Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been real interested in maybe getting a rear fanged snake like a green vine snake or maybe a mangrove i've kept and bred Boidae and various species of geckos and i have alot of experience with aggresive snakes so i dont think the handling is much of a problem (of course using handling tools) but whats your opinion on this and if age matters im 14 but have been keeping herps for 9 years.
Thanks,
Eric

Glad to see you are selecting the mild end of the venomous scale. I keep mangroves (and have kept the vines).

First thing you need to do is to look at the laws in your state regarding ownership of venomous species. Make sure you can legally own one.

Second, Age does matter but not enough to prevent your keeping mildly venomous Rearfangs provided you do not have a over senitivity to venom. A good indicator is...How do you react to Bee Stings? If you have a bad reaction to those,it is a good idea not to deal with anything venomous. Also a 14 year old (depending on size) normally has a smaller body mass which would make more potent species more dangerous.

The two species you mention are not life threatening so they are good beginner snakes. Of the two I would recomend the Vine Snake first as it is easier to care for than the Mangrove and doesn't reach a size where it can envenomate you in a more serious way. A large mangrove can put some meaningful venom in you (see above).

Learning to use the tools is a very serious matter. Particularly when working with fast moving venomous snakes. What I would suggest is that you get a nice MEAN racer and practice on him. If you can move one of those around with the hooks and tongs safely, then you can upgrade to some thing more in line with your interests.

I know it sounds like a broken record but Responsibility and Patience is the key here. Working with venomous snakes obliges us to be very responsible, because what we do can affect others. So take the time to learn and progress slowly.

(end of sermon)

All that being said...Good luck with your first Rearfang!

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Thanks for all the information ill get a racer or coachwhip maybe to practice with although that might not be necessary since i have been keeping amazon tree boas for 2 years. I need to check out if its legal were i live though. Again thanks for all the information.
Eric

Finally, people under 18 don't get trashed. I myself am 13 and get so angry when kids get trashed for asking real questions. I have read lots of posts in places where people think kids are incompetent and stupid, and thats just not true. I have had about 7 or 8 years experience in keeping snakes, and have been holding and catching them even longer. Once again thank you.

True very true, i have seen many people get bashed about asking questions similar to mine.
Eric

I started with reptiles about 15 years ago asked all the ?'s I could most wouldn't give me the time of day so I understand how you feel.But don't be discouraged guys ask all you can possibly think of about what your getting into.I just received my first mangrove last week and its a big generally "mean" snake so far.If you guys need any help just ask and i will give an honest opinion.

Good luck
Drew

To give the devil his due....

What most of us get tired of is when some one (and frequently it's a under 18 year old) asks a question that has been answered to infinity on previous threads, instead of scrolling down and reading previous posts.

The other thing has to do with the nature of the questions. Some people post questions that are so badly written that you have to seriously wonder about their maturity and education. These people often ask about keeping the most deadly snakes.

I will answer any legitmate question gladly (that is why I joined a couple of Herpetological societies-to gain and dispense knowledge). But please, before asking questions please look to be sure it has not allready been answered.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I agree completely

Drew