first venomous snake

[The Snark]

Scared the crap out of me. Had to fight the urge to shoot it.

 

[BigJ999]

At that I don't blame you but its good you let the snake go on its way. The most venomous snake we have in North America is the Eastern Coral snake although they are rarely seen but have very powerful venom. However I guess the same could be said of the Kraits

 

[Deftones90]

I completely disagree with the post about the rat snake and krait... It's just like pitbulllady said "pretending" is pointless because in the end you know theres no consequences with a rat snake or any other non venomous snake. Its like the other folks said, keep it native and keep it at the lower end of the toxicity dial.

 

[pitbulllady]

Just chased this guy out of the garden.
You are welcome to it if you want to come collect it.

Re: Pittbulllady, I think I would disagree. Get an Asian rat snake, keep it warm and hungry, then if you manage to avoid getting bit for, say, 6 months, you are ready for a hot. (When warmed up and with the program those things are right out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.)

---------- Post added 10-22-2011 at 01:16 PM ----------

I can give you this much advice in handling cobras from working at the cobra farm: DON"T. The shows they put on are always with cold cobras. With few exceptions, nobody will get near them when they get warmed up and we are talking about people who handle them every day for years. Think about it. Is even the slightest chance of death or permanent extremity deformation and paralysis for life worth the risk?

I've had two Radiated Rat Snakes and a large Ptyas mucosa, one of the best snakes I've ever had-looked just like a juvie King Cobra when I got it. The Radiateds would neck-flatten(sideways)and stand up and threat-gape when I first got them, but never actually bit, and after I'd had them for less than a week, they gave up on their little show and were just as handleable as our American Rat Snakes. The Ptyas never, ever so much as tried to bite me. I am totally unable to think of those guys as dangerous in way, ditto for Coachwhips and Water Snakes, so if I approached any venomous snake the same way I do them, I'd be dead in short order. No matter how feisty a non-ven is, I cannot separate out the fact that it cannot hurt me and pretend than it can. No matter how calm a venomous snake is, I can't ever forget that it CAN kill me or hurt me very badly, either. I caught a huge pink Canebrake Rattler a few weeks ago right here in ny backyard, that never coiled or "S-ed up" or even rattled, not once. She was as calm as one of my Boas, but I still used snake tongs and a snake hook to pick her up and put her immediately in a container designed for holding venomous snakes, that can be padlocked, so I could meet up with a guy who wanted her. HE used a snake hook and tongs to remove her from my container and put her into his to take her home. Neither of us let it slip our minds that calm or not, she was NO Water Snake! The fact is, if you use a harmless snake as preparation for a "hot", you will eventually become complacent with it and take risks that you never, ever should take with a venomous snake. As calm and gorgeous as that Canebrake was, I was not once tempted just to hold her like I do with my Water Snakes or Boas because I knew that if she decided to bite me, I'd have a lot worse to deal with than scratch that I can shrug off and ignore.

pitbulllady

 

[The Snark]

Having not dealt with captive animals extensively, I bow to wiser and more experienced minds.

Instead, I will be a voice in the wilderness here. I don't believe in keeping non domesticated animals. We, as the refined brain species on this planet can ascend to a higher calling. Preserve, protect, respect and appreciate. In domesticated waters the animals end up in terrariums. Around here they wind up in cooking pots. If you think about it, there isn't that much difference. The world is deprived of a few more wonderful animals.

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Dumb idea. Why have a venomous snake?

 

[pitbulllady]

Dumb idea. Why have a venomous snake?

Why have a horse? Or a large dog? Or cattle? They all have tremendous potential to kill you. Horses kill on average 120 people in the US alone every year, and I'm not talking people who die as a result of falling off of or being thrown by horses, either. In comparison, venomous snakes account for fewer than 12 human fatalities per year, and the majority of those are from wild, non-captive native venomous snakes. And yet, I bet you've never, ever told anyone what a "dumb idea" it is to keep a horse, and possibly you have horses or have had them yourself. Fact is, like it or not, there are thousand of venomous snake keepers in this country who don't get bitten. They enjoy keeping those animals and many have specialized in breeding "hot" species. They know the risks, unlike owners/keepers of many so-called "safe" animals. Just because YOU wouldn't want to keep a certain type of animal or are afraid of it, doesn't mean that no one else should or can.

pitbulllady

 

[The Snark]

A little meat for the flamers to tear into... Next to... no, above keeping hots is owning hay burners. As pointed out, they are dangerous, and they cost a bleeping fortune.

There is a smushed cobra on the road this morning. Maybe the one I chased off. Maybe I should have been a collector and it would be alive right now. Lacking the wisdom of Solomon as the saying goes, we each must ascend to our own higher nature, try to be objective, moral and ethical, and perhaps, try to make as few ripples in the pond. As for keeping animals, isn't this a declaration that I, individual X, is so together and on top of things I can now be responsible for the life and death of other animals?

