Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok all first of all thank you all for your help on my last posts concerning these snakes, i have done my homework, and have all the supplies needed for safe handling and care requirenments on it's way to me, so here are my questions,
1.) i have noticed a few color morphs(?), a colorful x-mas like coloration, and a darker purplish/black coloration, is the coloration due to geographical differences ?, or just breeding genetics?, i personally would like to get the purplish/black ones but i have only been able to find a very few of the x-mas like coloration, does any one breed the type i would like to get and /or does any one know where to direct me to get these?, thankx again for all the help, advise, warnings,and guidence so far, themntl1

First off, all the reading and tools in the world are not going to prepare you for a rhino or any large bitis sp. snake...I would suggest you get some experience working with gabby's and rhinos before running off and getting one, not too long ago a firefighter was killed by one he kept as a "pet". They are very decieving animals, sometimes appearing dead and then launching out in a strike that is nearly invisible to the human eye it's so fast. Basically, there is not a human alive who could dodge a rhino or gabby's bite if in strike range. Also, are you prepared to be hands on with this snake? What if it gets sick? Do you have a vet who will see a venomous snake? Most vets won't get near them. Are you willing or experienced enough to administer antibiotics or other medications to a cranky viper that wouldn't think twice about pumping your veins full of it's deadly venom because it's tired of you playing with it? In my honest opinion, any large bitis sp. is a HORRIBLE choice for a first hot. I'm assuming this is your first hot because you mentioned getting all the tools etc, and if you had other hots, you would already have these (i hope!). Also, due to their lethargic nature, rhinos (and gaboons and puffs) can cause an inexperienced keeper to get very complacent with the snake, taking chances that one should not be taking. It takes a fraction of a second before your life may either change dramatically or end altogether, and a rhino can be a very good canidate to make this happen. Think about either keeping a rear-fang or a non-deadly frontfanged (a copperhead is always a good first-hot in my opinion) before you wander into rhino country....