**Got HOT Chunkheads??**

[vetusvates]

Nice snakes. A very pretty hot. I've had a few southern copperheads.
I, also, wish you good luck in finding the aberrant pattern is a simple recessive trait.

I kept a nice gravid Western Pygmy for a summer in 1980, who birthed five babies. I was out of town, doggone it, so didn't get to see the event. But my mother watched very carefully and related the details.

 

[4riscorn]

Girl, you are braver than me! I would never own a hot!!! I am still afraid of my BRB biting me with his little fangs...he almost got my face the other day!! That's what I get for getting him too close!

 

[sinisterserpents1]

They can be de-venomed or venomoid. But it is a process that is dangerous to the snake and often the snake is never the same after the surgery.

We ended up with a venomoid, long story, and she is the biggest, healthiest, copperhead of the bunch. Not to mention the prettiest. Now that is the only one we've ever had. So I don't know how others are, but I do know ours is perfectly heatlhy. We don't plan on getting another. She just kinda fell into our hands. Anyone else ever had one that was/wasn't healthy that cares to share their story?

Awesome Birthing pic, reminds me of a conveyor belt.

@Sinister: if you get an aberrant litter from those 2 in a few years, HOOK ME UP!!! ^_^

Will do!


Thanks for looking guys!

 

[wax32]

Really cool little dudes you got there. I keep my interest in hots to books and the interwebs.

 

[Snakewhisperer]

Finally got some pics of mine to add to the thread, 18-55 broke halfway through, gonna fix it later. These guys are kept both for education and as pets.

This one has a pink coloration that doesn't come out here.

This little guy seems to always have his pupils like a colubrid, must be trying to trick me.

My "Nearly-Black-Dusky"

And the Cottonmouth juvenile.

 

[sinisterserpents1]

Oh love that dusky!

 

[Snakewhisperer]

Oh love that dusky!

Thanks, he was my first hot "pet". He is an interesting guy, only envenomates maybe 15% of his feeding strikes. I'm tempted to try and breed him with a Hyde Co., if anyone wants to join forces on that ^_^ Maybe get something as cool as the mother of your baby contors:dancer:

 

[raynefyre]

Very gorgeous snakes. I always admire people who can work with hots.

Random question: what do you do if they have a bad shed?

 

[Snakewhisperer]

Very gorgeous snakes. I always admire people who can work with hots.

Random question: what do you do if they have a bad shed?

For me it involves elevated heart rate, sweat, one kevlar glove, water, and a prayer :sobstory:

 

[sinisterserpents1]

We put ours in a tub with a lil warm water and towels and let em do the work theirselves. Works everytime, although the copperheads hardly ever have bad sheds, the dusky has had one so far.

 

[questionreality]

Yeah I have done a bit of readig about the venomoids. I really get sad because it seems like most don't survive the "surgery" of course seems like from my reading vets rarely do it. Correct me if I am wrong but some of the reading I did involved most being done by "breeders" . I think this is a great post because it shows their beauty and showcases people that have a grasp and affection on handling hots. I love hots and people that keep them intact it shows a real love, respect, and uncerstanding that they deserve for being the magnificent creatures they are.

 

[sinisterserpents1]

Our venomoid came with a signed and notorized certificate from a vet approved to do this type of surgery. I am sure there are 'butchers' out there and I definately don't support that. I don't know anyone else that has a venomoid so I can't have very much input on the situation, at least not first hand. I'll try to get some pics of Ms. Cash up after our show this weekend. I know some of you wanted to see pics of her.

 

[questionreality]

Can't wait to see pics of her!!!! Yeah I have no first had knowledge of them either just things I have read. I know that it was a very sensitive topics on another forum I was on were a lot of members kept hots. I am just glad your snakes are fortunate to be with someone that does a good job with them like you : )

 

[Snakewhisperer]

While I have no experience with venomoids, the main focus of our research was to find an alternative way of blocking venom so comparisons could be done without removing the glands. We came up with one method, but it is fine tuned yet.

 

[wstphal]

I have to admit, I wish there was a way to make venomoids that was safe for the snake. I would NOT want to risk harming one, but I don't trust myself to own hots. Don't worry, I am not going to go get a venomoid, because I have read that the procedures that are done are basically butchery and very controversial. But I have always loved the look of copperheads so I fantasize that if it could be done as safely as performing a spay/neuter on a mammal, I would want one. But not until & unless the procedure is that safe!

 

[Rdoyle]

i forgot they have live births. I will not have Hots. I think they are Illages here in louisiana.

 

[questionreality]

Venom research is soooo interesting to me. I just am in awe of the power venom contains. Do you know anything about the research that has been done with venom as applied to analgesics?

 

[sinisterserpents1]

Yeah, I've watched shows on that. Here is an interesting website I just found. You might like it: http://www.reptileallsorts.com/bites-venom.htm

 

[Lolo]

These snakes are ALL so neat!! I would love something like an Eyelash Viper, but I'm just not comfortable enough around the venomous snakes - and I don't have a husband to handle them, LOL. Not to mention they're illegal here, but *ahem* so are a few other species I might or might not own. :uhoh:

 

[sinisterserpents1]

Requested Pics

I know some of you wanted to see pics of Ms. Cash so here she is. I was hoping to get pics outside, but I've been a lil under the weather and didn't make it. So this is the best I could do lol She is a big, fat, healthy, mellow girl. Hope you enjoy!