Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are eyelash vipers a good venomous snake to start with? If not what do you reccomend.

A good starter hot is one that is native to the US so you can get the AV easy!! Aggies are probably the best!

Jason

I agree with the other poster, eyelash's are sometimes recommended as a good first hot because they are relatively easy to care for, however they can pack a nasty (and potentially lethal) bite, and the AV is not readily available in most areas...stick with natives until you can acquire antivenin...smaller rattlers and copperheads are a good start.

I usually post that yes they are (assuming not every poster is from the U.S.). I agree a native where AV is available would be good. I am from a state and part of sate where AV would need to be delivered anyway and would not be at a local hospital so I do not think it matters. I think the smaller arborial vipers are great because if you have a front opening cage and a one piece substrate you do not need to work with the snake and can work around it with tongs. Feeding, water changes, and sustrate replacement can all be done at a distance the snake can not stretch out to tag you. wear gloves anyway to help minimize risk and have tubes and hooks as well but idealy you should not use them. I see AV as a secondary (still very important) safetly measure. Not being tagged is you first priority and I cannot think of a better animal to minimize your risks than a small arborial. But if you can't get AV it could still mean your life while you can still take precautions with terrestial snakes and have that back up of AV availability. My opinion in summary...yes it is a good starter hot due to less need to work with the snake...but weigh out your risks very carefully.

I have heard several opinions on what a good first venomous snake is. Some say an eyelash some say a copperhead. In my opinion I think the copperhead would make the better choice. The venom toxicity is not what is leaning me toward the copperhead because the effects of bites from either species seem to produce similar results, but I think you stand a greater chance of being bitten by an eyelash. I know different snakes have individual dispositions, and I have seen very calm copperheads as well as psycho specimens that would not ride a hook for nothing but the arboreal snakes seem a bit more tricky to handle, especially if you don't have much experience. They are very clingy with their tails and are often reluctant to let go of hooks. I frequently use two hooks when handling my adult arboreals, one to carry the snake and one to coax them off the other hook. Also you must consider if you do get bitten would the medical staff be willing to treat you with anti-venin if you needed it? If you were bitten by a copperhead they would not hesitate to treat you with anti-venin, but if you were bitten by an eyelash they may not. There have been numerous bites from eyelashes that have been successfully treated with domestic anti-venin proving that it has cross-efficacy but will the staff at your hospital be up to date on the latest literature concerning snake bite? There are a lot of factors to consider but don't let anything scare you off. I advocate for new venomous keepers as long as they do thier research and not put anyone in harms way. -Derek Moynihan