Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
When I finish my volunteer hours (if i ever do...gosh florida is harsh), I want to get a rattlesnake. I've got some experience working with some really aggressive snakes and that has just really affrmed that I want something clamer.

I'm looking for people's general opinion of what a good first rattlesnake would be. I want something that isnt very aggressive (generally wont strike if managed properly) and that is on the less toxic side. Suggestions?

At the rate Im going, im still at least 8 months away from finishing my volunteer hours, but I want to read up as early as possible.

Thanks,
Luis

Try the pacific rattle snake. I live in Los Angeles California and have a snake removal service. Most of the calls I respond to are for the removal of the pacific rattle snake AKA Hellori. Most will only do a short rattle on approach. Once detained they stop rattling and just want to get away.
However I dont recommend handling them since it is a venomous snake. It will fool you. Think everything is cool because its so mellow, one day you wanna free handedly hold it, and then wammo, a bite right in the hand. Bad news.
Well happy hunting: Jason

I would go with something like a ruber or a mitchelli. Although there are exceptions, (rattlesnakes are as individual as people when it comes to personality) both these species usually become very placid after a short time in captivity. They are very easy to hook and manipulate and nothing bothers them much. CB mitchelli are especially great. BPO and I tubed and probed a bunch of our CB newborns last summer and I don't think we hardly had even a tail vibration out of the bunch. They didn't seem bothered at all.

In my experience I would have to say that finding a quality "captive bred" animal should be your first task. If it were me I would say that a young cerberus (AZ Black rattlesnake) or a sidewinder would be a good place to start for few reasons. One, sidewinders don't pack quite the punch that helleri or mitchelli do and they stay very small. They are generally good feeders as babies and actually do well if you provide a few basic requirements. Out in AZ, there are usually lots of babies that need homes in that fall.

Cerbs are also placid animals for the most part (except mine..lol) and if you can find cb babies they should thrive.

I love mitchelli but they can be a major pain sometimes. If you can find a cb baby that feeds well you might be ok. Adults, especially wild caught, usually take a while to settle down and may end up doing a lot of nose rubbing until they do. This is just from my brief experience so take it for what it's worth.

Baby cb tiger rattlesnake are great but they are probably impossilbe to find and they pack a pretty good punch.