Glad you made the RIGHT CHOICE! Now to your questions:

1. There is some debate whether snakes with hemotoxic venom fair worse than snakes with neurotoxic venom...in general, elapids do better than viperids with venomoid surgery. It really depends on who you ask as to what effect on digestion venomoid surgery has.

2. You friend saying that if you can catch black racers without being bitten, you can keep venomous is partially correct...this is by no means a "certification" in keeping venomous. Keeping venomous not only entails being able to handle the snake without being bitten, it also means being able to maintain the snake in all aspects (health, feeding, medication) without being bitten. This usually involves a monetary investment (i.e. buying proper tools like hooks, tubes, tongs, etc.). Also, secure caging IS A MUST! The snake is the cheap part. Taking care of it is the expensive one.

You also have to think about the medical aspect of the animal. Most vets WILL NOT treat venomous snakes...it's too much risk for them. You are lucky if you find one that will. That leaves the burden of medical care on you. Are you confident you can safely force feed, inject medication, remove stuck sheds, etc. on a potentially lethal animal (you mentioned rattlesnakes)? This is by no means a discouragement to keep hots, they are extremely rewarding to keep and study IF you are in it for the right reasons AND you have the confidence and proper training to safely keep them...and ultimately, YOU are the only one who can decide if you are ready to keep hots. Just please don't get a venomoid! Hope this helped...

AP

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