Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering how toxic the venom of a rhinoceros viper was because they are a very interesting patterned snake and am wondering if i should add one to my collection. Thank you.

Ok now this is getting a little weird. I spent a long time on your Eyelash question and so did another poster and you had no response to it. Now you are asking about a completely different animal that is on another full side of the spectrum of snake care. It is a Bitis...you if dont know by now that pretty much everything with that name is super deadly then if should not be in your collection. How about some insight to your snake keeping history and what you know about the Rhino Viper first. We did the resreach and nobody just handed loads of info to us. I hate to be a jerk but I will write you a whole page and your next post will be what about a red spitter.

I agree with eunectes4. This is not a beginner snake either. It's in a whole different league compared to an Eyelash Viper. Just last year a Firefighter from Ohio received a fatal bite from his Rhino. These monsters like to hold on when they get ya, injecting lots of venom. How would you get it off your hand?

Bitis can, and do strike in every direction you can imagine and also in a few you can't imagine. I don't go into their cage unless I remove them first or put in a cage divider. They need to be kept in professional grade caging and not some aquarium with a screen lid. This is to protect you and anyone else in the house.

What is your snakebite plan? How much Antivenom will you stock?

Anytime someone asks these sort of questions and I see it far too often than I should, I really get frightened. It means they are absolutely should not keep any hot snake because they have not done their homework.

You need to rethink this idea for your own safety and the people around you.

Sorry,

Al

>>I was wondering how toxic the venom of a rhinoceros viper was because they are a very interesting patterned snake and am wondering if i should add one to my collection. Thank you.

The Rhino viper is one of the best looking species of snakes commonly found in the hot herp community(in my eyes at least).

The venom is similar to other bitis species, but has some very unique properties to it unlike the puff adder and gaboons. Basically it has different chemical properties that make it a little more harmful. The "yield" is less than a big gabby though. This means less venom is usually injected.

Basically if you get tagged there is a high chance you will die. My guess is if you can't get the proper antivenin and medical treatment FAST you will be lucky to merely loose an arm!

I am glad you asked your question. Should you add one to your collection, not yet, maybe later. Learning is important and you need to ask to find things out sometimes! I won't jump down your throat like some posters on the board , but I will ask you to keep gaining experience before considering such an animal. A bite not only hurts you, but the hot herp comminity!

FYI antivenin is sometimes hard to come by for the rhino vipers (SAMIR poly - if I am not mixing things up) is used for them.

Best of luck!

-Steve Clark

Thank you very much for your post, Steve. You gave me a lot of new information about the Rhino Viper. I will agree with you that it is the most beautiful hot there is. THANKS AGAIN!!!

As for the rest of you, if you want to jump down my throat, don't waste your time. So what if I am interested in many different snakes. I plan on becoming a herpetologist and devoting my life to reptiles, so I'm not just trying to bum information off all the keepers. I just finished a book about venomous reptiles, and that's what got me so curious and asking these questions. As for those of you like Steve, I would love to hear what you have to say.

Many people have no problem answering posts (I love to do it or I would not be on here) but when you say things like...they look pretty I think I should add that to my collection as well...you should expect a little bit of a critical response to that.

hey i'm just started to learn about venomous snakes and i own a few pigmy rattlesnake. i asked the same question about pigmys And i think this is a great place to ask questions if you need help finding the answer and if some people get mad at you for asking what they think is a stupid question they don't need to respond save the space for someone who wants to help.

The Rhino viper is one of the best looking species of snakes commonly found in the hot herp community(in my eyes at least).

The venom is similar to other bitis species, but has some very unique properties to it unlike the puff adder and gaboons. Basically it has different chemical properties that make it a little more harmful. The "yield" is less than a big gabby though. This means less venom is usually injected. This does not mean it is any less dangerous (it isn't)! It can still kill you, cause necrosis (nasty rotting flesh/tissue condition), etc.

Basically if you get tagged there is a high chance you will die. My guess is if you can't get the proper antivenin and medical treatment FAST you will be lucky to merely loose an arm!

I am glad you asked your question. Should you add one to your collection, not yet, maybe later. Learning is important and you need to ask to find things out sometimes! I won't jump down your throat like some posters on the board , but I will ask you to keep gaining experience before considering such an animal. A bite not only hurts you, but the hot herp comminity!

FYI antivenin is sometimes hard to come by for the rhino vipers (SAMIR poly - if I am not mixing things up) is used for them.

Best of luck!

-Steve Clark

Steve:

I don't classify any of these responses as "Jump down the throat". This person has been asking questions on this and the "elapid" forum that leads a few of us to feel that he should not be working hots at all. Take a look for his "handle" and you'll see what I mean. If the community does not take charge of itself then the State Laws will; ie: bans on keeping venomous animals. New York has on on the Governors desk and Pennsylvania's thinking about it. Breeder/dealers need to consider carefully to whom you sell Hot snakes. Unfortunately, I've seen in person at shows that "Money talks" and "unqualified people walk" away with an animal they should not have been sold.

Al

>>The Rhino viper is one of the best looking species of snakes commonly found in the hot herp community(in my eyes at least).
>>
>>The venom is similar to other bitis species, but has some very unique properties to it unlike the puff adder and gaboons. Basically it has different chemical properties that make it a little more harmful. The "yield" is less than a big gabby though. This means less venom is usually injected. This does not mean it is any less dangerous (it isn't)! It can still kill you, cause necrosis (nasty rotting flesh/tissue condition), etc.
>>
>>Basically if you get tagged there is a high chance you will die. My guess is if you can't get the proper antivenin and medical treatment FAST you will be lucky to merely loose an arm!
>>
>>I am glad you asked your question. Should you add one to your collection, not yet, maybe later. Learning is important and you need to ask to find things out sometimes! I won't jump down your throat like some posters on the board , but I will ask you to keep gaining experience before considering such an animal. A bite not only hurts you, but the hot herp comminity!
>>
>>FYI antivenin is sometimes hard to come by for the rhino vipers (SAMIR poly - if I am not mixing things up) is used for them.
>>
>>Best of luck!
>>
>>-Steve Clark

Al,

I understand where you are comming from, as I just reread my post. I appologize, I did't mean for it to sound like I was saying people did jump on his comments, just that it was likely to happen!

I agree with you on the fact that the laws will prevent the ignorant as well as the knowing from keeping what the choose though...it happens! Our best bet is educate those who don't know better and help them learn the tricks of the trade, the risks, and the rewards before anything else though, right?

I think the poster was interested in learning more about the species listed more than getting one at the moment. Who knows...I never thought I would get to keep what I have now, and not so long ago I was merely a dreamer! Dreaming lead me to learn, learning lead me to desire, and desire lead me to learn more! Eventually I decided I had enough knowledge, knowledge, and resources to get into hots. Some may have trouble knowing when they are ready (if ever), and get into it for the wrong reasons...still I think that asking about an animal and dreaming of the future is pretty innocent! Many respected herpers had to have started out that way!

Take Care,
Steve Clark

The funny thing is that Steve realy has no idea what he is talking about..... Steve, tell me about these properties in the rhinos venom that make it hotter than a gaboon or rhino.....