Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female recently shed and she looks amazing. So here they are together.

beautiful pair, is it hard to get them out and take pictures like that? do they ever strike at you? what motivated you to get into gaboons originally?

they are one of my favorite snakes, i think they are incredible, but i could never keep them, i know my limits, and i am just not experienced enough to handle something like that.

Thank you, it's really not difficult to take pictures of them. I just use the zoom on my camera and keep my distance haha. They never really strike at me except for the first day I got them they were pretty stressed from the move I guess and pretty cranky. It seemed like a natural progression really, getting into venomous snakes. Though I do think that it does take a certain type of person to be content with having a pet that can never be handled or played with. I kept reptiles for years. Then I got a few small venomous snakes like Massasaugas and Eyelash vipers for a while and eventually I felt that I was ready to get a Gaboon. The risks are pretty great but if you understand them and never underestimate the snake's abilities you can keep yourself pretty safe. Some people say "it's not if, it's when" in reguards to getting tagged. I know a lot of people will disagree with me here but I don't think that statement has to be true for every one. Not with current knowledge of these animals and equipment available. Unfortunetly a lot of people are just stupid and take unnecessary risks, for what reason I'm not really sure, I can only guess that it's in trying to impress someone. They can also make the rest of us resposible owners look bad. With a lot of respect and a lot of care these snakes are very rewarding captives.

thank you for your response, i appreciate it.

what do you do with them when cleaning the enclosures? how often do they eat? i bet it is amazing to watch them eat.

i agree with you completely that if you are careful and respect the animal getting "tagged" isn't really something to worry about, its when you are careless and irresponsbile that something happens.

thanks again.

No problem, I love talking about this stuff. When I need to clean the cage, when I feed them, or soak them, I use a large Rubbermaid type container with holes drilled in the sides and a lid that locks on. I feed them once or twice a week, 2 or 3 mice each time. It's not really as exciting watching them eat as you think. I only feed them frozen/thawed mice so they just grab it and swallow it, no killing involved. As far as getting bit, I wouldn't say that it isn't something to worry about. I just don't agree that it's totaly inevitable. You need to constantly remind yourself of just what you're dealing with and never become complacent with them.