Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering how i would obtain a licence to keep a venomous snake and where i would go to get one? any web sites someone could point me too would be awsome

It depends on your state and whether they are legal. What state are you in? Depending on which state you are in will ultimately determine whether they can be obtained and how hard it will be.

Also, what is your level of experience with snakes?

Chris

I live in Maine. I have not had snakes very long maybe two months but i will be reading and finding all the information on them first before i get one im just wondering on how i would go about this?

Check out the "Venomous Reptiles" section. Many will be happy to answer your questions. I highly recommend getting MANY YEARS of experience with snakes before even attempting Hot snakes. You are playing with death with these animals.

I am not trying to pep talk you. I am hoping to keep you alive my friend. Hang around in the Venomous Reptiles forum and I am sure someone can help you and answer your questions a bit more thorough.

Chris

>>Check out the "Venomous Reptiles" section. Many will be happy to answer your questions. I highly recommend getting MANY YEARS of experience with snakes before even attempting Hot snakes. You are playing with death with these animals.
>>

I like the suggestion I've seen of getting a non-venomous snake with a similar temperment of the venomous one you want. Keep it for 3 or 4 years and pretend it's venomous. Every time you get bit, put a note on the cage that the bite would have cost $10K - $20K. If it escapes, assume it would have bitten someone. Then decide whether or not you want a hot snake.

deg

Very wise suggestion. Or you could try getting the absolute quickest/nastiest non-venomous snake you could find for the exact same practice.

Frankly, I strongly recommend taking your time before getting into venomous. There's an awesome variety of non-venomous and many species with a great deal of power and presence without being lifethreatening. i.e. indigos, larger gopher/bull snake species, some python members of Morelia family (and others), Taiwan/Vietnamese beauty snakes, etc. (frankly, I have my hands more than full occasionally wrangling a docile but very uncooperative 5 ft gophersnake where I volunteer).

And frequenting the venomous forum is a great idea. I lurk there.
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0.1 chickens (Condor)
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave, Lucy & Amy)
0.1 Halflinger horse (Crissy)
0.1 Normal phase California Kingsnake (Sophia)
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human

Very good advice. Once you get past the "Glamour" of keeping a "Hot" you learn it is about responsibilty-not how cool it makes you. If you don't--then you may learn the inner workings of your local hospital.

I have worked with venemous for over 35 years and it can be rewarding. it is also like walking in front of a loaded gun being held by a lunatic. They are not (reguardless of what anyone tells you) EVER safe or predictable.

As to licensing...How old are you?

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

"it is also like walking in front of a loaded gun being held by a lunatic. They are not (reguardless of what anyone tells you) EVER safe or predictable."

I think that is the best way I have ever heard it phrased!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
0-0-1 Aggressive Bearded Dragon - Zeus
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

Maine requires a permit to import any venomous specie. This means that in the state any venomous snake you wish to keep would require a permit. I do not know what kind of criteria they require for a permit. It is possible (and probable) that you would need to present some type of academic, public display, or other scientific legitimacy to receive a permit. Maine actually has a list of unrestricted species (all non venomous) that may be imported or kept without a permit but many other non venomous species are not on it. It is my understanding that any species not listed would require a permit.

Another issue to consider in keeping venomous snakes is accident preparedness. Is your local ER close by and do they stock what anti-venom you would need? I would be skeptical in Maine. There are keepers through out the country that maintain their own anti-venom but I believe this can be expensive. Local jurisdictions may also enact legislation that exceed the restrictions imposed by the state. They are free to do this but no local jurisdiction may enact laws more lenient that those at the state level. Even a state permit may not be sufficient.
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Randy Hallman