Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a pretty good sized collection of snakes now, and I moved out of my apartment into a house and want to expand some more. I was thinking about getting a starter venomous snake.

Now this may be a dumb questions but is there any good starter snakes for this? aka if I happen to get bitten I won't die.

I see people with King Cobras and stuff that they hold and its just crazy. I don't want to handle it, but in case something happens I don't want to have something that will kill me.

Any input is a , please no flames

Thanks

Tim

The short answer is no, there isn't a really good starter venomous snake. I don't think so anyways. Some may disagree with me. Even the copperhead, which most usually suggest as a good "starter" hot, can have devastating effects; i.e. missing digits. The best advice I can think of for anyone getting into venomous is to find a responsible mentor near you; whether they actually train you with hands on or just show you. That would be the best bet. If nothing like that is available, maybe try a rear-fanged snake, such as a mangrove. I have seen pictures of a particularly nasty looking bite from one, but overall, it won't kill; barring the possibility of an allergic reaction of course. Their attitude might aid in getting you more prepared for some more serious snakes. Again, the mentor route is the best, and most responsible way to go. That's my take on it anyways. -Jamie

Yea, nobody messes with snakes where I am at, I live in a small town and I most likely have the biggest collection. I was thinking of getting a timber rattle snake or something, but I am kind of scared starting off with something that would kill me if bitten.

I was not really interested in venomous snakes until I saw some tame King cobras and such and it sparked my attention

No offense, but if you are worried about dying from a venomous snake bite then you should probably avoid keeping a venomous snake.

You don't want to get bit by anything venemous, period. If your serious, buy a couple of good hooks- 24" and 30", remove snake from cage and putt into bucket or trash can- whatever is tall enough so they can't get out. Then take care of maintenance; water bowls, remove crap, etc. Then use hook or hooks to pick up snake and put back in cage. Give it something to hide under or in. Never have to get hands near fangs. Get sp/subsp that doesn't get too big, isn't high strung, and is known for being easy to keep. DON'T get one to be cool, or so you can say you have one. Do a ton of research and decide what appeals to you and fits the above criteria.

(I am kind of scared starting off with something that would kill me if bitten.) Words of warning most can kill if given the right situation
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Archie Bottoms

Well for starters, I do not believe cobras, or elapids for that matter, are a good "starter" venomous snakes. I think they are too quick and definately require special training. Not to say that viperids cant be very dangerous, but they are (very generally) not as in- your- face as elapids.
Being envenomated, however seriously, by one of your snakes is a risk that is impossible to ignore, so I understand that you want a snake that is less likely to kill you then say a mamba or a large bitis.
Having said that, I think it wise to chose a snake where antivenin, should you need it, is at least available. So it is my opinion that american pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, moccasins) are a wiser choice for a first hot then say a Gaboon Viper, a popular but largely inappropriate choice (why would any american hospital have antivenin for an old world species on hand?)
In reality, any of the snakes I mentioned can kill you just as dead as a king cobra or black mamba, and keeping hots is a gargantuan responsibilty, not just for you but those around you. Its great that you have some experience in keeping serpentines, but it is not that easy in my opinion. To understand the full gravity of these amazing animals, you need to find a mentor.

good luck,
Joe

Copperheads and pygmy rattlesnakes are both good choices. Antivenin should be availible and care is easy. My first was an eyelash viper he is pretty easy to care for and beautiful yellow. Good luck. Stay safe. Get locking cages. Get multiple hooks and tongs