Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all. It's been awhile since I last stopped here, and I see it's still fairly volatile, heh heh. Yes, we got out keeping venomous privately at this time, due to a number of reasons - most of them ethical. Some of them to focus on other loves -like my music, which I've also done most of my life. Perhaps I'll put up my thoughts on these things (if anyone cares to read it) at a later time, when I finish formulating what my real feelings are towards keeping highly venomous snakes privately for what is mostly non-scientific reasons. It would take way too much time to get into that here and now. All i can say in a nutshell towards those wishing to be taken seriously about the privledge of private venomous herpetoculture - when times get tough and the current laws are overturned towards bans (which rarely work in the long term) and such is this: Think academically, keep & behave in a professional manner - and this will be immediately apparent to any authorities whose information will most likely be coming from the very professional peers whom you should be emulating. This may make things easier when the fan gets hit.

I saw this stuff coming a long time ago. Hence the retreat from venomous 'education'. The appearance of the Internet has been both the boon and the bane to venomous herpetoculture. Just start at the root - which is the exploding availability - and you'll begin to see where you have to begin in order to fix these problems, that if not solved, WILL lead to the total downfall of herpetoculture as we know it. Jesus, where do all these hundreds of animals go?! Enough already.

Anyway, I hope everyone's animals are doing well, and I encourage everyone to study your animals. Take notes, formulate ideas, observations, and above all - write! Do write articles. Contact journals and organizations, and try to contribute to the actual science of herpetology - not just collecting and marketing them like stamps or sports cards. And folks, I think you should be very selective on what you actually breed, the market of truly serious keepers is only so big, and saturation comes quickly. This is one way irresponsible idiots get animals. Breed rarer, threatened or endangered species, not common, prolific species. Just what the world needs - more Puffs, monocles, atrox, spitters, etc., (roll eyes)

Just my thoughts at this time. Remember, private keepers have
made some great scientific contributions to herpetology, let's keep it up. Think academic - behave pro.

I've still kept all my equipment, library, docs & papers, and will consider working with them professionally again in the future if such an opportunity arises, such as a serpentarium or zoo. But as for private keeping, I love the relief from responsibility for now, and just cherish the memories and experiences I've had with them over 30 yrs. I still love these animals.

I would like to say a big hello and thanks to the following people (in no particular order - just as I can remember them) for the exchanges of info, support, debate, animals or tools, or for simply being friends and all-round nice folks:

Dr. Wolfgang Wuster, Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry, David Williams, Paul Rowley, Scott Eipper, Chris Harper, Karl Betz, Mardi Snipes, Ricky Duffield, Greg Longhurst, Jeff Barringer, Dana Savarelli, Don Middaugh, Nikolai Orlov, Jeff Ettling, Dean Ripa, Karel Fortyn, Shaun Waite, Dave Lasham, Steve Marks, RobRoy Macinnis, Scotty Allen, Jimmy Melin, Marten Hagstrom, Tom Mason, Grant Ankenman, Rick Vos, Blue Enright, Bryan Loyst, Rue Calton, Josh Feltham, Shawn Parker, Grant Crossman, Brian W. Smith, Derek & York Morgan, Tanith T., Jeremy G., Richard Mastenbroek, Dexter B., Randy Ciuros, Larry Lemon, C.Gex, Bill Panos, Jaffo, Lisa Broudy, Jarl Ketola, Mike Siddons, Neil Gushulak, Joey Brown, Andrew Taylor & Lonnie Cote @ Canadian Wildlife Service, and to all other people who may have been helpful to us - thanks a mil.

I'll stop in occationally to chat. If anyone needs to contact me you can mail me @ the above link. Take care all.....

Peace-

Allen Hunter

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Presumption is the mother of all error..

Hey Allen, the only one you left out is Marcel Stipetic. Well, at least for the "forum" humor. I kind of miss the Lyrewinders also....lol. Great to see you pop in. The keeping of these has certainly gone through a huge change, especially true with public/political perception. Your thoughts and advice ring very true, but time may be running out on this special part of herpetoculture. I wish I had kept more "music making" in my life the past several years myself. I miss that creative production/experience. Glad to hear you've kept up with your's. When might we hear some?

