Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Venomous reptiles is an unusual hobby. I think most would agree that the scene is going to be different 20 years from now.
I am wondering why.
Laws are going to be a big part. I am wondering though about attitudes. Every time some kid comes on a forum with an interest they are pretty much told that without 30 years of self-taught knowledge there is no "best first hot" or whatever. My guess would be this is exactly what everyone was told 30 years ago.
Is anyone promoting the hobby?

Jim (former annoying kid)

It should be more popular in the future. The internet is exposing more people to the hobby and venomous snakes offer much more to an interested individual then one can imagine. Spend a few hours observing many of the various tree vipers and other unique species and you will have a better understanding if you don't already see what I mean.

Dan

Not sure where you read that 30 year's experience was needed to get into hots. I may have been "guilty" of giving you some advice that did not sit right with you.

1.) If the kid is not of legal age, he absolutely needs his parents on board with him before the decision is made. They need to be aware of the things a snake's venom can do to the human body. If permits are required in your state, chances are you'll have to be of legal age to get one.

2.) You need a ready supply of antivenin for the species you will keep. If that is not available at a nearby hospital, then it needs to be in your refrigerator.

3.) You need good, lockable cages.

Yes, I know that 2 & 3 can end up costing more than the starter hot will ever be worth. I also realize that this is not the way everybody starts...but it should be.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

A good lockable cage can be built, and stick with somthing native that a local hospital would carry antivenom for if possible.

30 years, well thats a long time, I wonder if you read one of my previous posts? Many old timers have been working with venomous for that long, myself included, BUT back then nobody really knew that much and there were not many accessable places to intern where you could learn, it was trial and error in the beginning. Nobody told us to wait 30 years before jumping into venomous because not many were doing this 30 years ago, not like today.
There is nothing wrong with a young man like yourself getting into venomous snakes BUT just be careful, learn as much as you can, dont do this to "prove"anything to anyone or show off, continue coming to these forums and talking to people, try to get a volunteer position at a zoo or animal park that has reptiles so you can learn in a professional atmosphere from someone who is actively working with the snakes that interest you. Spend some time learning (not 30 years though!) and meet some people, heck for all we know in 20 years YOU could be the next Mark O'Shea! Dont know how old you are but anything is possible when you are young.LOL.
There are many other things to consider when getting into venomoous reptiles and Al's post hit it on the head; you will spend far more in caging, supplies, and antivenin than you will on the snake you choose to keep. Consider this as you think about getting into venomous reptiles, ALOT of expense to watch that colorful little snake that you will (should)never handle with your bare hands. Its kind of like stepping over dollars to pick up nickels, but if those nickels are buffalo heads then its worth it to some to leave the dollar on the ground.

Good luck!
B

np

>>Every time some kid comes on a forum with an interest they are pretty much told that without 30 years of self-taught knowledge there is no "best first hot" or whatever.

Before I make too many assumptions, could you either rephrase or explain this a little.

Gladly, as my first try was vague and probably even inadvertantly insulting to some (sorry).
I am presuming that changes are coming which may be in the direction of more regulations and bans. What is the appropriate reaction to this? One option could be hunkering down and hoping for the best with the rationale being that the less visibility the better. Another might be more proactive with information dissemination. I don't know which is more appropriate but am interested in speculation since the future tends to be a mystery anyway.
I did not mean to give the impression of being a kid interested in keeping venomous reptiles, since I have been an adult for longer than 30 years. It just seems that a change may have already occurred where the options for learning are becoming more limited and perhaps protected in spite of new, more efficient means for sharing information (or I could be wrong).
So if a specific question is required it might be: is now a better or worse time to start keeping venomous animals than the past?
Jim

I think us strange folk who choose to seek out and interact with dangerous venomous reptiles are the last of a dying breed. A doomed subculture of thrill seekers who couldn’t resist bringing the danger and adrenaline back home with us for an easier viewing. It was fun while it lasted, but like anything too wild it eventually outgrew itself. In time, private ownership of venomous snakes will be entirely banned for reasons of public fear and political interest. Ironically, this isn’t really too bad of a thing in my opinion. It will permanently force the insincere and careless out of the hobby, the ones who will bear responsibility for it’s eventual downfall, by putting an end to the unscrupulous dealers who selfishly fueled the aforementioned crisis. Only the passionate will remain as the new found illegality adds a whole new level of danger and excitement. This mad hobby will be forced underground, limited to moon-lit parking lot gatherings where members communicate through serpentine body gestures. And only those wearing the mark of the serpent can tread these grounds safely, outsiders will be harvested for spare digits and fresh tissue for our injured.

This goes for that question below as well.

np
-----
Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Rescued Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
0-0-1 Rescued Aggressive Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-1-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-0-1 Rescued Dieting Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
0-1-0 Rescued Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

I don't think anyone made that statement but I understand where you are going with this. First, minors should not keep venomous reptiles....PERIOD. If you are a minor, end of story in my book. But, during that time, you can acquire a significant base of knowledge in talking to experienced hot herp keepers and in mastering handling/management skills in working with non venomous snakes. If you can find a mentor who can show you the way, that's the best situation but not always practical or possible. In those cases, its still important to have someone you can talk to over the phone to walk you through it. There are decent "first time hots" that make decent captives w/out necessarily risking life and limb but you still have to be willing to accept that as a possible outcome. People who keep venomous for the adrenaline or "rush" or the "look at me, I'm so cool" factor shouldn't keep them; they are the reason we have such a bad rap in this hobby (in addition to the unscrupulous breeders who will sell their charges to anything with a pulse).

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Venomous reptiles is an unusual hobby. I think most would agree that the scene is going to be different 20 years from now.
>>I am wondering why.
>>Laws are going to be a big part. I am wondering though about attitudes. Every time some kid comes on a forum with an interest they are pretty much told that without 30 years of self-taught knowledge there is no "best first hot" or whatever. My guess would be this is exactly what everyone was told 30 years ago.
>>Is anyone promoting the hobby?
>>
>>Jim (former annoying kid)
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

"I don't think anyone made that statement but I understand where you are going with this."

Of course not, I made that statement; In response to the question of WHO should be allowed to keep venomous and the FUTURE of the hobby post. I'm not so sure that you know where I was going with that.

"People who keep venomous for the adrenaline or "rush" or the "look at me, I'm so cool" factor shouldn't keep them; they are the reason we have such a bad rap in this hobby (in addition to the unscrupulous breeders who will sell their charges to anything with a pulse)."

The adrenaline factor is an inherent part of keeping venomous reptiles, there's just no way around it. It ultimately encompasses the hobby, like it does with mountain climbing, sky diving, and scores of other hazardous hobbies seemingly sane people choose to partake in. The undedicated macho types aren't capable of relizing the actual risk and will drown in their own egos. They're a different bunch. They'll keeping speeding along until they finally hit that wall and make it on the plate of all the hungry news papers.