 

[BigJ999]

Why have a horse? Or a large dog? Or cattle? They all have tremendous potential to kill you. Horses kill on average 120 people in the US alone every year, and I'm not talking people who die as a result of falling off of or being thrown by horses, either. In comparison, venomous snakes account for fewer than 12 human fatalities per year, and the majority of those are from wild, non-captive native venomous snakes. And yet, I bet you've never, ever told anyone what a "dumb idea" it is to keep a horse, and possibly you have horses or have had them yourself. Fact is, like it or not, there are thousand of venomous snake keepers in this country who don't get bitten. They enjoy keeping those animals and many have specialized in breeding "hot" species. They know the risks, unlike owners/keepers of many so-called "safe" animals. Just because YOU wouldn't want to keep a certain type of animal or are afraid of it, doesn't mean that no one else should or can.

pitbulllady

I tend to think keeping big cat's or bears is far more dangerous then any venomous snake really. Although unfortunately only the bad stories get out due to Animal planet shows like fatal attractions which don't help things. Like that stupid lady who picked up her Gaboon viper like a idiot and got bite and died due to stupidity. I keep highly venomous spiders I plan on working with venomous snakes eventually but im not rushing into that

 

[AzJohn]

I have no experience and don't plan on keeping snakes period, let alone hot ones. But wouldn't a good first venomous snake be someone elses? I mean wouldn't it be a good idea to work with a mentor and practice all of the hooking or whatever while someone with experience is around to help if things go wrong.

 

[RyanW]

This thread is amazing. Venomous snakes are amazing and regardless of how you jump into keeping hots you always have to start somewhere.

Horses really kill 120 people a year? I will never look at them the same again.

Down with Equine!

 

[kevin91172]

This thread is amazing. Venomous snakes are amazing and regardless of how you jump into keeping hots you always have to start somewhere.

Horses really kill 120 people a year? I will never look at them the same again.

Down with Equine!

LoL! I have been trying to find a web site of most crazy ways to die a friend sent me,and yes horses,dogs,bees,and ect, they kill allot of people
but you know a lot of folks die just falling out of bed? interesting folks MAYBE WE SHOULD SLEEP ON THE FLOOR! But actually we hate and kill one another more than we should worry about these folks on here that keep hots,including me

I admit Im scared of horses! been thrown off of one at at very young age,like to get over that soon,but I can not wrap my hands of it and control it if it got spooked!

 

[RyanW]

I am sleeping on the floor tonight! I have a number of venomous reptiles that I keep and breed and I am determined not to die falling out of my bed!

 

[The Snark]

Average number of human deaths per year from animals in the U.S by historical records

Bee/Wasp 53
Dogs 31
Horse 20
Spider 6.5
Rattlesnake 5.5
Bull 3
Mountain lion 1
Shark 1
Alligator 0.3
Bear 0.5
Scorpion 0.5
Centipede 0.5
Wolf 0.1
Total for 150 years: 18,435

Before this causes a raging debate, please keep in mind this is a record that reflects about 150 years. The cause of death was attributed to factor X according to experts or authorities from information at that given time.

Now to add some perspective. Deaths in the US in 2010 by motor vehicles: 32,708

Reality check: Why do people become squeamish or feel fright or fear from seeing some animal, yet are perfectly comfortable looking at a car or motorcycle? (Apologies for hijacking the thread)

 

[kevin91172]

Bee/Wasp 53
Dogs 31
Horse 20
Spider 6.5
Rattlesnake 5.5
Bull 3
Mountain lion 1
Shark 1
Alligator 0.3
Bear 0.5
Scorpion 0.5
Centipede 0.5
Wolf 0.1
Total for 150 years: 18,435

Before this causes a raging debate, please keep in mind this is a record that reflects about 150 years. The cause of death was attributed to factor X according to experts or authorities from information at that given time.

Now to add some perspective. Deaths in the US in 2010 by motor vehicles: 32,708

Reality check: Why do people become squeamish or feel fright or fear from seeing some animal, yet are perfectly comfortable looking at a car or motorcycle? (Apologies for hijacking the thread)

Yea I think deer is number 4 now,because of traffic accidents

 

[RyanW]

What would you rather do drive 110 mph or hold a centipede?

 

[kevin91172]

Both! LOL! We are into racing.. (family and I) Got a drag car and a mud drag truck.We got first this year in points with the mud truck,awards are next weekend! Not a 110 mph but 250 foot in the mud in 4.20 seconds,some pretty good g -force none the less,little off subject,but.."JUS BE JUZ"

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---------- Post added 10-24-2011 at 08:17 PM ----------

I am sleeping on the floor tonight! I have a number of venomous reptiles that I keep and breed and I am determined not to die falling out of my bed!

What do you keep?

I have the following,sorry not for the Latin names,I know them but not good on spelling them and spell check on this does not help...
.1 Southern cooper head
1.1 Broad band copperhead
1. western cotton mouth
1.1. colorado side winder
1. het for albino C.atrox
.1 eastern diamond back
1.1 eastern/western hybrids diamond back rattle snakes
1.1 southern pacific rattle snakes
1.2 N. kauothia
.1 cape cobra
1. Gabon viper
.1 brazilian lance head
0.0.1 Texas coral snake

not to mention all the non venomous a total of 44 snakes in all not including all the arachnids,lizards,turtles,ect....

 

[RyanW]

Get it on video if you try it.

 

[kevin91172]

what? handling a pede? I currently do not have any,I used to keep a few of them but not at the moment,going to a expo this weekend might just pick another one up...never kept old world pedes,its a thought

 

[RyanW]

I held a pede today that was easily 2". I'm a gangster. (picture me singing that last sentence)