Gaboon Vipers!! Puff Adders!!

[Hedorah99]

You know at a "Hot's included" reptile show, i was told a Gaboon Viper would make a great first hot. Other than the massive hemolytic venom load and the 1 1/2" to 2" fangs, not to mention the ability to strike something directly behind them and the blinding speed they can exhibit when it counts, I cannot think of a reason not to buy one. ;P

But here are several

http://www.snakemaster.com/gaboon/
http://www.cobras.org/gaboon_bite.htm
http://www.tigerhomes.org/animal/poisonous-snake-bites.cfm

I love Gaboon vipers and think they are one fo the most beautiful snakes in the world, but they defnitly need to be respected.

 

[Hedorah99]

Those videos prove it is way too easy for idiots to obtain hots. How he hasn't been bitten by now is just dumb luck. Something else to think about before keeping hots: Where is the nearest dose of antivenin for the species you are keeping? No one plans on getting tagged, but accidents happen even to the most careful. After getting bitten, it would not be good to find out that the antivenin needs to be flown out from Florida and it will be 4 hours before the hospital can get it.

A guy in West Haven was bitten by his pet cobra a few years ago. The genius was trying to manually de-louse it. It tagged him on the thumb. The paramedics called the zoo I worked at asking for anti-venom treatments. They were shocked to hear we have none, because we don't have any venemous snakes. He had to be driven to the Bronx, New York where the closest treatments could be found. From what I understand he made it through Ok but lost a chunk of his thumb due to necrosis. If the Bronx had none, his next options would have been Boston or Philidelphia I believe.

 

[Selenops]

Caring for "hot" scorpions is one thing, I have large tweezers, a pair of hemostats, multitude sized cups, and various objects or devices of animal control. The motor skills of these fascinating creatures can be swift as the wind or sluggish as a slug but they can never scale smooth perpendicular surfaces without some kind of assistance.

Out here in California (now I hope this information doesn't stir up immature or amateur morons), it is perfectly legal to possess a "hot" snake native to the state and one is only allowed to collect two specimens per a native state species. Yet, "hot" snakes can not be exported or imported (native or otherwise).

(Anybody correct if I have any bit of misinformation in that statement and I have been in contact with the DFW about these issues though that doesn't mean I haven't overlooked a detail somebody else can smack me upside the head with.)

So, someday I'll have Crotalus cerastes when I've grown accustomed to the proper management and care of one (or two).

And there are probably those that are in a state of denial no doubt and wished I hadn't brought the subject forward.

 

[Arietans]

You know at a "Hot's included" reptile show, i was told a Gaboon Viper would make a great first hot. Other than the massive hemolytic venom load and the 1 1/2" to 2" fangs, not to mention the ability to strike something directly behind them and the blinding speed they can exhibit when it counts, I cannot think of a reason not to buy one.

Both Gaboons and Puff Adders make incredibly good first hot snakes. They are hardy, handle easily and eat like pigs.

People getting tagged by Puffs and Gaboons most certainly did something stupid, like trying to pin a large Gaboon. Handling these snakes is best with the double hook method. Restraining is done with a tube.

The only problem you have with it is AV. Here it is readily available. In any event, you shouldn't be getting close enough to get bit in the first place.