Handling Pet Rattler

[Irish Eyes (Mrs.Z)]

Yep, I think that lady is nuts.

I am not brave, experienced or foolish enough to get within striking range of a hot, let alone hold one. I'll save that for the experts--and for the others who are apparently trying to get their name in for the annual Darwin Awards .

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

Am I the only person who immediately went "cooool!" That's something I've never seen before.

Whether stupid, brave, foolish, or whatever, a real live rattlesnake on someone is just cool looking.

You would have too prove to me that the snakes mouth was not sewn shut or that it's venom sacks were not removed before I would believe that snakes was unaltered in anyway.

Love the Fatman

You can do that?

 

[Kuzco]

Although I get more of an itch on the true reasons behind the OP's post than an old rattle snake ..

Regards.. Tim of T and J

Please enlighten me on my reasons for posting this....

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Am I the only person who immediately went "cooool!" That's something I've never seen before.

Whether stupid, brave, foolish, or whatever, a real live rattlesnake on someone is just cool looking.



You can do that?

...sort of... it's almost as if not more controversial than free handling hots. Animals on whom the procedure has been performed are called "venomoids" but it's often a sloppy procedure in which the sacs can regrow and even if it is done perfectly, it is hugely invasive and painful/dangerous for the snake involved. http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119300&highlight=venomoid

Also it's not known exactly how important the initial digestion that occurs during venomization is to venomous snakes, so it may cause health problems even for "success" stories. The general concensus on the procedure among CREDIBLE source is that if you can't handle caring for a hot in it's original state, you shouldn't be getting hots.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Another good thread on so-called venomoids http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160846

Just reread this particular thread myself actually... it's kinda weird seeing my posts from so early this year! I forgot I even said anything in this one

 

[oneirogenesis]

I have to agree with Cflaguy on this one. People engage in plenty of high-risk activities on par with handling venomous snakes and I'm not prepared to judge them for it. I'm assuming part of the controversy is that when a keeper is bitten by a venomous snake, it looks bad for the reptile community in general (?).

Though I will admit, it seems that the girl pictured is just attempting to look cool by throwing a dangerous animal around her neck. I suppose I would differentiate between someone free-handling a hot just to show off and someone free-handling a hot because of their passion and curiosity for the animal, in the sense that I feel greater respect for the latter.

 

[Nitelion94]

Hey. saw some ppl mentioning church that done it. well i go to a church/churches that do it. in fact i live less than a 2 min drive from 1 that does it. and im not saying any1 did yet or anything but lets leave them out of it they get a bad rep cuz of stupid ppl.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Hey. saw some ppl mentioning church that done it. well i go to a church/churches that do it. in fact i live less than a 2 min drive from 1 that does it. and im not saying any1 did yet or anything but lets leave them out of it they get a bad rep cuz of stupid ppl.

??? so you know for a fact there is a chruch near you that freehandles venomous snakes, but you won't mention the name of it because it'll get a bad rap about stupid people freehandling venomous snakes? Uhhh

 

[WingedSweetheart]

dont want to ruffle and feathers here but the first pic looks in a way that it has been photoshopped. i aint saying that it has but looks it. as far as the snake handling churches go we have a couple in my area and there are still bites that happen. any snake can have a bad day and take it out on who ever picks it up. but why take the chances with them? i have owned hots but to take the chance on a bad bite like that i really cant see why one would do it. take a puff adder for example thier venom causes sever necrosis and most times there has to be an amputation done. i dont judge anyone for owning hots i like them myself. so please dont take it that way

I actually thought both of them looked shopped.

