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free handling of rear fanged snakes

Y

yojoe05

Rapunzels Prince Charming
Just curious what is people's opinions on this subject? I know species like hognoses are commonly free handled so I'm not looking towards them specifically. I'm still interested in getting a baron's racer and the envenomation isn't lethal just uncomforatable if it happens. I see people handling them as well as such species like asian vine snakes withouth a hook or gloves. Knowing that a snakes bite isn't classified as harmful to a human should you try free handling or not? With the cost of rear fangs being more reasonable than the popular snake species like corns, boas, pythons, etc I feel this draws up a serious question as they aren't regulated by licenses and permits. Just because you can handle a snake should you? I feel with such species as red tailed green rats and other arboreal species even this question falls on the table as well with their known tendancy to be more agressive when being handled.
 
I free handle my false water cobra but I usually put on some smooth leather gardening gloves when I first get her out to make sure she's not in hungry mode! Otherwise she's a very calm sweet snake. I did a lot of research on bites and effects of envenomation from them and couldn't find anything too bad. I even e-mailed Nile Marvin after seeing his video where he was chewed on and he didn't have any serious lasting affects. That said, any venom can be dangerous if you have an allergy to it. I'd use caution just to be on the safe side.....
 
Some like myself are simply hyper - sensitive to just about everything .... sound , taste , odours , midge bites etc etc

So it rules out rear fanged snakes ..... Shame as they all look so damn amazing but I have to handle mine :)
 
Much like with front fanged "hots," rear fanged snakes run the gamut of how dangerous to humans they are. I'll free handle hognose, would be extremely careful with a mussarana, and wouldn't lay a hand on a boomslang.
 
Why the caution with a Musserana, Chip? Just curious.
I've only had one encounter with one, and she was very docile. She was being handled by a couple people, with no problem.
She was very active, not bitey at all.
 

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I'll bet...found an annulated tree boa in Costa Rica and sooo wanted to smuggle her home...sigh.....so many snakes that I want!
 
MysticExotics said:
Why the caution with a Musserana, Chip? Just curious.
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I've fed one. ;) My friend Dennis has (had?) a pair, I have never had to use a snake hook to sword fight like that in my life. They are confident snakes when handling, which is a plus, but I don't trust them. I guess I've just been test bitten by too many king snakes to let my guard down around something that could hurt me.
 
Kingsnakes are a pox on snakedom....biting is what they do (well that and crap on you).....I've had the ol' snakehook for the FWC at feeding......they definitely have a strong feeding response. But then again, so does my green tree pythons and amazons and all my snakes....but for handling them....totally fine...
 
Lol, after Chip's comment about handling Musserana with care, I googled them, as I've never heard of them, and found this site, http://westcoastdrymarchon.com/Black_Pearl_Reptiles/Mussurana_Care_Sheet.html

With this comment, and then I understood, LOL
Lastly, I always avoid handling anywhere near feeding time. My mussurana perk up on feeding days and can sense the defrosting food items in my snake room. By the time I open their tubs to feed, I often have them lunge out, mouth gaping. One of my female blacks will often eject herself from the rack, and chase me across the room with her mouth open. My only hope is to use my forceps to get food into her mouth before she reaches me!
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I have a couple of hognose like that, including a baby from last year that might be the craziest yet. She literally opens her mouth and throws herself my general direction. But hoggies only get three feet long and are fat and uncoordinated. A full grown mussurana is a lot of snake to go berserk on you.
 
Haha! Imagining that is funny. BHP's have a strong feeding response as well, I watched one of my friends feed theirs, made me jump. LOL
 
On most forums I'm on, it's Browning Hi-Power! I'm guessing black head python, since my womas were nuts at feeding and same genus.
 
Gotcha thanks! I've seen one of those once, it was a grandfathered one that was on display at our reptile expo. Gorgeous animal, but sadly banned here now. :(
 
I have lots that will do that....had an amel cornsnake that would chase you across the room, mouth open if he missed taking the rat off tongs....too funny!
 
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