Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am interested in expanding my collection to include a hot or two. I have very little experience with hots and thought a popes viper would be a good start. Given their size, and from what I hear, the potency of their venom, I think they'd be a good start. This is my question, I have been to venomdoc.com, all over the internet, and to the library but have had no luck finding any info on the potency of their venom. There is a breeder here in town that sells a lot of them. He has said on numerous occasions that their venom is very mild, adding he has been bitten more times that he can count. I don't plan on getting bitten at all but would like to know what I'm getting into. Obviously the potency of the venom will not have any effect on the respect or level of care I use, just would like to know. Also, the wife will be much more at ease knowing that the venom is mild, or milder than some of the other viperdae. Thank you in advance for any help, Eric-

Well...my 2 cents

Copperheads are pretty universally accepted as a good starter HOT. Any of the Arborials are really tricky because they kling to everything and they strike a LOT further than you expect. As mild as people claim at least there is Antivenom available for copperhead bites.

You dealer fiend will tell you anything to get you to buy. Start safe and gain experience then move on..to advanced species.

Good Luck,

Al

0.1 Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus; The meanest little snake I ever kept.

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Save a Rattlesnake...Skin a Sweetwater resident alive!

Oh...

I actually know of a fatality caused by this species. I 16 year old missionary girl in Indonesia was bitten while walking back to her hut at night. She was bitten in the ankle and unfortunatly in a vein. She passed away 4 hours later at a local hospital, where they did not have antivenom.

Look on this website for details regarding the venom.
Venom Toxicology

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Save a Rattlesnake...Skin a Sweetwater resident alive!

This is one of those confusing situations where you are dealing with a group of species that are extremely similar in appearance and of varied levels of venom potency.

I have heard reports for example that T. Abolaris has a very portent venom (and it is very similar in appearance to Popes).

I also saw a slide show at a herp meeting where they showed a group of local collectors crowded around a large container-free handling Popes as they put their catches in. The person giving the talk said several of them were bitten and no one seemed to mind.

As far as Purpomaculatus goes...That is not only one mean snake but it definitly is know to have caused casualties.

I am surprised Bryan Fry did not answer your question on venomdoc I will see if I can get his attention for you.

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

I appreciated that, I emailed him but he never responded. Again, I don't plan on getting bitten or being any less safe than I would with any other snake but it would be nice to know what I am getting into. I went and saw the dealer again, he said he was bitten three times in one day. He showed me a very minor scar on his arm saying that it hurt but really wasn't that bad. He likened it to a bite from a Mangrove. Everything I have read basically says there is not enough info. Obviously people react differently to venom so there probably is no real definite answer but just wondering if anyone out there has been bitten and how bad it was. Thanks again, Eric-

I left a Email for Bryan but it might be that he is in the field.

My first "Hot" was a Popes and I have a large female right now. I can tell you this, they are pretty easy to work with and are not as aggressive as some of their cousins. I would definitly recommend it for a first viper.

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