Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, everyone, I do not own any hot snakes, but I have some questions about them, In an earlier question someone was talking about devenoming their snake, (is that possible)? I don't agree with that, if you want something that is not juiced then get a garter snake but anyways, Second do you handle these snakes ever or are they just a display, I know you do have to sometimes go in and change water and bedding, but do you handle them outside of that. Do you milk them? My fav hot snake is the Gaboon, for those who care. Do you keep anti venom in the house or at the hospital near you incase that situation does happen?

Just curious Thanks

Devenoming is quite possible but controversial. Check out all the 'venomoid' ads on the classifieds.

If there's no reason to handle my two hots I don't. I stare at them a lot, but that's about it. Ok, I talk to them too. The one has a divider so he's never out of his cage, the other is out for maybe two minutes a week. (Makes me wonder how people rack up the 1000 hours for the FL venomous license). I've had my hots for about a year and I think I have maybe 1.5 hours total). The mice are tossed in and removed with hemostats if not eaten. At this point I can change water with hemostats too.

Milking is VERY dangerous and best left to professionals. Professionals with worker's comp . I generally try to keep my hands as far away from the mouthal area as possible .
The antivenom at your house or at the hospital thing also appears to be a controversy. You have to jump through hoops to get the stuff, but if (when?) I get a Gaboon, I'm going to get some. There's a South African polyvalent that covers a nice range of species, so maybe I'll get some sort of cobra just for the heck of it... (ok, kidding)

I have a western diamondback and a desert horned adder.
I need some sleep, I forgot who I was talking to.