easily grab a snake while applying almost no force.

some thin rubber foam
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http://www.simply-sober.com/him.html

http://simply-sober.com/blog1/