 

[Nitelion94]

u got me all wrong

??? so you know for a fact there is a chruch near you that freehandles venomous snakes, but you won't mention the name of it because it'll get a bad rap about stupid people freehandling venomous snakes? Uhhh

nah i wont say the name. i dont mean stupid ppl will go off and say stuff i mean stupid ppl will do stupid things in a church and give all of them like it a bad name. Mark 16 kjv says that ppl can take up snakes but i dont see it as free un handeling unless u get bit. a term 4 that ppl use at some churches is faith handeling haveing faith god wont let u get bit but thats not allways true alot of times its should rly b called people being stupid tards. but i believe that it will all b safe when god sends the perfect blessing. i know to alot of people i sound stupid or a redneck freakshow or something be cuz of the i way i believe. but if you came to one of the church i go to you would know what i mean

 

[Kuzco]

a term 4 that ppl use at some churches is faith handeling haveing faith god wont let u get bit but thats not allways true alot of times its should rly b called people being stupid tards

Reminds me of this story where this guy (lets call him Sam) is suck in a flood and he manages to get to the top roof of his house. Sam prays for the Lord to save him. Shortly after a guy in a canoe comes by and tells Sam to get in. Same politely refuses saying that "The Lord will save me". Sam continues to pray and after some time a guy on a boat comes by and tells Sam to get in. Same waves him on saying "I'll be fine, the Lord will save me." and Same continues to pray. By this time the waters have really risen and he's about out of time and he prays again. Soon as he finishes praying a helicopter comes by and lowers a ladder, but Sam tells them to go on, that "The Lord will save me."

Well Sam drowns and when he gets to Heaven he ask God, "Why didn't you save me? I prayed and prayed and you just let me die." God replies "Sam, you idiot, I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter. What more did you want!?"


I'm sure there's a handful of "faith handlers" up in heaven asking "why did you let it bite me God?" and God's saying "I gave it a rattler, a 'hiss', and gave you education on the dangers of it. What more did you want?"

 

[Nitelion94]

couldent agree more man

Reminds me of this story where this guy (lets call him Sam) is suck in a flood and he manages to get to the top roof of his house. Sam prays for the Lord to save him. Shortly after a guy in a canoe comes by and tells Sam to get in. Same politely refuses saying that "The Lord will save me". Sam continues to pray and after some time a guy on a boat comes by and tells Sam to get in. Same waves him on saying "I'll be fine, the Lord will save me." and Same continues to pray. By this time the waters have really risen and he's about out of time and he prays again. Soon as he finishes praying a helicopter comes by and lowers a ladder, but Sam tells them to go on, that "The Lord will save me."

Well Sam drowns and when he gets to Heaven he ask God, "Why didn't you save me? I prayed and prayed and you just let me die." God replies "Sam, you idiot, I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter. What more did you want!?"


I'm sure there's a handful of "faith handlers" up in heaven asking "why did you let it bite me God?" and God's saying "I gave it a rattler, a 'hiss', and gave you education on the dangers of it. What more did you want?"

ive heard that b4 well pretty much the same 1 and i never thought of it like that but your right. i think that goes for any1 messing with hot snakes in a church or not

 

[Jdog3131]

are you calling me dumb? Just kidding. I am used to it and prepared to take any business comes my way concerning this topic.

I knew a kid who reemed me good for handling hots. Then he would go out on 417 and race his street car. Today he is in a wheelchair.

no i'm not becarful or this will happen :eatsmiley

It's not a dumb opinion & I don't think you're trying to ruffle feathers. Free handling hots IS controversial, and IMHO best left to people with high levels of expertise and courage. It's not for the rest of us.

it really is so if i get older and choose to get hots and handle them i'll be matrue

 

[Daenerys]

Reminds me of this story where this guy (lets call him Sam) is suck in a flood and he manages to get to the top roof of his house. Sam prays for the Lord to save him. Shortly after a guy in a canoe comes by and tells Sam to get in. Same politely refuses saying that "The Lord will save me". Sam continues to pray and after some time a guy on a boat comes by and tells Sam to get in. Same waves him on saying "I'll be fine, the Lord will save me." and Same continues to pray. By this time the waters have really risen and he's about out of time and he prays again. Soon as he finishes praying a helicopter comes by and lowers a ladder, but Sam tells them to go on, that "The Lord will save me."

