Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi:

I am a long ways off from getting any hots. In the mean time I am reading as much as I can. I have read that copperheads are a good beginner one to get.

The other snake that has my fancy is the pigmy rattler.

Between the two, which one makes for a better beginner Hot? I have read that copperheads venom is more painful than fatal. How is the pigmy rattler's venom? Can someone compare the two?

Thank you. And pardon the begginner level type of question.

Neither snake is highly likely to kill you, although there have been a few recorded fatalities from the copperheads. I do not know of any from the pygmies, although I have seen some that were large enough to give a child or any person small of stature a really rough go of it. As far as maintaining them, young pygmies can be in some instances a bit difficult to get started. This can be true of young copperheads as well, but probably not as frequently. In either case, starting with a captive born animal will give you a much better chance, plus it will keep you from removing one from the wild gene pool.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

As someone who has been hit by a Canebrake rattler and knowing a few folks who have been hit by Copperheads, I can tell you for certain that Copperheads are definitely my preference for being bitten ) Still, you need to understand that Copperhead bites aren't anything to laugh at. You can still wind up missing a finger from gangrene, or have reduced mobility in a finger joint, and you won't be running any marathons for a few days after a CH bite. In other words ... take them seriously as a venomous animal.

However, as a first hot snake, I think a CopperHead is the obvious choice. It has been my experience that even wild-caught specimens will calm down considerably and I've NEVER known one to have the kind of temper you see in Eastern Cottonmouths. Also, they can be a strikingly attractice snake, as well. I know guy locally who owns five or six of them and he has a couple that are downright gorgeous little things. Beautiful creamy white ground colors with pinkish hue and strong bronze bands.

For a first hot snake, go with a Copperhead. They are easier to care for than pygmy rattlers, much prettier than most pygmy rattlers IMHO, and won't completely light you up if you get careless and get popped.

Minh