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What would be the best venomous snake to get if you wanted to start keeping venomous snakes?

>>What would be the best venomous snake to get if you wanted to start keeping venomous snakes?
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-Falconer44
Apprentice Falconry
email me
GO ARMY!!

Hey,
I don't keep venomous. But I have done some reading up on it. I don't mean to sound like a "know it all" and im not trying to lecture you. But keeping venomous from what I have read and been told, and the little I have worked with venomous in the wild, you really need to think it over VERY carefuly. We are talking not about a corn snake, but a venomous animal, a animal that can end your life and the life of other around you if you let one tinny mistake happon. It should be treated like moulten iron, you never shound tuch it, even with a snake hook. And if you have to, be extreamly care full, use long hooks even with the lest venomous and taimest. Dont even think about opening the cage with outhers around, not only does it distract you, it can work the temperment of the snake up. Also 90% of people who keep them seem to have a room out side of there house maid just for venomous, if a copperhead gets lose in your house you have to tare it to pieces to find it, and not live in it till you do. Last but not least, years of experence with nonvenomous snakes is the most importent thing. But like I sead, I never kept venomous, I have done alot of research, talk to alot of people and have had the alsome pleasure of working with 7 copperheads all ready this year in the wild. I hope to keep them some day, but I am only 15, and after I get out of collage I might look at the Aisen vine snakes, (rear fanged, not very venomous) But the people I talked to all ways told to start out with a copperhead, and if you do get a hot, I would start out with one. But like I sead, think, think, and think, do you want a animal that could kill you, just one tinny mistake, and your on your way to the hospital in extream pain. And dont think that that your to good to get bit, Jim Harrson of the kentucky reptile zoo has leagly died 2 or 3 times all ready from venomous bites. Well sorry for the lecture, just trying to help.
Philip

I would say start out with a copperhead. They are probably the "safest" venemous snake to start out with for lack of a better term. The normal venom yield is 40-70 mg for an adult, and the lethal dose is around 100mg. Thats hoping that you dont have an allergic reaction to the venom. Also, antivenin is not usually needed with copperheads. You should ask yourself however why do you want to keep a hot snake, and make sure it is something you want to do. I currently have a few hots, including a copperhead.

Kris

Thank you to all for the advise. Hey Phil, pretty good lecture!