Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok so weve all heard the theory that working with aggressive non venomous species will HELP prepare you for similar venomous species. im looking for opinions as to whether you think this is true or false. thanks
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1.1 BCI, 1.0 Bearded Dragon

I think the main thing that keeps me out of a Venomous snakes mouth is the Fear I have of getting bitten. I have worked with Aggressive Non vens and I in no way think they would get you ready to keep a Venomouse animal. You just dont look at them in the same way. I will reach in and grab a Nonven and not care if I get bit but I have a totally different mindset when I deal with Hots. I think what gets you bitten is lack of Fear for the animal your working with. God knows I will never lose my fear all you have to do is look up Rattlesnake bite on google and that will keep your heart pounding when you are in contact with these animals.
Just my 2 cents.

Not so sure it's fear as much as it is respect. I dont really fear the animal, per se, but I do hold a hell of a lot of respect for it. I do handle my more aggressive non hots last, before going to handle my hots. It gets me a little more alert, with the adrenaline, and I also have that all important factor of common sense. If I feard the snakes, I would think I should not have them, because fear may keep me from doing something that I need to to either help the snake, or prevent an accident, should that possibility ever arise. Common sense, education, and respect will keep you safe. The handling of an aggressive non hot will only tell you how much you can get bit, and perhaps as in my case, make you a bit more alert. The best way is by finding a mentor, and starting slow. Get a beginner hot that is a little more laid back and go up from there, and only do what you are comfortable with, and be sure to ask your mentor a lot of questions. That will give you peace of mind to some degree.

When I use the term "Fear" I am saying I am afraid to get bit by the snake.. I respect my animals and fear them at the same time. I think anyone with any common sense would fear getting bit by a Hot snake. Hell I dont like to get bit by any snake. I am not afraid to Handle my snakes for cage cleaning etc. and Let me clear that up as well. ""I DO NOT FREE HANDLE MY ANIMALS"" as a matter of fact the way I do it is slide them into a tube and them through the tube into the holding tank all done with Hooks and Tubes then when the cage is clean I reverse the process. I dont like stressing my animals and so far this is the best way I have found for them as well as myself..
Thank god all my snakes still fit through the tubes...lol...

I am sure everyone has his/her own way of doing things and who am I to throw stones. Who are you to throw stones at me?
I have found breeding Reptiles is like running for public office everyone wants to pick apart your words and twist them around to make thierself feel better.

Thanks for your time
Justin

I imagine it could help as far as developing some dextarity with hooks, and maybe figuring out a few strategies for dealing with different situations. However, the first few times a DEADLY, arboreal snake wigs out on you, all that's likely to go out the window under the stress. That's why there's no substitute for haveing an experienced mentor looking over your shoulder (and rounding up the snake while you go change your shorts).

Sure it'll help lots. Think about it. Someone's never kept any snakes before. Do you recommend an easy to care for non-ven or an easy to care for hot? Both have simple husbandry and could easily lead to a healthy animal for a beginner BUT... well, you can finish it.

Ian

ps, I agree I over simplified, and a mentor is a must

I doubt working with non-vens will really prepare one for hots, except for the husbandry. Non-vens, with the possible exception of the boas & pythons don't ride hooks like vipers do.

I have said more than once that the most difficult venomous snake in the world to pick up is the first one.

~~Greg~~

thanks for the replies everyone. i was just looking for a little more input on the subject because ive read a thousand different opinions. i think the main reason to work with aggressive non vens would be to learn how to use snake handling tools like hooks and tongs correctly in order to lessen the chances of a bite while working with hots. i also think that the comment about fear keeping you out of the snakes mouth is very accurate. ive seen what snakebite can do and i dont want to be a statistic. thanks again!
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1.1 BCI, 1.0 Bearded Dragon

Looks to me like you are on the right track. After reading comments on the internet you will hopefully see common sense prevail. When you are able to spot and recognize the occasional uneducated, idiot, and inexperienced post you are well on your way to being a responcible hot keeper. Do we have your name to use when addressing you?
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
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Conservation through Education

Well I thought the get a testy non-venomous would help,but I've found that the more you respect the animal for what it is and what it can do,you behave differently.Get a mentor

sorry forgot to mention that my name's Dylan. the guy i get my feeders off of has two monocleds and i think two Sri Lanka palm vipers and has kept eyelashes before so i guess he could be somewhat of a mentor in the future.
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1.1 BCI, 1.0 Bearded Dragon

They're not always easy to find, but a mentor's definitely the way to go, as far as I'm concerned. Good luck.
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Venomous snakes---best hobby on earth!
Bill Huseth

I hear that Tim Cole mentored Austin Stevens, Wayne Hill, and Earl Turner.
He might be available to mentor you if you email him.
(I hear he's cheap)!
The caveat is, you get what you pay for! LOL!

old enough to have mentored these guys! Experienced enough? Definitely when it comes to Austin Stevens. Censorship forbids me to say more about this guy. LOL

Randall can't mentor anyone anymore once they realized the candy bowl was really filled with dried pelleted Iguana food!
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

I never would have even considered getting into hots without someone to help along the way. I sort of lucked out, and met Tim Cole, and we got on pretty well, and now I am learning the ropes, as it were.

I cant imagine, at this point, not having this "world" opened up. One thing having someone to teach you and mentor you will also help with is not only the learning how to handle and care for the animals properly, but also, as in my case, help put the wife at ease. I have to say, she was not too happy with the whole idea at first, and has had to put a lot of trust in not only myself but what ol Tim's been teaching.

Also, very important to have a mentor you get along with. You dont want a mentor whose a complete tosser.

I think the concepts of prerequisites and requirements need to be separated. Experience with non-venomous snakes is a prerequisite for learning the husbandry of the animal. A mentor is a requirement for actually entering the hobby of keeping hots.

Swimming is a prerequisite for scuba diving, but training is a requirement for certification. If a mentor is not available than too bad. Lots of people can't fulfill desires because of conditions outside their control.