All the best and say hi to Susan,
Eimon

Hi Eimon! Nice to see you too. Yes I remember Marcel's quick wit -quite a character.
Yes it is sad, but as I said, until we can strictly control the aquisition of these animals all the way down to the importation level, you will always have the insecure yahoos who get these animals for all the wrong reasons. Same mentality/crowd as the idiots who deliberately make aggressive pitbulls.
I think the final straw for me was seeing a Reptiles magazine on the supermarket stand that had a cover with "Getting Cozy With Cobras!". Jesus. I was both embarrassed and angered on behalf of all serious keepers and herpetology in general. The blatant trivialization of these potentially lethal animals, is just ethically WRONG. What kind of message does this send to the average joe? Now we act surprised by the later results? C'mon. What's next? Discovery magazine with "Have a Bloody Good Time With Ebola"?! Sheesh. Sorry, rant off.

Musically, I'm a guitarist of extreme yin/yang tastes, I highly doubt you'd like the stuff I play. On one hand, I'm into solo acoustic fingerstyle like Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Adrian Legg, etc., and on the other hand I'm also into serious prog/tech metal with a 7 string. I'm currently putting a band together, so we'll see what happens. Only other musicians seem to dig this stuff, and women generally hate it. (L)
I'll send my regards to Susan.
Al

>>Hey Allen, the only one you left out is Marcel Stipetic. Well, at least for the "forum" humor. I kind of miss the Lyrewinders also....lol. Great to see you pop in. The keeping of these has certainly gone through a huge change, especially true with public/political perception. Your thoughts and advice ring very true, but time may be running out on this special part of herpetoculture. I wish I had kept more "music making" in my life the past several years myself. I miss that creative production/experience. Glad to hear you've kept up with your's. When might we hear some?
>>
>>All the best and say hi to Susan,
>>Eimon

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Presumption is the mother of all error..

Hello,

You dont know me, but I have not too long ago got ahold of a copy of your "Venom 101" e-book. It has been very informative to me, and since you have come back for a while I felt that I would send a Thank YOU, your way. I know it must have taken you awhile to get together and offer your knowledge and experience to others. I donot keep hots and dont plan on it for good while. I just felt that I would extend to you my appreciation for your work.

Best Wishes,

Chris

Getting Cozy With Cobras? I'm glad I missed that one! And what's next? 12 year old kids carrying baby Gabbys in deli cups.....oh wait, that's already happened. Trivialized is a very good observational word for a lot of the current state of affairs. Then again, a lot of what was considered truly dangerous and commanded the necessary respect (at least when I was younger) seems to have gone through the same process. Very few things seem to have the "mortal" impact that they used to. When the internet world was wide eyed and new, I'm very grateful to you and the few others who applied and shared the "serious and professional" requirement of thought and attitude that venomous keeping demanded and deserved. Speaking of others, Mr. Betz has been back here on the West Coast for a while and we get together quite a bit. I'll be sure to let him know you popped up. And, when it comes to music, don't underestimate the twistedness of my tastes.....lol. Alan Holdsworth, T Mark Gleed, SOMA ? Nothing I enjoy more than a "musicians" musician.

Eimon

It's too bad Allen doesn't visit more often for he "penned" the most important paragraph I've seen on any forum, anywhere for a very long time.

"Anyway, I hope everyone's animals are doing well, and I encourage everyone to study your animals. Take notes, formulate ideas, observations, and above all - write! Do write articles. Contact journals and organizations, and try to contribute to the actual science of herpetology - not just collecting and marketing them like stamps or sports cards. And folks, I think you should be very selective on what you actually breed, the market of truly serious keepers is only so big, and saturation comes quickly. This is one way irresponsible idiots get animals. Breed rarer, threatened or endangered species, not common, prolific species. Just what the world needs - more Puffs, monocles, atrox, spitters, etc., (roll eyes)

Just my thoughts at this time. Remember, private keepers have
made some great scientific contributions to herpetology, let's keep it up. Think academic - behave pro."

Thanks for you input Allen, Well Said.

Al Coritz
www.neavb.org
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but foot prints. Not a law, just a good idea.

Good to see you back. Please do not be a stranger and stop in and say hey once in a while. Lots of people still miss you man. Take care

Joe

Hey Al & Joe,
thanks for the kind words, just seems logical to me. I'll try to hang here a bit more, and post when i feel I can contribute something relevant.
Thanks-
Allen
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Presumption is the mother of all error..