Well Sam drowns and when he gets to Heaven he ask God, "Why didn't you save me? I prayed and prayed and you just let me die." God replies "Sam, you idiot, I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter. What more did you want!?"

I'm sure there's a handful of "faith handlers" up in heaven asking "why did you let it bite me God?" and God's saying "I gave it a rattler, a 'hiss', and gave you education on the dangers of it. What more did you want?"

Hahahahahahah, yesss!

 

[tyflier]

Handling hots is entirely dependant upon 2 major factors...you and the snake.

Truth is, if you own hots, they will, at some point, need to be handled. Medical treatment, shedding issues, injuries, and general health checks require hands-on inspection. It's a fact of the hobby.

Handling for pleasure is a whole different ballgame. Some snakes tolerate it, some don't. According to a few friends that keep rattlers...some seem to crave interaction.

I plan on owning rattlers. I plan on keeping them in high health, which will require handling for some procedures. I have no interest in handling them for pleasure, however, if one decides to show me that it is interested in interacting, I cannot say that I am against it. It depends on 2 major factors...me and the snake...

It's a risk. So is everything else we do...

 

[wstphal]

??? so you know for a fact there is a chruch near you that freehandles venomous snakes, but you won't mention the name of it because it'll get a bad rap about stupid people freehandling venomous snakes? Uhhh

Well, we can disagree on whether they should do this, but they are entitled to practice their faith in peace, they don't need PETA nuts outside the church yelling, so I respect that he doesn't want to publicize this church lest he draw unpleasantness down on the people he knows who attend that church. As long as the people who are doing the handling are adult members of the church, I figure it's no more my business than when Vaudun practitioners sacrifice chickens to the loa, it's all freedom of religion in this country as long as no children are endangered.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Handling for pleasure is a whole different ballgame. Some snakes tolerate it, some don't. According to a few friends that keep rattlers...some seem to crave interaction.

With any other kind of snake, I'd scoff at this statement, but rattlers (elapids and... most venomous actually) are very, very smart compared to many other snakes. I'd just worry about handling them (be it for care or not) safely. They are still animals, and still wildly unpredictable to most people.

 

[wstphal]

I suppose I would differentiate between someone free-handling a hot just to show off and someone free-handling a hot because of their passion and curiosity for the animal, in the sense that I feel greater respect for the latter.

This is a VERY good point. Trying to show off is usually dumb and often done by people with less-than-wonderful judgement. Someone who has spent their adult career working with these animals in a serious way & is cautiously free-handling as part of that passion is very different from the foolhardy show-off.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Well, we can disagree on whether they should do this, but they are entitled to practice their faith in peace, they don't need PETA nuts outside the church yelling, so I respect that he doesn't want to publicize this church lest he draw unpleasantness down on the people he knows who attend that church. As long as the people who are doing the handling are adult members of the church, I figure it's no more my business than when Vaudun practitioners sacrifice chickens to the loa, it's all freedom of religion in this country as long as no children are endangered.

Oh I agree, I just wasn't understanding why, by his own admittance people freehandle venomous animals in the church, but he didn't want people to get the impression that there are stupid people freehandling venomous animals in the church.

 

[Kokopelli]

Well... my knee jerk reaction would be- "idiot", to anyone who free handles a "hot" snake.
But... I can't say that people here who spoke for it are idiots, not really. And honestly, is it not dangerous to free handle large constrictors?
I suppose it is.

Personally, I accept my own mortality and imperfection... and free handling a venomous snake whose bite can mean the end of me, or even just a limb... is simply too much.
I keep my passion to animals whose "mood swings" I can cope with, I can't count on a snake to always be well tempered, nor can I trust myself to never make a wrong move... and since this is a very unforgiving habbit, with very little chance of a retry or chance for trial&error... I think I should do without.

I do not have anything against those who do this, just as long as they do not display it for everyone to see in a manner that may tempt children/other less experienced keepers, to do the same when they do not have the right abilities/personality to do so.

It takes a truly gifted person to be able to free handle these animals... and I don't think I am brave enough to try and see how I measure up.